chell, Anthony R. Mock, Wm. S. Morris, William K. Murphy, John L. Nichols, S. F. Otman, John M. Pearson, S. R. Powell, Austin O. Sexton, J. W. Simonson, Dewitt W. Smith, George G. Struckman, Horace H. Thomas, James T. Thornton, Joseph Veile, B. F. Weber, J. G. Wright, Omar H. Wright, and Francis M. Youngblood. The sharp, staccato voice of the veteran and sturdy member James Herrington was again heard, but the reader will look in vain for the names of Isaac L. Morrison, A. C. Matthews, Lucien B. Crooker, B. H. Truesdell, and C. F. Robison, "who made Rome howl" during the two previous sessions.

Among the new members whose names most frequently appear as having taken a leading part in the proceedings may be mentioned the following: Henry O. Billings of Madison County; Thomas E. Bundy of Douglas; George D. Chafee, Shelby; Oliver P. Chisholm, Kane; John R. Cook and Orrin S. Cook, Cook; Oliver Coultas, Morgan; Balfour Cowen, Macoupin; A. N. J. Crook, Sangamon; Milo Erwin, Williamson; James M. Garland, Sangamon; Albert G. Goodspeed, Livingston; Madison R. Harris, Cook; George W. Kroll, Cook; David T. Linegar, Alexander; Lewis Ludington, De Witt; Joseph B. Mann, Vermilion; Robert McWilliams, Montgomery; George B. Okeson, McLean; Jacob C. Olwin, Crawford; Patrick O' Mara, Rock Island; John L. Parish, Cook; Daniel D. Parry, Warren; Robert N. Pierson, Cook; John N. Perrin, St. Clair; Herbert D. Peters, Piatt; Alexander P. Petrie, Mercer; Ornan Pierson, Greene; James Pollock, Lake; Wm. A. Richardson, son of the ex-senator of that name, Adams; Jason Rogers, Macon; J. Henry Shaw, Cass; E. B. Shumway, Will; Charles T. Strattan, Jefferson; Edward B. Sumner, Winnebago; John L Underwood, Pike; John H. Welsh, Bureau: Randall H. White, Cook; Robert A. D. Wilbanks, Jefferson; Hannibal P. Wood, Knox; Henry Wood, De Kalb; Æschylus N. Yancy, Macoupin.

The senate was organized by the election of William J. Campbell of Cook, president pro tempore, over Major William P Callon of Morgan. by a vote of 33 to 18; James H. Paddock being reëlected secretary.

A number of names were canvassed for the speakership, but

GOV. CULLOM'S MESSAGE.

873

when the republican caucus met only one was presented, that of Horace H. Thomas, who was nominated by acclamation and subsequently elected, receiving 81 votes to 71 for Bradford K. Durfee of Macon County, the nominee of the democrats. W. B. Taylor was again chosen clerk.

The city of Chicago was, for the first time, honored with the speakership of the house of representatives. General Horace H. Thomas is a native of Vermont and was educated at Middlebury College. After his admission to the bar in 1859, he took up his residence in Chicago. He entered the army in 1861 as assistant - adjutant - general of the army of the Ohio, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. He then removed to Tennessee, where he was appointed upon the staff of Gov. Brownlow as quartermaster-general. He returned to Chicago in 1867, and was elected to the thirty-first and thirty-second general assemblies. He is a good parliamentarian, and made an enviable record in the speaker's chair. He is at present a member of the state senate from the sixth district.

The biennial executive message was read to both houses on January 7. It was devoted to state affairs, and recommended the passage of a law providing for the enlargement of the Illinois-and-Michigan Canal, its extension to the Mississippi River as a national waterway, and its cession to the general government. Governor Cullom was inaugurated for the second time and entered upon his second term of ervice on January 10. His inaugural address touched upon the subject of the benefits of a republican form of government in contrast with the monarchical constitutions of the old world, and a considerable space was devoted to a discussion of questions relating to education and labor. Upon the latter topic, he remarked: "To the laboring class we look for the energy and perserverance which conquers all difficulties, overcomes all obstacles, and beautifies the path of life with the flowers of peace and prosperity; labor feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, subdues the wilds and woods, builds our houses and cities, constructs our highways, lifts upon a higher plane our civilization, and makes the world richer, wiser, and better. Who shall decry labor or fail to honor him who labors? The rail-splitter, the tailor, and

the tanner have by labor made their homes in the White House; the tow-path of the canal leads today in the same direction. Labor to be most successful must be intelligent. It was not alone because these men who came from the humbler walks of life, and who achieved renown, worked with their hands, that honors came to them. These honors came because they fitted themselves for great responsibilities by labor and by mental training, which qualified them for any emergency. marks the path of the world's progress."

