A message from the Senate by Mr. Paddock, Secretary:

Mr. Speaker:-I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has concurred with the House in the passage of a bill of the following title, to-wit:

HOUSE BILL No. 7.

A bill for "An act to amend section four (4) of an act entitled 'An act to establish and maintain the Eastern Illinois State Normal School,'" approved May 22, 1895.

Passed the Senate February 9, 1897, by a two-third vote.

J. H. PADDOCK,

Secretary of the Senate.

At the hour of 12:05 o'clock p. m., Mr. Selby moved that the House do now adjourn.

The motion prevailed,

And the House stood adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1897-10 O'CLOCK A. M.

The House met pursuant to adjournment,

The Speaker in the Chair.

Prayer by the Chaplain.

The journal of yesterday was being read when, on motion of Mr. Busse, the further reading of the same was dispensed with and it was ordered to stand approved.

The Speaker made the following announcement of House Committee on Joint Rules, Messrs.:

Cochran, chairman,

Busse, F. A.,

Murray, H. V.

The House proceeding upon the order of reports of standing committees,

Mr. Murray, of Stark, from the Committee on Contingent Expenses of the House, begs leave to make the following report:

To the Honorable, the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

The Committee on Contingent Expenses, to whom was referred the grouping of the several committees and assigning them rooms as follows:

A message from the Senate by Mr. Wanger, Assistant Secretary.

Mr. Speaker-I am directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has adopted the following preamble and joint resolution in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives, to-wit:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 6.

WHEREAS, The attention of the Illinois Legislature has been called to the fact that there now exists in the United States Postal Service one class of employés who never have been legislated for and who therefore have no fixed salaries, and

WHEREAS, All other branches of the Government service including railway postal clerks and letter carriers have received favorable legislation and their salaries classified and fixed according to the duties they perform and the length of time connected with the service, and

WHEREAS, The postoffice clerks have no classification, no definite number of hours to constitute a day's work and no law by which either qualification or seniority will enable a faithful employé to be properly advanced, and

WHEREAS, The present ancient system in vogue by the Congress of the United States in alloting bulk sums of money for the payment of postoffice clerks is so uncertain, so unbusinesslike and un-American in principle that it should at once become obsolete, and

WHEREAS, We are informed there is now pending before the Fifty-fourth Congress a bill for the classification of postoffice clerks, known as House Rule No. 3273, introduced by the Hon. N.D. Sperry, of Connecticut, the same being favorably reported by the unanimous vote of the Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads, and

WHEREAS, The passage of said bill will greatly relieve the condition of worthy and efficient postoffice clerks and will also be a scientific classification which will furnish a remedy for existing evils and prove a salutary incentive to better service and the retention of trustworthy, ambitious young men by the reward of merit which will in turn be of immense advantage to the general public; and since it requires no additional appropriation to put the same into operation, therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That we respectfully request the Senators and Represent atives from this State in the National Congress to use their best endeavors in securing a day for the consideration of this bill H. R. 3273, and then use every honorable effort to secure its passage, and be it further,

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded the Hon. Thomas Reed, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the House, the Clerk of the Senate and each of the Senators and Congressmen from the State of Illinois in the National Congress.

Adopted February 9, 1897.

J. H. PADDOCK,

Secretary of the Senate.

Mr. LaMonte moved that the same be referred to the Committee on Federal Relations,

And the motion prevailed.

The House proceeding upon the order of introduction of bills, the roll was called for that purpose, whereupon Mr. Atchison introduced a bill, House Bill No. 215, a bill for "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious disease among swine,' approved June 21, 1895 and in force July 1, 1895.

The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Live Stock and Dairying.

A message from the Governor, by J. Mack Tanner, Private Secretary:

Mr. Speaker:-I am directed by the Governor to lay before the House of Representatives the following communication:

STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SPRINGFIELD, February 10, 1897.

To the Honorable, the House of Representatives:

It appears from the records in the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts that the unpaid appropriations of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly amount to the sum of one million, eight hundred thousand dollars. That nine hundred thousad dollars of that amount is, or will be, due and payable during the present quarter ending March 31, 1897.

It further appears from the records of the Auditor that the funds in the treasury, available for the payment of the appropriations due and to become due during the present quarter will not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. As there will be no further payments into the treasury before the partial settlements of county collectors, beginning April 15th, there is no way by which the obligations of the State can be fully paid, as they mature. Of the nine hundred thousand dollars, due and to become due, as stated above, vouchers due to the various charitable institutions for the current quarter, amounting to upwards of one hundred and eigthy-five thousand dollars, were approved and filed with the Auditor prior to January 1, 1897, warrants for which have not been issued for want of funds. Other of the institutions have borrowed money on one form or another, to an amount exceeding one hundred thousand dollars bearing interest at the rate of six and seven per cent.

In order that the institutions may have partial relief, I recommend that the borrowing of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars may be authorized by the General Assembly, as provided by section eighteen, article four of the Constitution.

JOHN R. TANNER,

Governor.

The House again proceeding upon the order of introduction of bills, the roll was called for that purpose, whereupon Mr. Barnett introduced a bill, House Bill No. 216, a bill for "An act to amend section eleven of an act entitled 'An act to organize and regulate. county fire insurance companies,"" approved June 2, 1877, in force July 1, 1877, as amended by an act approved June 6, 1887, in force July 1. 1887.

The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

Mr. Beer introduced a bill, House Bill No. 217, a bill for "An act in relation to fees of public officers for services in drawing up or certifying papers and administering oaths in pension cases."

The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Fees and Salaries.

Mr. Buckner introduced a bill, House Bill No. 218, a bill for "An act making an appropriation for payment of the expenses of forming parade grounds and erecting an armory for the use of those organizations of the Illinois National Guard stationed in the city of Chicago,"

Was taken up and read at large a first time and ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Carmody introduced a bill, House Bill No. 219, a bill for “An act to amend section 2 of an act entitled 'An act requiring compensation for causing death by wrongful acts, neglect or default,' proved February 12, 1853, in force February 12, 1853.

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The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Mr. Gaines introduced a bill, House Bill No. 220, a bill for "An act to amend section three (3) of an act entitled 'An act concerning circuit courts and to fix the time for holding the same in the several counties in the judicial circuits in the State of Illinois, exclusive of the county of Cook,'" approved May 24, 1879, in force July 1, 1879, as amended by an act approved June 21, 1895, in force July 1, 1895. The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Judicial Department and Practice.

Mr. Hall, of Cook, introduced a bill, House Bill No. 221, a bill for "An act to prohibit the manufacture and sale of cigarettes."

The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Mr. Hall, of Cook, introduced a bill, House Bill No. 222, a bill for "An act to amend section 4 of an act entitled 'An act to provide for the printing and distribution of ballots at public expense and for the nomination of candidates for public officers to regulate the manner of holding elections and to enforce the secrecy of the ballot,' proved June 22, 1891, in force July 1, 1891.

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The bill was taken up, read by title, ordered printed and referred to the Committee on Elections.