Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-04

lar attention to the finances of the
state, which are in excellent condition.
With the exception of the years 1906
and 1907 the amount of money in the
state treasury Jan. /, 1911, is the larg.
est in the history of the state. The
auditors report, covering the last semi
annual period ending Sept. 30, 1910,
shows that there were So, ,629 .35
in the general revenue fund at that
time. In other funds there were 1884,
9I1.44. The auditor estimates that be-
tween DC. 1, 1910, and July /, 1911, he
will receive from all sources $751;
4S3.37. The estimated liabilities of
the state are 1886, 1856, SO that the
probable balance of unappropriated
revenue July !. 1911. will be s5,1o2,-
295.76.
RAILROAD COMMISSION
In recommending railroad legisla-
ton the governor says: Since the
creation OF the railroad commission
the capital represented by the rail-
roads reporting to the commission has
grown from 1907 .521,422 to $685.
470.593, and the commissions report
shows that the passenger and freight
traffic OF the Companies has grown in
Ike proportion. At the date OF the
creation OF the railroad and warehouse
commission the railroad by electric
power was practically unknown Now,
Illinois has 1,663.47 miles Of interur-
ban railways. giving passenger, sleep
ing car express and freight service
Under the provisions OF the statute,
the commissio is charged with the
duty of making up for these railroads
a schedule of reasonable maximum
rates of charges for the transportation
of passengers, freight and cars, and
with the duty OF revising the same as
often as occasion shall require. In
my last message to the general assem-
bly, ! directed attention to certain COM
plants which had been fled against
the express companies in relation to
exorbitant charges made by them and
10 the fact that express companies
were not specifically named in the
railroad and warehouse statute New
ertheless. in view of the continuance
of such complaints the commission
on its own motion assumed jurisdic-
tion OF the subject and cited all the
express companies before It and made
an exhaustive and thorough investiga-
ton of express charges and practices
in this state. At the conclusion of the |
investigation the commission entered
an order making a schedule of rea-
sonable maximum rates and charges
for the trans portation OF freight by
express companies, TO be effective on |
and after Oct. Is. 1910. Before this |
order became effective the express /
companies filed a petItion in the Unit |
ed States district court praying that |
the commission be enjoined from en-
forcing this order and tariff The |
court issued an order restraining the |!
commission from enforcing the tariff, |
pending the Injunction proceedings, |
the basis of the injunction being the |
allegation that the commission is with |
out jurisdiction over express compa-
MES. would, therefore. recommend |
to the general assembly that a statute !
be enacted specifically placing the eX-
press companies doing business in this |
state under the jurisdiction OF the j
commission.
GRAIN INSPECTION.
The message relates the improve |
partment during the last two years,
which have enabled the department to /
handle the grain promptly, improve its I
systems OF inspections, establish COM /
plete records, and dispose of appeals /
The message also refers TO the install |
lation OF a complete apparatus for the /
testing of moisture in corn, thus en- 1
abling the department TO reduce to a /
SNipppa the {USnaOfinp nF
this cereal.
In view Of these improvements and +
the complete revolution In the sys-
tenn of handling and marketing grain 1
since the statutes were enacted pro- /
viding for the appointment Of a rail- /
road and warehouse commission and
the establishing of public warehouses,
there should be thorough revision OF
these laws"
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
On the question OF public utilities
the message says: 1T is too well
known to need the support of argu-
ment that the standard of politics in
our state and municipalities have Of
ten been lowered and their legislative
bodies debauched through the efforts
of public utility companies, striving,
on the one hand. to secure improper
privileges and franchises through the
enactment of laws and ordinances,
and. upon the other, to prevent the
passage OF destructive legislation in
tended only for Matchmaking purposes.
In my Judgment, authority should be
given the railroad and warehouse
commission, or 70 q commission ere
ated for this specii purpose. 70 gather
and publish all facts regarding the
cost OF construction, maintenance and
operation of public utility corporations
with power to require service ade-
ouate for the public needs and 20 fix