The yeas and nays being demanded on the adoption of the amend ment, Yeas... It was decided in the negative, as follows: {Nays.. .10 ..31 Messrs. Reddick, The report of the committee was then concurred in, the original bills laid on the table, and the substitute ordered to a second reading. At 12:26 o'clock P. M., On motion of Mr. McNulta, The Senate adjourned to 2:30 o'clock P. M. HALF-PAST TWO O'CLOCK P. M. Senate met, pursuant to adjournment. The President announced the report of the Judge of the Twentyfirst Circuit. Referred to the committee on judiciary. The President also announced the report of the convention of judges, held in the capitol on the 10th and 11th instants. At a meeting of the Circuit Judges, on the 10th and 11th of Jannary, 1871, it was resolved to be impracticable, at this session, to equalize all the judicial districts of the State; and with a view to equalize labor as far as possible, the judges most at leisure may be authorized to hold county or other circuit courts by request; and the judges recommend the passage of a law, to continue in force until the next election, authorizing the holding of courts in two or more counties of the same circuit, or the holding separate courts, auxiliary to the circuit court, with authority to impannel jurors. The judges recommend the passage of a law authorizing the appointment of official reporters. They also recommend the establishment of uniform rules of practice. They resolved that it would be improper for them to make suggestions to the General Assembly of amendments to existing laws, as the duty imposed by the 31st section of article 6, of the constitution, re quires such reports to be made to the Judges of the Supreme Court. At the same time they are of the opinion, while disclaiming the right, it does not seem disrespectful thus far. Referred to the committee on judiciary. Mr. Underwood presented the report of the Judge of the Twentyfourth Circuit, and asked that it be referred to the committee on judiciary. It was so referred. Mr. Flagg presented a petition from colored citizens, relating to the difficulty of getting admission to the State common schools; which was Referred to the committee on education. Mr. Hampton reported back the resolution on diagrams, with recommendation that the resolution be laid on the table; which recommendation was concurred in by the Senate. Mr. Beveridge offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the Secretary of State be authorized and instructed to have printed 300 copies of a tabular statement of the census of 1870, of the State of Illinois, showing the population of each county, and 100 copies of a like statement of the census of Cook county, showing the population of each town in the county and of each ward in the city of Chicago; and to furnish 100 outline maps of the State of Illinois, 25 outline maps of Cook county, and 25 outline maps of the city of Chicago, for the use of the committee on apportionment and the members of the Senate. Mr. Jackson offered the following resolution: A joint resolution instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives in Congress to endeavor to obtain an appropriation for the improvement of the navigation of the Wabash River. Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That her Senators in Congress be instructed, and her representatives requested, to use all proper means to obtain an appropriation for the improvement of the navigation of the Wabash River, and that the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of this resolution to each Senator and Representative from this State. On motion of Mr. Harlan, The rules were suspended and the resolution adopted. Mr. Strevell, by consent, offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the judiciary committee be requested to introduce a bill abolishing the present grand jury system, so far as it now applies to misdemeanors, if, after examination of the subject, they deem it expedient to do so. Mr. Pierce introduced Senate bill, No. 4, for "An act to pay the members, officers and employees of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly." Which was read a first time, and Referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Fuller called up Senate bill, No. 4, (which was read a first time yesterday), for amendment and reference. Mr. Starne offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes:" To strike out section 18, etc. Mr. Richardson offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes:" requiring entry of name of person paying taxes, on margin. Mr. Snapp offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Richardson offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Little offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Bush offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Woodard offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Strevell offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Strevell offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Hampton offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Washburn offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Washburn offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Washburn offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Hunter offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Crawford offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. McNulta offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." Mr. Woodard offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 4, entitled "An act for the assessment of property, and for the levy and collection of taxes." The bill, with the amendments, was then Referred to the committee on revenue. Mr. Flagg introduced Senate bill, No. 15, for "An act for the relief of the prosecuting attorney of the city of Alton." Which was read a first time, and, Referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Flagg introduced Senate bill, No. 16, for "An act to provide for the holding of Roman Catholic churches, cemeteries, colleges and other property." Which was read a first time. Mr. Tincher offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 6, entitled "An act to provide for the holding of Roman Catholic churches, cemeteries, colleges and other property." The bill, with the amendment, was then Referred to the committee on corporations. Mr. Underwood introduced Senate bill, No. 7, for "An act to regulate the manner of applying for reprieves, commutations and pardons." Which was read a first time, and Referred to the committee on judiciary. Mr. Fuller called up Senate bill, No. 6, entitled "An act to establish a reasonable maximum rate of charges for the transportation of passengers on the different railroads in this State," for amendment and reference. Mr. Holcomb offered an amendment to Senate bill, No. 6. The bill (Senate bill, No. 6) was, with the amendments, Mr. Underwood's resolution, relating to feudal rules of parliamentary law, etc., was taken up. On motion of Mr. Hampton, The resolution was referred to the committee on constitutional reform, when appointed. Mr. Landrigan's resolution, of yesterday, relative to communication with the Executive Board of the State Agricultural Society, was taken up and adopted. At 3:56 o'clock P. M., On motion of Mr. Snapp, The Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1871. The Senate met at 10 o'clock, and was called to order by the President. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Carnahan. The journal of yesterday was being read, when, On motion of Mr. Crawford, The further reading of the same was dispensed with. The President made the following announcement relating to joint committee on enrolled and engrossed bills: Joint committee on enrolled and engrossed bills, on the part of the Senate, Messrs. Eddy and Flagg. Mr. Marsh, from the committee on public buildings, asked information as to the scope of the duties of said committee. Mr. Flagg offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the Governor be requested to communicate to this House any information, documentary or otherwise, that he may have in his possession, relating to the location and building of the Southern Illinois Normal University. Mr. Snapp offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That it is the understanding of the Senate of the 27th General As sembly, that the law of 1869, entitled "An act to fund and provide for paying the railroad debts of counties, townships, cities, towns," was repealed by section 6, of article 9, and by section 17, of article 4, and by section 18 of the same article, in the amended constitution; and that such act is not at the present time the law of the land, and is not in force. Mr. Langley offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the Governor be requested to communicate to the Senate any information in his possession, proper for the Senate to know, relating to the condition of the State Arsenal and Adjutant General's office. Mr. Tincher offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the committee on corporations be and are hereby requested to inquire into the expediency and necessity of telegraph offices being established and maintained in towns and cities having a population of one thousand or more inhabitants, and being situated on any line of telegraph. Mr. Holcomb offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-arms be instructed to have Senate rules Nos. 17, 37 and 38, posted conspicuously in the lobbies of the Senate Chamber. Mr. Crawford offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the committee on roads and highways be instructed to prepare a bill at an early day for establishing and opening roads and cartways connecting with a public road for private use. Mr. Underwood offered the following resolution; which laid over, under the rule: Resolved, That the committee on judiciary inquire into the expediency of simplifying the proceedings and practice in civil cases in courts of justice in this State, in order to facilitate the speedy and prompt trial of all causes on their merits, by providing by law 1st That no objection shall be sustained to the mere form of action, where a good cause of action is set forth in a declaration. 2d. That two or more amendments shall, as a matter of right, be allowed to all proceedings. 8d. That no amendment to a declaration shall be ground of continuance unless the court is satisfied that it occasioned surprise, and thereby prevented the defendant from being prepared for trial. |