Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-12
TOUCH MANY LINES
illinois Mayors at Convention
Recommend Reforms in
Various Directions.
MEET AT LA SALE NEXT
Absence of Number of Prominent
Speakers Disappoints - Officers
Elected for the Year.

Bloomington, H., Sept 12.-The Illi-
nois Mayors association yesterday
adopted resolutions favoring the cleo
ton of railroad and warehouse COM
missioners by the people and the crea-
ton by the Legislature of a commission
| of three members to supervise the cleo
| tric traction lines of the state. The
proposed deep waterway to the gulf
was favored.
President McCaskrin's address was
| given careful attention, and while he
made some radical recommendations,
each clause of his report was endors-
ed and approved. The clause favoring
| legislation which will do away with
| the pollution of streams as sources of
| city water supply was endorsed The
recommendation that the duty on lum-
ber be removed was adopted unani-
mously.
| Endorse Pcnitentiary View.
| Mayor Mcdonald of Decatur moved
the adoption of Mr.. McCaskrin's rec
ommendation that the convict labor
system of the state be changed so that
! felOns and criminals shall be compell-
ed TO work the roads instead of COM
peting with free labor i'll manufactur-
ing lines. This was endorsed.
| The clause of the presidents address
that all corporations seeking franchises
for public utilities shall pay for the
same. and that all cities of 1000 and
upward in population shall have the
referendum vote TO pass on franchise
grants was adopted. City Attorney
Fitzhenry of bloomington asked that
the statement in the address in regard
to perpetual franchises be changed to
"so-called or claimed perpetual fran
lchisCs." Mr.. McCaskrin agreed to this
Mr.. Fitzhenry stated that in his opin
ion there was no such thing as q
perpetual franchise.
Give Parks to All Towns.
The recommendation for law where
by all towns and cities may levy ta>
for park purposes, no matter what thei
size, was endorsed.
The suggestion that there should bt
commission of three members elect
ed by the people to supervise electric
lines drew forth some eXtempore fire
,, The convention approved the commits
: sion plan
Then Mr.. FitZhenry's suggestion tina
the Legislature should pass a law max
i ing the railroad and warehouse com
: mission an elective body was en-
dorsed.
On the motion of Mayor Puterbaugl
the clause approving the deep water
way from Chicago to the gulf wa
heartily endorsed
The matter of the future publication
Iof the official bulletin of the municipal
titles of the state of Illinois was NO
decided upon. but there was a genera
, sentiment that George w. McCaskri
| shall continue in charge. The detail
will be left to the officers and the peN
board of directors.
Speakers Send Regrets.
Most of the speakers for the afte
/ noon session were unable to be her,
Regrets were received from Edwar
: d. Shurtleff, Alderman Milton ]. For,
man of Chicago, Mayor Thomas O'Col
nor of Peoria, and Mayor George Shun
way of Galesburg.
La Sale will entertain the associ
4 ltion next year. After electing Mayo
Silas Cook of East ST Louis presideI
and choosing other officers, the secon
! lannual convention adjourned The OF
er officers chosen are
Vice President F. w. Marstille
Geneva.
Secretary - George w. McCaskri
" Rock Island.
;" Treasurer-C. E. Beaver, Mount Ca
L roll.
y Directors-H. J. Puterbaugh, Mac
. inaw; w. A. Panneck, La Sale; c.
q Beach, Paxton; James Price, ElgiI
~ Edward Holland, Bloomington; B.
Mcdonald, Decatur; T. J. Webster,
lanta