Leaving out of view the benefit which has resulted to the people by the mere fact of the existence of the board, which has prevented many abuses that would have been committed save for its presence in this State; it has been at work and useful. It has perfected the organization of the grain inspection department at Chicago, under which the grain trade in that city has wonderfully increased in importance during the last year. It has gathered statistics in reference to transportation that are of very great benefit to the public. It has adopted the policy of railroad examination with a view to security of life, and in my judgment the authority of the commission ought to be enlarged so as enable it to compel railroad companies to improve their tracks and bridges when, in the Judgment of the commission, such portions of railroads become unsafe.

The railroad commissioners act as arbitrators between the railroad companies and their patrons, and in the commissioners' report they say they have succeeded in settling most of the complaints made to them in a manner satisfactory to all the parties to the controversies. In my judgment, if the commission were dispensed with by the legislature, difficulties would soon arise, agitation would commence again. controversies would run riot, new legislation would follow, another board of some kind would soon be created, and the track we have just passed over would be again traveled over by the people's representatives.

The board should be sustained in the interest of all the people. Instead of being destroyed it should be strengthened; it should not only have the authority with which it is now vested, but more-it should be made a legal arbitrator in all matters of controversy between railroad companies or warehouses and their patrons; and it should be required to make examination of roads, and be invested with authority to compel reparation of unsafe or defective bridges, culverts, track and rolling stock.

S. M. CULLOM, Governor.

The Speaker presented the following communication:

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
TREASURER'S OFFICE,
SPRINGFIELD, February 18th, 1879.

Hon. W. A. James, Speaker House of Representatives, Thirty-first General Assembly :
SIR: In response to the following resolution:-

Resolved, That the State Treasurer be and he is hereby requested to report to this House the balances in the several funds of the State treasury on the first days of each month during the last year.

Adopted by the House on the 8th inst., I have the honor to transmit herewith a statement containing the information therein requested.

Very respectfully,

J. C. SMITH, State Treasurer.

STATEMENT of Cash Balances in State Treasury, to the credit of the several funds, on the first days of each month from March 1st, 1878, to February 1st, 1879, inclusive.

Mr. Halliday moved to suspend the rules for consideration of this report; which motion prevailed.

Mr. Halliday moved that 500 copies of the report be printed; which motion prevailed.

The Speaker presented a communication from the Secretary of State, concerning the number of state house employes, etc.

Mr. Trusdell moved to suspend the rules for consideration of this report; which motion was lost.

Under the rules the report was referred to the committee on contingent expenses.

The Speaker presented the following communication:

STATE OF ILLINOIS, FROM INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB, Superintendent's Office, Jacksonville, February 12, 1879.

To Hon. W. A James, Speaker of the House of Representatives:

SIR:-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt by the mail of this date, the following preamble and resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 7th inst: WHEREAS, The report of the superintendent of the asylum for the deaf and dumb. does not give an itemized statement showing the amount paid in behalf of said institution for salaries and wages to persons employed for the years 1877 and 1878; and,

WHEREAS, The salaries and wages paid for the two years named amount to the sum of $74, 978.36, more than 45 per cent. of the entire expenses, repairs and improvements connected with said institution; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the superintendent of the institution or asylum for the deaf and dumb, furnish this House with the following information at his earliest convenience, to-wit: A list of all persons to whom any money has been paid during 1877 and 1878 for employment or services, giving the amount and rate so paid each person per month or per annum. with the nature of his or her employment, whether any person so employed were clothed or fed by said institution; whether any person so employed had leave of absence from his duties during the time named, and if so, for what period or periods of time; and whether any payment was made for the time or times so absent, giving the amount so paid and to whom.

That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Board of Public Charities, and to the superintendent of the institution of the deaf and dumb, by the Clerk of this House, immediately upon its adoption.

In compliance with the foregoing resolution, I herewith submit a statement of the names of ninety (90) persons who have been in the employment of this institution during the two years ending September 30, 1877, and September 30, 1878. together with the rate of their compensation and the amount paid to each within each of the years named, and showing the nature of the employment of each.

In compliance with the inquiry of the resolution, I have the honor to state that no employe has been clothed by said institution, but that those persons who have been engagep In the service enumerated under the head of administration, control, clerical heating and machinery, guard, care of stock and labor, and domestic service, have all been boarded at the institution, and consequently have been fed by said institution, with the following exceptions: that for 11 months of the last year the watchman has provided his own board. Two lady teachers have also boarded in the institution.

In compliance with the same I have the honor to state that at the close of the vacation in 1876, one of the lady supervisors had granted her a leave of absence for twenty-five (25) days in consequence of an enfeebled condition of health, having suffered a severe spell of sickness during the preceding summer, being thereby disqualified for the discharge of her duties

And further, that at the same time, the matron of the institution was granted a leave of absence for seven (7) days, to attend the bedside of a sister whose sickness was at the time thought to be mortal.

And further, that one of the lady teachers, being unable to resume her duties at the opening of the term in the fall of 1876. having during the previous summer suffered a protracted and severe spell of sickness, was granted a leave of absence from the 1st of October, till the 27th of November of the same year-a period of fifty-eight days.

And further, that another of the lady teachers, being taken sick on or about the 25th of April, 1877, was granted a leave of absence till the day of her death, May 9, 1877-a period of fourteen days.

