Rock Island Argus., 1903-01-07

at a time when steam railroads were
the only kind known. These other
railways have been developed within
recent years and are rapidly becoming,
as common carriers, important.
The electric railroads extending
from city to city and from village to
village are organized under the rail
road law of the state and, like the
steam railroads, carry passengers,
freight and express, and operate at
speed often exceeding sixty miles per
hour. The only essential difference is
that of the motive power. The tracks
of these railroads are continually cross
ing and recrossing the tracks of the
steam railroads at grade, and with due
regard to the safety of persons and
property, it would seem proper that
the commission be given the same
Jurisdiction over electric railroads as
it now exercises over steam railroads.
Questions relating to the crossing of
steam and electric railroads and of
electic railroads with others of the
same class have frequently come be-
| fore the railroad and warehouse COM
mission, and the commission has as
sumed Jurisdiction under the general
laws or the state, ana mas heard evil
dence and entered orders in such cases.
In order that all question of jurisdic-
ton over electric railroads may be set
tied beyond controversy there appears
to be a necessity for specific legisla-
tion defining the duties and powers of
the commission with respect to this
class of railroads.
1 am gratihed to be able to state
that the reports of the railroad and
warehouse commission show that the
railroad employees have quite general
ly participated in the prosperity which
has marked the railroad business dur
| ing the past year.
Insurance Department..
In commenting upon the work of the
insurance department the governor
says:
The practice of making this state
the asylum for offenders against the
| insurance laws of other states has
grown 10 such an extent of late years
| that due regard for the good name of
the state, and the consideration which
legitimate Insurance and honorable
companies are entitled to, require it's
suppression. This practice consists of
establishing IN this state offices or
agencies of unauthorized companies.
Over half a million of the citizens
of this state are members of fraternal
societies and assessment insurance
companies. They have invested their
savings in purchasing for the benefit
of their families the indemnity which
these companies and societies offer.
They are entitled to the best protec-
ton which these systems afford.
lin speaking of the waterways of
the state the governor says that the
time for abandoning the old Illinois
and Michigan canal has not yet ar
rived.
State Finances and Taxes.
The subject of state finances is one |
which it would afford me pleasure to |
discuss at considerable length, so graft |
flying is the present financial condition |
OF the state, and so astounding is the |
contrast between conditions now and |
those which prevailed a few years ago. |
All debts which were left as 4 legacy |
from the Altgeld administration have |
been paid, and on the 1st of this
month, January. 1908, there was in the
treasury a working balance of $2,S75,- /
476.63.
With the growth of the state and
its expanding needs, there has been n
gradual increase in the appropriations
made by the legislature, the increase
from session to session averaging more
than $1,000.000 for the ten years prior
to 1901. The increase of the total ap-
preparations made by the legislature in
1901 over those made in 1899 fell con-
Siderably below the average, being
S763, 900; and this in spite of the fact
that extraordinary appropriations were
made, amounting to nearly S1,OOO,OOO.
1t is all the more gratifying to know
that all this has been brought about
without increase of the state tax levy,
which remained the same in 1902 as
in 1901-50 ccnts-and has just been
fixed for the ensuing year at 40 cents.
Under this levy $4,000,000 of the neces-
ary S4,5OO,O00 will be raised, and the
treasury balance July 1 next will still
be about $3,oO0,o00.
The states share (as tax of the
gross receipts of the Illinois Central
railroad for the year ending Oct. 81,
1902, is $942 061.19. This sum repre-
sents $2,5S0.S5 for every day in the
year, and it also represents per cent.
on very nearly twenty-five million dol
lars, which sum may fairly be said to
the proprietary interest of
the state in the Illinois Central rail- l
road The total receipts of the state l
from this source, from the completion :
Of the railroad in 1855 to date, are
$50, $50, 1868. There has been a rapid {
and steady increase in the growth Of +
this fund from 1894, when it amounted /
to $3.50, ,911.49, indicating the growing {
Of the state, as well as of t
the railroad company. The amount re-