Labor

The thirty-second general assembly has been noted for the small amount of legitimate legislative work transacted, for its prolonged and unprofitable discussions of questions unimportant in themselves and promising no practical solution or result, and for the wholly uncalled-for length of time to which its first session was prolonged. The example set by preceding legislatures, regarding Saturday and Monday absenteeism, was faithfully followed and even thrown into the shade. There being no call for any legislation on any particular subject, other than those of reapportionment and the canal, the taxpayers generally expected that the session would be a short one; but this very absence of any need for special action seemed to open the door for a greater number of vicious schemes of legislation than usual. There was never a session of the legislature without a proposed amendment to the school-law, the revenue-law, and the township-organization law. These all claimed attention at this time, besides the temperance question, the consolidation of the supreme court, propositions to abolish the board of railroad - and - warehouse commissioners, the anti - pooling bill, and that to regulate the rate of charges of sleeping-car companies. Fortunately, however, there was a sufficient number of members opposed to the various "schemes" presented to prevent their ultimate insertion in the statute-book, although there were times when the result seemed doubtful.

An investigation into the actions and doings of the board of railroad-and-warehouse commissioners, by a legislative committee, occupied the attention of the assembly for several weeks, forming an exciting side-issue which affected also other questions.

The investigation pertained principally to the management

STATE CONVENTIONS, 1882.

875

of the grain-inspection department at Chicago, and was mainly directed against Commissioner Bogue. The defence of the commission by that gentleman was unexpectedly able, and on most points conclusive. He showed a thorough acquaintance with the questions involved, and made the way clear for a report from a majority of the committee sustaining the administration of his board. William H. Robinson, who had been appointed commissioner as successor to John H. Oberly, whose term had expired, was confirmed February 11; Smith and Bogue, reappointed, were not confirmed until March 25.

The legislature continued in session until May 30, and as the outcome of its lengthy deliberations, besides the appropriation bills, passed the following laws; to regulate the traffic in deadly weapons and prevent the sale of them to minors; to prevent the adulteration of butter and cheese, and articles of food, drink, or medicine; to regulate the practice of dentistry; including February 22, and May 30 among the legal holidays; to regulate the practice of pharmacy; for the regulation and inspection of tenement houses; requiring officers to publish annual statements of the public funds on hand.

Having failed to pass the apportionment bills and the necessary legislation for the proposed cession of the Illinois-andMichigan Canal to the United States, the governor reconvened the general assembly in special session, March 23, 1882, for these purposes. The apportionment laws were duly passed,* as was also that relating to the cession of the canal, which was, as by law required, submitted for approval to a vote of the people at the November election, 1882, when it was duly ratified.

The governor had also recommended a revision of the criminal code, and made that one of the subjects to be acted upon at the called session, but after a prolonged and heated contest the proposition was defeated in the house.

The republican state-convention of 1882 was held at Springfield, June 28, Senator George Hunt presiding. Gen. John C. Smith was nominated for treasurer the second time without serious opposition. The contest over the nomination for state superintendent of public instruction, however, between James P. Slade, who then held the office, and Charles T. Strattan of See table on next page.

Jefferson County, was very close, the latter being successful on the fourth ballot.

The state convention of the democrats was also held at Springfield, September 7, ex-Gov. John M. Palmer occupying the chair. Alfred Orendorf of Sangamon County was nominated for state treasurer, there being no other aspirant for the honor. Efforts were made to unite on the greenback ticket for state superintendent of public instruction but they proved unsuccessful; and although there was considerable diversity of opinion among the delegates, Henry Raab of St. Clair County, received the nomination on the second ballot.

The platform contained the usual planks againt the extravagance of the republican party, against the tariff, and sumptuary

ILLINOIS LEGislative AppORTIONMENT.

The following is the party-vote of each district in 1880, and the population of each as shown by the census of that year: