CHAPTER XXV. 



THE NEW ILLINOIS RAILROAD LAW AND ITS 

 WORKINGS. 



THE RAILROAD COMMISSION SQUABBLE. 



The existing railroad law of Illinois having been pro 

 nounced unconstitutional, and the Legislature being at the 

 time in session, the amendment of the act was immediately 

 and diligently set about ; in fact, so diligently as to excite 

 the apprehension among the farmers that their legislators- 

 were going to &quot;talk the subject to death.&quot; This feeling 

 began to strengthen as measure after measure was mooted, 

 yet always put aside. The Springfield Convention, of which 

 a condensed report has already been given, was called with 

 a view of enlightening the Legislature as to the earnestness 

 of the popular desire for an efficient law. 



About this time (March, 1873) the term of office of the 

 Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners expired. The farm 

 ers began agitating for the appointment to the office of per 

 sons identified with agricultural interests. Governor Bev- 

 eridge, however, nominated Messrs. McCrea, Robinson, and 

 Stilwell one of whom is a banker, another a lawyer. This 

 raised a storm about the Governor s ears which he will not 

 readily forget. Protest after protest, memorials and resolu 

 tions without end, were sent in, and the Governor, wisely 

 yielding to the pressure, finally conferred the vacant offices 

 (302) 



