Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-12
NEW LAWS SUGGESTED.
Some Expression OF Opinion From
Rock Island County.--Changes In
State Leg isiatiOn

Some Expression Of Opinion From
Rock Island County.--Changes In
State Leg isiati0n.
The Chicago Daily Nesos of today de-
votes several pages to interviews made by
its correspondents all over the state, as to
what new laws should properly come be-
fore the present session of the legisla-
ture. The Neos representative in Rock
Island county writes:
There is much speculation here as to
what new laws or amendments to EXIST
ing statutory provisions may present
themselves for enactment at the coming
session of the legislature. The Morning
Ne,os correspondent has obtained some
expression OF opinion on those changes
m ost agitated.
L. w. Hurst, ESQ, member-elect of
the house from the twenty-irst district,
said: Il have in mind several measures
which shall endesvor to have favorably
considered by the legislature this winter,
| the most important Of which, in my
opinion, is an election law modelled some
| what after the law enacted by the last
| Massachusetts legislature, and which in a
large degree removes the possibility of
bribery at elections and cripples the
power OF political machines. | think
that the corrupt use of money by both of
the leading parties In the late election
must convince every one that ballot re
form is a necessity if our system OF popu-
lar government is TO be maintained"
THE law as to probate and law terms
| of the county court should be amended
| and changed" said Judge Ira o Wilkin.
| son. The present statute provides that
the probate terms of the county court
shall be held ia each month, and tie law
| terms OF the same court shall be held in
certain months designated and ranging
| from two to five terms yesSpand speci,
flying in some over one hundred sections
of the statute as to the times the law
| terms shall be held. Now, it is fire.
QCently a matter of much doubt with
| judges and lawyers as TO the proper dis
| trIbution of this business, or some of it,
as between the probate and the law terms
in other words. to what is law and what
| is probate business within the meaning of
| the statute. 1t is very general opinion
| among lawyers that there is substan ,ial
| reason for the distinction. and that these
100 sections might well be stricken out,
| and single section substituted providing
| that terms of the county court shall be
| held on the first Monday of every month
for the hearing and disposing of every
| kind of cause that might legally be
brought before it. whether probate, law,
insanity, condemnation cases, or what
ever the action might be. By this
change the county court might be made
very substantial aid to the circuit
courts. which are constantly running be-
hind in their business"
| Another prominent member of the bar.
who prefers not to give his name in this
connection, suggested a change in the
laws relating to the master in chancery
He had given the matter much consider
alton. and these alterations he thought
were exceedingly desirable to the existing
law: To make the term of Office from
two years to four years; the appointee to
be qualified attorney; to allow the ap'
| pointment of special master in chan
Gerry in all suits where all the parties tC
the suits agree to the appointment; the
guardian or next friend of a minor may
agree for the minor, but the specia
master to the subject to removal by The
court for cause satisfactory to the court