Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force March 4, 1837

AN ACT further supplemental to an “act to establish and maintain a general system of Internal Improvements.”
1

Part of an act repealed

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That so much of the act, to which this is an amendment, as authorises three of

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the board of commissioners of public works2 to form a quorum of said board to do business, be and the same is hereby repealed, and hereafter no less than four3 shall be requisite to constitute a quorum.4

Term of office of fund commissioners

Sec. 2. The fund commissioners5 elected under the provisions of the act to which this is a supplement, shall hold their offices for two years, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Commissioners to be paid for time actually engaged.

Sec. 3. Nothing in the act to which this is a supplement, shall be so construed as to entitle the fund commissioner or commissioners of public works, to receive their per diem compensation, excepting for the time actually and bona fide engaged in the discharge of their respective duties.6

Approved 4th March, 1837.

1William Thomas introduced the SB 222, originally titled “A Bill concerning the Terms of the Circuit Courts in this State,” in the Senate on February 13, 1837. On February 15, the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Committee on the Judiciary reported back the bill on February 28 with an amendment, in which the Senate concurred. On March 1, the Senate passed the bill as amended, amending the title so as to read “A Bill Supplemental to ‘An Act to Establish and Maintain a General System of Internal Improvement.’” On March 1, the House of Representatives amended the bill by striking out Section 2, by a vote of 42 ayes to 23 nays, with Abraham Lincoln voting nay. Representatives offered additional amendments, and the House referred the bill and proposed amendments to the Committee on Internal Improvements. The Committee on Internal Improvements reported back the bill on March 2 with amendments, in which the House concurred. The House further amended the first section by striking out the word “five,” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “four.” The House passed the bill as amended, amending the title by adding the word “further” before the word “supplemental.” On that same day, the Senate tabled the bill. On March 3, the Senate took up the bill and concurred in the House amendments. On March 4, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 777, 786-87, 797-98, 843; Illinois SenateJournal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 406, 438, 560, 567-68, 587, 588-89, 605, 609, 640.

2Section four of the internal improvement act created a seven-person board of public works to promote, maintain, supervise, and direct the system of internal improvements.

3On March 2, 1837, the House of Representatives amended the bill by striking out the word “five,” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “four.” The House first considered this amendment on March 1.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 786, 797.

4Section seven of the internal improvement act set the quorum at three members.

5Section one of the internal improvement act created a three-person board of fund commissioners to negotiate loans, buy and sell bonds, deposit and withdraw money, and administer the various fiscal aspects of the internal improvement system.

6On March 1, 1837, the House of Representatives amended the bill by striking out the original second section. On March 2, the House amended the bill by adding a new second section and the third section. Sections three and seven of the internal improvement act, respectively, set the compensation for the fund commissioners and commissioners of public works.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 786, 797.