The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-12
CHICAGO TOO LARGE
PLAN TO DIVORCE COOK COUNTY
FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Mr.. Jones Proposes n Separate Legis-
laturc for the Soon-tO-I3e Greatest
City ON the Continent.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April IA move
ment was put on foot by Representative
Jones, of Green, in the Legislature, to-day,
by which, If carried out, will practically
sever Cook county (Chcago) from the State
OF Illinois. 1t was in the form of joint
resolution, and provides that the question
of giving Cook county a separate govern
ment from the remainder of the State shall
be submitted to vote of the people. The
resolution recltes that the rapid and up-
precedented growth of Chicago renders it
necessary for special laws to be enacted
at every Legislature The interests of Chi
cago are, in many instances. directly op-
posed to those of the State at large
The amendment provides that on and
after January, 1898, Cook county shall be
governed by a general assembly composed
of seventeen Senators and fifty-one Repre-
seltatives. Provision is made for the di-
vision of Cook county into districts, and
the general election laws of the State shall
govern the election of such Senators and
Representatives. This general assembly of
Cook county shall pass the laws necessary
to administer justice in Cook county; all
present judicial officers shall hold their
respective offices until the expiration of
the terms for which they have been elected.
In addition thereto the said general assem-
hve members, to tbe elected for a term of
nine years All criminals and insane per-
sons confined in State institutions outside
OF Cook county shall, upon the adoption
or the amendment, be removed to the insti-
tutions in Cook county. No tax may be
levied in Cook county for outside of
it's boundary, and Cook county cannot draw
money from the State treasury. but it shall
receive its proportionate share of the rev.
emile the Illinois Central railroad. The
members of the Cook county general as
sembly shall only sit with the General AS
sembly of Illinois during the election of a
United states Senator to Congress and dur
ing the impeachment of State officers but
can vote on no other matters. No bills
passed by the Cook county legislature shall
become a law until signed by the presid-
ing officers of each house and by the Gov
ernor of the State, unless they shall have
received two-thirds vote of each house
All State buildings in Cook county shall
be transferred to Cook county. to be used
as the COOK county assembly may direct.
In speaking of the resolution, Repre-
sentative Jones said: ''The necessity for
such legislation is fully stated in the pre-
amble. Chicago will soon be the greatest
clty IN the United States. It is more metro
politan now than any other city, and its
increasing needs are vast and various
and so different from those of other por-
legislative body with power to meet every
HuctuatIon of public sentiment and neces-
Sty. No citizen of Illinois will for a mo-
ment consent to make separate State
out of Chicago, and every citizen desires
to do all in iiis power to aid it's growth
My proposition has been hastily drawn
but believe it is on the right line and
lar approval The resolution was referred
TO the committee iudiciarv