Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-09
NRWLAWSFOR ILLINOIS
Net Results Accomplished by the
Legislature.
LIST OF THE MEASURES PASSED.

LIST OF THE MEASURES PASSED.
Torrens Land Title Law Changed 10 Meet
Objections Of the Courts-Lsw Relating
% Names Of Candidates ON Omcial Bal.
iots-some Measures Of the Highest I'm
portance to the state--Parposes for which
Money IL Appropriated
The Fortieth general assembly of the
state OF Illinois convened on Jan. 6
and adjourned sire die on June 4, being
in session for 149 days. including Sum-
days. For the first time since 1889 there
was a governor to be inaugurated and
sworn In and a United States senator
v be elected at the same session. These
two events monopolized attention for
nearly three weeks. delaying regular
legislative work longer than usual.
Representative Ed. c. Curtis Of Grant
Park was chosen speaker Of the lower
house after a lively contest and a still
more exciting struggle for the United
States senatorship resulted finally in the
triumphant election OF Hon. William z.
Mason OF Chicago. Other Interruptions
Of the work were occasioned by the
presidential Inauguration at Washing
ton and the spring elections in the
state.
OF the 40 or more bills enacted into
law out Of the 1900 introduced. fully
one-half were passed during the last
two days of the session. These last two
days were memorable ones. They wit
messed the defeat OF the senatorial, and
incidentally OF the congressional, APP
portionment bills, about the only parti-
san political measures Of the session.
On the final day the anti department
store bill was killed and the Allen street
railway bill. against which there has
been such bitter protest from Chicago.
was enacted into law.
No Resenue Liquidation.
Absolutely no revenue legislation was
enacted. although that was one OF the
most important questions for discussion
ut the beginning Of the session. There
Is n widespread belief that special ses-
sion will be called next autumn to take
up this problem.
or the recommendations in the gov
labor problem was not taken I'D ex-
cept for the appointment Of a commit
tee to investigate and report to the next
general assembly. The uniform and
free text book bills were both killed.
Some OF the more important meas
ures Of the session which passed are
the following: Prohibiting child labor,
judicial apportionment. home education
OF the deaf, charging civil rights bill.
anti-fusion bill, compulsory education,
new flag law. anti-butterine bill. SCI
entifc temperance education. repeating
libel law of 1895. creating state board Of
pardons. compelling payment for all
coal mined. licensing architects, extend
ing drainage district tax levy. amend
cd Torrens law. consolidating supreme
court. permitting combinations to main
tain or increase wages, amending gar
nishment law. making tax levy $780,
900 for two years.
In order to appreciate better what
The appropriations have been this ses-
sion. II Is not amiss to go back to the
allowances made by previous general
assemblies In recent years. The Thirty
sixth general assembly made appropria-
lions aggregating 1898, 1853 for the two
years. 1889 and 1890. For each Of these
and the rate Of assessment required to
produce this amount was SO cents on the
800 in 1889 and &c cents In 1890.
Increase n Large One.
For the last two years of the Fifer
administration-1s91 and 1s92-the Thir-
ty-seventh general assembly appropri-
ated $S,757, 901. II will be noted that the
increase II a large one and this Is ac-
counted for by the appropriation Of
81. 100000 which was made In aid OF the
Columbian exposition at Chicago. There
was. however. n compensation for this
in the acquisition OF nearly $1,000, 900
from the general government by the re-
funding Of the direct war tax. The rate
Of assessment was reduced during those
two years.
For the first two years OF the Altgeld
administration. the Thirty-eighth gen.
erai assembly made appropriations ag-
gregating S9.03s.s14. The tax levy was
stili kept down to $500 900. and the as
eessment rate was 81 cents. This show
ing. however. was at the cost OF the
large working balance In the treasury.
The high water mark In appropria-
tions was set In 1895. for that and the
succeeding year. The total amount was
sio.o55. 500 The tax levy for each Of
these years was s4.0O0. 900. a total of
$4,000 900 for the two years. In order
20 provide this amount II was necessary
60 raise the assessment rate to 80 cents
for 1895 and to S. cents for 1896. In
Guided IN the appropriations made by
The Thirty-ninth general assembly were
nearly 1880, 900 for new institutions and
buildings and for exigencies which do
not exist session. There wereestab-
fished In 1895 the Asylum for Incurable
Insane at Peoria. the Western Hospital
for the Insane. Eastern Illinois Normal
school at Charleston. Northern Illinois
Normal school at DeKaib. university II.
brary building Mt Champaign. Soldiers
widows home Mt Wilmington. More
over. the fire at the asylum at Anna.
che strike trouble at Chicago in 1894 and
the state fair improvements cost the
state nearly $4,000.
due To Growth Of Population.
Aside from these comparisons, Il will
he seen by study OF all the foregoing
figures that there has been a steady in
crease in the amount of biennial appro-
rr'ations. A large share Of this is. Of
course. due to the growth OF the state
IN population. There IL scarcely a prob.
ability that at any time In the future
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