The record-union., 1895-04-12
COOK C0UNTYS AMBITION,
WANTS SEPARATE GOVERNMENT
FROM THE STATE.
Resolution to That Effect Introduced
in the Legislature of
Illinois.
specIal 70 fhe REcoRp-uN1ov.

SDeclal 70 J0e hECORD-U MON.
SPRINGFIELD Ill.). April IA move
ment was set Oh foot by Representative
Jones OF Green County in the Legislature
to-day which, if carried out, viii practic-
ally sever Cook County, in which Chi
cago is situated. from the State of Illi-
nOis. 1t was in the form of joint reso-
luton, and provides that the question of
giving Cook County separate govern
ment shall be submitted to vote of the
people.
The resolution recites that the rapid
and unprecedented growth OF Chicago
renders it necessary for special laws to
be enacted at every Legislature. The in
terests of Chicago are in many instances
directly opposed to those of the State at
large, and therefore injustice must be
done to one section in order to benefit the
other. 1t is therefore resolved that there
be submitted to the people for their rati-
tication or rejection at the next general
election for members of the General AS
sembly, an amendment to take the place
OF Section of Article 10 OF the Constitu-
ton.
This amendment provides that on and
after January /, 1898, Cook County shall
be governed by a General Assem- bly,,
com posed of seventeen Senators and
fitty-one Representatives. Provision is
made for a division of Cook County into
districts, and the general election laws OF
the State shall govern the election OF such
Senators and Representatives This Gem
eral Assembly OF Cook County shall pass
| the laws necessary TO administer Justice
in that county. All present judicial Off
GERS shall hold their respective Offices un-
til the expiration of the terms for which
they have been elected. In addition
thereto, the said General Assembly shall
provide for a Supreme Court of five
mem bers, to be elected tor a term of nine
years. All criminals and insane persons
confined in State institutions outside OF
Cook County shall, upon the adoption OF
the amendment, be removed to institu-
tions in Cook County.
No tax may be levied on Cook County
for use outside of its boundary, and Cook
County cannot draw money from the
State treasury but it shall receive it's pro-
portlonate share of the revenue of the
Illinois Central Railroad.
The members of the Cook County Gen-
eral Assembly shall only sit with the
General Assembly of Illinois during the
election Of a United States Senator To
Congress and during the impeachment of
Stale officers, but can vote on other mat
ters. No bills passed by the Cook County
Legislature shall become law until
signed by the presiding officers of each
house and by the Governor OF the State,
unless they have received q two-thirds
vote of each house. All state buildings
IN Cook County shall be transferred to
Cook County, to be used as the sCook
County Assembly may direct.
IN speaking of the resolution, Repre-
sentative Jones said: "rhe necessity for
such legislation is fully stated i'll the
preamble. Chicago will soon be the first
city III the United States. 1t is more
metropolitan than any other city, and it's
increasing needs are so vast and SO dit
ferent from those OF other portions OF the
state, that it should have q legislative
body with power to meet every fluctua-
ton of public sentiment and necessity.
No citizen OF Illinois will for moment
consent to make a separate State out of
Chicago, and every citizen desires to 20
all in his power TO add 10 It's growth. Ny
proposition has been hastily drawn, bus l
believe 1t Is on the right lines. and when
iuily considered will meet with popular
approval
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Judiciary.