And further, that in consequence of sickness of herself, brought on by great responsibility and labor, the matron was granted a leave of absence from October 25, 1877, to December 12, of the same year-a period of forty-seven days.

And I have the honor to further reply, that in consequence of ill health. the superintendent was granted a leave of absence from the 17th day of May last until the commencement of the annual vacation, June 12th-a period of twenty-six (26) days. And that the senior teacher in the art department was granted a leave of absence for the same period. I have the further honor of replying that in the cases of leave of absence above recited, no charge was made against any of the parties for absence.

Respectfully submitted,

PHILIP G. GILLETT, Superintendent.

Mr. McKinlay, by consent, presented a petition from Edgar county, relating to the road law, which was referred to the committee on counties and township organization.

Mr. McKinlay, by consent, presented a petition from citizens of Edgar county, relating to maintaining poor, which was referred to the committee on counties and township organization.

Mr. Mathews asked that the Senate joint resolution, relating to the appointment of a joint committee to confer as to the revenue law, be taken up and acted on, which was agreed to.

Mr. Mathews moved to concur in the resolution.

Mr. Wentworth moved to commit the resolution to the committee on revenue, which motion prevailed.

House bill No. 374, being a bill for "An act to provide for furnishing the General Assembly with 1,000 copies of the Legislative Record, daily," which was pending when other business was taken up, on Thursday last, was taken up.

The motion of Mr. Harts, to amend line 2 by saying "fifteen," instead of "twenty-five," was taken up and read.

Mr. Chase moved to refer the bill to the committee on judiciary, which motion prevailed.

House bill No. 222, a bill for "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act concerning fees and salaries, and to classify the several counties in this state with reference thereto,' approved March 29, 1872, in force July 1, 1872," was taken up and read at large a second time, together with the following amendment, by committee on fees and salaries :

After the word "depositions," on second line from bottom, on page three, insert the words "fifteen cents for every hundred words, for the first five hundred words," and insert after the words "five cents," on last line of page three, the words, "for every hundred words following."

On motion of Mr. Thomas, the bill was recommitted to the committee on fees and salaries.

House Bill No. 229, a bill for "An act to amend section seventy (70) of an act entitled 'An act in regard to roads and bridges in counties under township organization,' approved May 26, 1877, in force July 1, 1877," was taken up and read at large a second time, together with the following amendment by committee:

After the word "towns" in line seventeen (17) insert "in the same County."

The amendment was adopted.

Mr. Richey offered the following amendment :

Amend by inserting in 9th line, after the word "haif," the following: "And in every case where the county is compelled to aid in the building of said roads or bridges, the chairman of the board of commissioners of highways in the town where the said roads or bridges be situated, shall give the same notice to the chairman of the board of supervisors of the county, of the letting of the work, or receiving bids for the same, that is given to the public in soliciting bids for such work. And it shall be the duty of the chairman of the board of supervisors to designate two members of said board, whose duty it shall be to act jointly with the commissioners of highways in the letting of such work and in receiving bids for the same." Which amendment was adopted.

Mr. Hinds offered the following amendment:

After the word "towns," in line 2, of section 2, insert, "or over streams on roads between towns in the same county."

Which amendment was adopted.

Mr. Samuel offered the following amendment:

Amend 8th line, after the words "county boards," by striking out the word "shall" and inserting "if they shall see fit," which motion was lost.

On motion of Mr. Mathews, the House at 12 o'clock m., adjourned until 2:30 o'clock this p. m.

TWO THIRTY O'CLOCK P. M.

House met pursuant to adjournment.

The amendment of Mr. Hinds, pending at time of adjournment today, was taken up, and the amendment was lost.

Mr. Richey was excused on account of sickness.

Mr. Hall, of Tazewell, offered the following amendment:

Amend by inserting after the word "authorities" in 9th line, "or raised by subscription or otherwise for that purpose," which amendment was adopted.

And the question being, "Shall the bill be engrossed for a third reading?" it was decided in the affirmative.

House Bill No. 255, a bill for “An act to designate a custodian for the transcripts, documents and records pertaining to the United States land office, formerly located at Springfield Illinois," was taken up, and read at large a second time.

And the question being, "Shall the bill be engrossed and printed for a third reading?" it was decided in the affirmative.

House Bill No. 363, a bill for "An act to regulate the foreclosure of mortgages on real estate, and to repeal sections number 11, 13 and 14 of an act entitled 'An act to revise the law in relation to mortgages of real and personal property,' approved March 26, 1874, in force July 1, 1874," was taken up, and read at large a second time. Mr. Wright, of Boone, offered the following amendment:

Amend section 2, in 3d line, by inserting after the words "July 1, 1874," the following, "except as to the sale of personal property," which was lost.

And the question being, "Shall the bill be engrossed and printed for a third reading?" it was decided in the affirmative.

House Bill No. 364, a bill for "An act to amend section 95 of an act entitled 'An act to provide for the election and qualification of justices of the peace and constables, and to provide for the jurisdiction and practice of justices of the peace in civil cases, and to fix the duties of constables, and to repeal certain acts therein named,' approved April 1, 1872, in force July 1, 1872," was taken up, and read at large a second time.

Mr. Gross offered the following amendment:

Insert before "when" in 7th line, the words "section 95," and insert the word "rendered" after the word "was" in the 9th line, which amendment was adopted.