Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-14

fDeneen to the Forty-sixth General
Assembly in extraordinary session at
Springfield, ILL.,, are primary election
Legislation and the construction of
the proposed deep waterway between
HLockport and Utica.
On the subject of primary election,
Governor Deneen's message calls at
ltention to the decision of the supreme
court in the Strassheim case, in
validating the primary election law on
account of defects in sections IL and
A, which led him to address a letter
TO the judges of the supreme court re-
Gquesting that they point out a means
of curing defects and frame a primary
election law for submission to the gen.
.eral assembly. The communication of
the judges of the supreme court in re-
ply to the governor, in which they de-
cline to comply with his request, is
attached as an appendix to the mes
sage.
The message urges the amendment
lof the general election laws and sug-
gests compulsory service for Judges
and clerks of election.
The message also recommends the
passage Of a corrupt practices act
limiting campaign expenditures and
requiring publication of campaign ex-
pense accounts.
On the subject of waterways the
governors message urges the enact
ment of legislation creating commits
sion to take charge of the work of con-
struction Of the proposed waterway
and the development of water power.
1t calls attention to the adoption of
an amendment authorizing a 20000.-
600 bond issue to carry out the project
and urges upon the legislature the
duty Of creating the needed agencies
TO further the work.
Deals with Cherry Disaster.
The message urges the amendment
of mining laws and in this connection
deals with the recent disastrous fire
IN the coal mine at Cherry 1t states
that report prepared by the mining
investigation commission will be sub
mitted at the present session which
provides for the installment in all coal
mines OF fre-fghting apparatus, the
construction OF stables of non-com-
bustible material, the providing of an
area at the bottom of coal mine shafts
of fireproos construction for the safety
of miners who may be entrapped and
that all slopes and drifts shalls be
properly protected.
The message strongly urges the
making of an appropriation for the re-
lief of sufferers from the disaster.
Along the same lines is the para
graph dealing with the appointment of
O. commission TO study the subject of
employers liability.
The governor asks that power be
conferred upon cities to engage in
harbor and dock Improvement work
suited to their needs.
He urges the adoption of the amend
ment to the federal constitution per-
hitting the imposition Of an income
tax and also favors the comforting up
on cities of power to adopt the COM
mission form Of government.
An act comforting upon cities pow
ers to construct, maintain and oper
ate subways is urged.
The message follows:
Tells Need of Primary Law.
"The decision Of the supreme court
in people ex rel. Joseph Philip VS..
Christopher Strassheim invalidating
the primary election law enacted at
the session of the general assembly of
1908 owing to defects in sections II
and "A thereof. leaves Illinois without
any primary election law applicable to
the whole state upon its statute books.
This, in my Judgment, constitutes Sc
rious defect in our political system.
In the absence of laws regulating the
holding Of primary elections, citizens
of Illinois have no enforceable rights
lin the nomination of party candidates.
''The evils arising from this cOndi-
ton have been recognized in every
ct fa has
its statute books some form of primary
Legislation excepting Illinois.
In our state, ire nomination Of party
candidates under the voluntary system
has resulted in evils which have led
to the enactment of many primary
election laws designed for the regula-
ton of party nominations. None OF
these. however, prior to the passage o.
The primary election laws of 1905, 1905
and 1908, attempted the statewide
compulsory regulation of primary cleo
lions.
These laws have been declared IN
constitutional by the supreme court
in various primary election cases and
the reasoning of the supreme court in
these cases indicates that all primary
election laws enacted by the general
assembly are likewise unconstitution-
al.
Supreme Court Denies Aid.
"In view of the fact that the revision
OF our primary election laws had al.
ready occupied so considerable por-
ton of the time of the general assem-
bly, at two regular and one special ses- |
sion and Of the failure of the meas
Eures enacted to meet constitutional re-
Quirements, as pointed out in the de-
cisions of the supreme court, 1 deter /
mined to secure, If possible, the aid
OF the supreme court itself in the
framing of primary election measure
for submission to your honorable body |