Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-18

Va laws INV III lolCG All llltlOiS bCdi"
ing upon the subject of taxation; the
hearing of complaints and obtaining
showing the inequalities
Of the present system; an inquiry into
systems of taxation in other states;
and report to the governor with
drafts of bills embodying the recon-
niendations of the commission, to be
transmitted by the governor to the
general assembly.
II am thoroughly convinced of the
necessity for revenue revision and
again urge upon the general assembly
the consideration of the question of APP
pointing a revenue commission with
duties similar to those embodied in
the measure referred to.
Primary Elections.
1.-THE first practical test of the pres
ent primary election law was made at
the primaries held on Aug. last. AS
was anticipated. the test disclosed Ger
tain defects in the law. Chief among
these defects, was the opportunity OF
forded members of one party TO vote
at the primary elections, and thus IN
a measure TO control the nomination OF
another.
mo defect more grave than this
could be found under system of par.
ty government and the law should be
amended so as to preserve to men,
beers of each party the exclusive right
to select their party candidates. Tn
baneful consequences following a vio-
lation of this obvious principle of par
ty government reach far beyond party
organizations. They affect the princi-
pie of majority rule. The foisting OF
such candidates upon majority party
through the participation of members
of a minority party in its primary
elections, must frequently result in
the election of candidates representing
the minority, not the majority, of the
voters
Railroad and Warehouse Board.
1.-The railroad and warehouse COM
mission has become one of the most
important departments of the state
government. 1t was originally created
by statute enacted in 1871. There
were then only nineteen railroad COM
panies reporting to the commission
with a total mileage of single track
main line of 3,7303s and total of all
description of tracks of 5,066h miles
For the year ending June 30, 1908.
$50 steam railroad companies and 81
electric interurban railroad companies
reported with an aggregate single
track mileage (main line and
branches) of l3,332.24. and total of
all description of tracks of 23,045.57
miles.
THE total capital represented by
the nineteen railroad companies re-
porting to the commission in the year
of 1871 was 1897 ,521, 422.00. The tota,
capital represented by the 1872 rail-
road companies reporting to the COM
mission last year was $5,574, 100 900 90.
'1n 1889 the commission was given
partial jurisdiction oyer the cross
ings of one road by another. but only
when objection was made by either
party interested This jurisdiction was
further extended in 1907 to include
all crossings and conditions Under
both these statutes the commission
has adopted uniform policy of sep
aration of grades, wherever the same
is practicable and feasible. This pol
icy was adopted to protect the lives
and property of the people.
1.-The commission has received COM
plants as to exorbitant charges made
by the express companies operating
over the railroads of our state, in
some cases equalling the value of the
property, but as the statute requiring
the commission to make schedule OF
| reasonable maximum rates does not
specifically name express companies
as coming within its purview, the
| commission has not exercised that
authority If it be thought proper to
| place express companies under the
| Jurisdiction of the commission its
| authority should be made perfectly
clear by appropriate action by the
general assembly.
| "1n my Judgment statute should
! be enacted specifically providing that
nterurban railroads are to be consid-
cred railroads within the meaning oil
the statute, and that all laws appli-
cable to railroads shall be applicable
| to interurban roads (so-called) wheth-
er operated by steam or any other mo.
I tive power.
| 81 again recommend the enactmer,
OF measure prohibiting the use OIL
railroad passes, modelled after the ma.
| tional law.
illinois Central Railroad Case.
| "On February 10, 1851, the genera
assembly passed an act Incorporating
| the Illinois Central railroad company
and granted to the company $685.
! acres of land to aid in the construction
| OF the road. Subsequently. the com
pany sold the greater portion of tn,
land granted and realized therefron
| a sum in excess of $30,000.000.
/ "In consideration of the grants
| privileges and franchises conferred b,
the state upon, the company, it wa'
agreed that the company. should pa,
into the state treasury on the frs
Mondays of June and December o
each year a sum equal to at leas
seven per cent of the gross receipts o
the company, and for the purpose o
| ascerfa lining the amount of the gros