Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-26
Allen Deep Waterway
Bill Reconsidered and
Again Passed
EMERGENCY FEATURE
Special Message Has Immediate
Effect-..State's interests
Saved Also.

Springfield, Ill. Nov 2G.-(Argus
Special )-Follswing the reading of
Governor Deneen's special message to
the legislature this morning asking
that the Allen deep waterway bill de-
claring the Desplaines river a nayiga
bic stream, instructing the governor
and attorney general to prevent the
obstruction of the stream by the con-
struction of dams. unless with the eX-
plicit authority of the legislature, the
senate reconsidered it's previous action
and passed Aliens bill with the emer
sency clause attached and the bill,
having previously passed the house,
goes to the governor for his signature.
1t is decided victory for Governor
Deneen.
Must Return Interest.
The senate also passed the bill re-
quiring the state treasurer to return
to the state treasury the interest which
he may receive from any moneys. the
property of the state. which is on de-
post Ill any DdHkS.
Victory for Cannon.
The friends of Congressman Joe
Cannon won victory in the confer
ence committee on the Oglesby pri-
mary election bill today. When the
committee this morning. the repubi-
can members of the house conferees
receded from the position which they
had taken yesterday and voted with
the senate republicans 10 eliminate
from the provisions OF the bill the elec
ton of presidential electors and dele
gates to the national conyention. The
trustees of the University of Illinois
were eliminated yesterday.
Provisions of Bill.
The bill as il now stands provides
that the precinct committeeman shall
constitute the county committee and
that the county committee shall Sc
lect delegates 10 the congressional and
state conventions, the congressional
conventions to choose district dele
gates to the national conventions and
the state conventions to choose dele
gates TO the national convention.
Hefiteu 10 Nuter foNers
Governor Deneen's message to the
legislature related to the conservation
of water power as incident to the con-
struction at public expense of the pro
posed deep waterway involving the eX-
penditure of $20,000,G00 He says in
order 10 secure the approval of the
constitutional amendment by the peo-
pie il is essential that the water power
developed by the expenditure of $20,-
100000 should be owned and controlled
by the state, so the state may be re-
couped for its expenditure and fund
created for the further development
and extension of the internal water
way system, and that the development
is rot to be unnecessarily complicated
by questions of private ownership.
Takes Issue with Stead.
The governor from the outset takes
issue with the recent opinion given by
ATTORNEY General Stead who held that
the rights granted the Economy Power
company at Dresden Heights on the
Desplaines river constitute valid
lease for 20 years, at least In fact
practically the entire message is a sue
cession of citations from the various
enactments of the United States con
gress and the state legislature bearing
upon the navigability of streams. the
power to convey water power right.
to private parties, and the decision:
OF the courts interpreting the same.
General Conclusions Reached.
The general conclusions reacHt
are:
That the Despaines river is in fac
navieable and has been so regardet
by the Legislature and the courts a
various times.
That the state is within its right
and would not conflict with the ns
tonal government in developing
I water power or providing for navigf
ton
That the Illinois & Michigan cana
commission exceeded its powers whe
it disposed of the states rights to tn
Economy people.
That the contract entered into is il
valid on the ground Of insufficient con
pensation.
That the formal declaration of til
Desplaines river to be navigable b
the legislature would strengthen tn
position of the state in a contentio
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