Morrison Waite

“ In states where constitutional provisions like that now under consideration have been decided to be mandatory, and not directory only, it has generally been held that the requirement is satisfied if the law has but one general object, and that is clearly expressed in the title. It is enough if the body of the act is germane to the title. This is certainly the well-establed rule in Illinois, where, as was said by Mr. ”

“ People v. Wright, 70 Ill. 396; People v. Brislin, 80 Ill. 423, where it was said, (page 433:) 'This court has gone very far to uphold statutes supposed to be within this objection;' 'the body of the act in question is germane to the title of the bill.' Guild v. City of Chicago, 82 Ill. 475; Fuller v. People, 92 Ill. 185. This court also decided to the same effect in Jonesboro City v. Cairo & St. L. R. Co., 110 U.S. 199, S.C.. 4. Sup. Ct. Rep. 67, as to a similar provision in the Illinois constitution of 1870. ”

“ This, as it seems to us, comes within both the letter and spirit of the earlier adjudications, and that these have not been overthrown by the later cases. We are aware that in Welch v. Post, 99 Ill. 474, decided in 1881, the court said that, 'on the authority of Middleport v. AEtna Ins. ”