Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Feb.[February] 26, 1839.

AN ACT to extend the corporate powers of the President and Trustees of the town of Belleville.
1

Powers of trustees.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the president and trustees of the town of Belleville, in the county of St. Clair, and their successors in office, shall, from and after the passage of this act, have the following powers, in addition to those powers already conferred upon them by virtue of “An act to incorporate the inhabitants of such towns as may wish to be incorporated,” approved February 12, 1831, as well as by virtue of an act, entitled “An act further defining the powers and duties of trustees or incorporated towns,” approved January 31, 1835;

1st. To license, tax, and regulate taverns, groceries, auctions, and pedlers, within the limits of said corporation: Provided the revenue arising therefrom shall, so soon as collected, be paid by said trustees unto the treasury of St. Clair county.

2d. Upon the application of the owners of two-thirds of the real estate upon any street, it shall be lawful for the board of trustees to levy and collect a special tax from the owners of the lots on said street, according to their respective fronts, for the purpose of grading and paving the side-walks of said street.

Fines.

3d. The fines imposed on such persons as may be convicted of having committed an offence against the law and ordinances of said corporation, for which no punishment now is or hereafter may be provided by the laws of the State, may amount to the sum of fifty dollars, but not exceed the same.

Jurisdiction of justices of peace.

4th. Any justice of the peace within said corporation shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all cases whatsoever growing out of the laws, by-laws, and ordinances of said corporation; and appeals may be taken, and writs of certiorari allowed, from such decisions, in the manner which now is or which may hereafter be provided for by law in other cases before justices of the peace.

5th. To exercise and maintain all the powers and privileges which now are, or hereafter may be, granted to them by law; and to be held and esteemed as legally incorporated, notwithstanding any irregularity or illegality which may have heretofore occurred in the incorporation of said town.

Approved, February 26, 1839.

1On December 13, 1838, Senator John Murray introduced SB 9 in the Senate. On December 17, the bill was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On December 27, the Committee on the Judiciary reported the bill without amendment and the bill was laid on the table. On January 22, the bill was referred to a select committee. On January 25, the Senate passed the bill. On February 1, the House of Representatives referred the bill to a select committee. On February 16, the select committee reported the bill without amendment. On February 22, the House passed the bill. On February 26, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3 1838 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 287, 322, 420, 483, 517; Journal of the Senate of the Eleventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 3, 1838 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 41, 74, 116, 205, 225-226, 386, 418, 436.