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Constitutional Conventions in Illinois
the consideration of private and special laws but this fact is perhaps
more forcefully illustrated by a table showing the number of pages
required to print the private and general laws of those years.
Private General
Session           laws,  laws,
number of number of
pages. pages.
1865                              1528  137
1867                             2,323  198
Governor Palmer in 1869 attempted to check the avalanche of
private and special legislation by vigorously exercising his veto power.
Seventy-two bills, the majority of which were private and special bills,
were vetoed by the Governor in that year. Seventeen of the seventy-
two vetoed bills were promptly passed over the Governor's veto. It
soon became evident that for two reasons even a most vigorous exer-
cise of the veto poxver could not operate as a serious check on the
passage of private and special bills. (1) In the short time allowed
him, (ten days), the Governor could not carefully review a thousand
or more private and special bills. (2) The General Assembly, with the
power to pass bills over a veto by a mere majority vote, had evidenced
an inclination to exercise that power, thus nullifying the restraining
influence of the Governor over private and special legislation. The
need for constitutional restrictions on the power of the General As
sembly to pass private and special laws was imperative.
The Constitution of 1848 fixed the salaries of State officials. Such
salaries, therefore, could he increased, only by constitutional revision.
The necessity for increasing the salaries of the various State officers,
which was so keenly felt even before 1862, became more acute. The
population of the State had steadily increased and was accompanied
by rapid industrial development. As a result many additional duties
were cast upon the State officials. It was absurd that the Governor
of a state with a population of more than 2,000,000 should receive a
salary of only $1,500 per annum that the Secretary of State and State
Treasurer should each receive an annual salary of only $800 and that
a judge of the Supreme Court should receive a yearly salary of only
$1,200. It was absolutely necessary to increase the salaries fixed by
the Constitution of 1848.
The judicial system provided for by the Constitution of 1818 was
rendered inadequate by the rapid growth of the State. The second
constitution provided for a supreme court to consist of three mem-
bers, nine circuit courts, county courts for each county and prosecut-
ing attorneys for each circuit court district. The increase in popula-
tion and business of the State necessarily led to an increase in the
amount of litigation to be disposed of by the courts. The General
Assembly, tinder its constitutional power to establish additional cir-
cuit courts and to create prosecuting attorneys in each county instead
of each circuit court district, might have relieved the situation, but
Title Constitutional Conventions in Illinois
Creator Illinois. General Assembly. Legislative Reference Bureau
Contributors Barker, Lucius J.
Barker, Twiley W.
Subject [LCSH] Illinois. Constitutions
Description Covers Illinois constitutional conventions of 1818, 1847, 1862, and 1869-70. Second edition.
Format Book
Geographic Coverage United States--Illinois
Contributing Institution Illinois State Library
Rights Materials in this collection are made available by the Illinois State Library. To request reproductions or inquire about permissions, contact: islimg@ilsos.net. Please cite the item title and collection name.
Collection Name Illinois Constitution
Transcript 22 the consideration of private and special laws but this fact is perhaps more forcefully illustrated by a table showing the number of pages required to print the private and general laws of those years. Private General Session laws, laws, number of number of pages. pages. 1865 1528 137 1867 2,323 198 1869 3,431 442 Governor Palmer in 1869 attempted to check the avalanche of private and special legislation by vigorously exercising his veto power. Seventy-two bills, the majority of which were private and special bills, were vetoed by the Governor in that year. Seventeen of the seventy- two vetoed bills were promptly passed over the Governor's veto. It soon became evident that for two reasons even a most vigorous exer- cise of the veto poxver could not operate as a serious check on the passage of private and special bills. (1) In the short time allowed him, (ten days), the Governor could not carefully review a thousand or more private and special bills. (2) The General Assembly, with the power to pass bills over a veto by a mere majority vote, had evidenced an inclination to exercise that power, thus nullifying the restraining influence of the Governor over private and special legislation. The need for constitutional restrictions on the power of the General As sembly to pass private and special laws was imperative. The Constitution of 1848 fixed the salaries of State officials. Such salaries, therefore, could he increased, only by constitutional revision. The necessity for increasing the salaries of the various State officers, which was so keenly felt even before 1862, became more acute. The population of the State had steadily increased and was accompanied by rapid industrial development. As a result many additional duties were cast upon the State officials. It was absurd that the Governor of a state with a population of more than 2,000,000 should receive a salary of only $1,500 per annum that the Secretary of State and State Treasurer should each receive an annual salary of only $800 and that a judge of the Supreme Court should receive a yearly salary of only $1,200. It was absolutely necessary to increase the salaries fixed by the Constitution of 1848. The judicial system provided for by the Constitution of 1818 was rendered inadequate by the rapid growth of the State. The second constitution provided for a supreme court to consist of three mem- bers, nine circuit courts, county courts for each county and prosecut- ing attorneys for each circuit court district. The increase in popula- tion and business of the State necessarily led to an increase in the amount of litigation to be disposed of by the courts. The General Assembly, tinder its constitutional power to establish additional cir- cuit courts and to create prosecuting attorneys in each county instead of each circuit court district, might have relieved the situation, but
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