Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-30


codihcation of the school law and
made which have improved the ad-
ministration Of the school system.
The message recites the history of a
provision of the mill tax and its re-
moval in 1873 by the substitution of
an annual appropriation OF 100000.
It recommends that the mill tax be
restored because more than 1000 dis
tricts and sometimes entire counties
are unable to raise funds for the main
tenance of efficient schools. The mes
sage states that compared with other
states, Illinois is far behind in the rel
alive amount appropriated by the
State for public school expenses. New
Jersey appropriates IS per cent, Ken
lucky 50 per cent, California 81 per
cent, Pennsylvania y per cent, Wis
consin Il per cent, Indiana 20 per
cent and Illinois 20 per cent for
school purposes.
The Governor commends the work
Of the township high schools and the
State normal schools. States that
Illinois has 30.366 teachers employed
in the public schools, and only 1882
of these have had as much as high
school education.
Insurance.
The message recites the laws which
have been passed effecting a complete
revision Of the law Of life insurance
and refers 10 the II laws enacted for
| this purpose. The Governor dis
| cusses the work OF the commission ap-
/ pointed to investigate fire insurance
conditions Of the State and their rec
concentrations and recommends that
/ stock companies should be required
TO have an unimpaired capital of at
least 100000 on deposit with the de-
/ partment as security for policy hold
ers. The message states that assess
ment life insurance companies should
not be permitted to organize in this
State, nor should assessment life as
sociations OF other states be permitted
10 enter Illinois to transact business.
The message discusses at length the
law relating TO fraternal beneficiary
societies and states that a law should
be passed permitting fraternal orders
to have two classes OF benehCiaries
permitting one TO pay the rates fav-
ored by the National Fraternal Con-
gress and the other 70 pay rates suffi-
cient to meet death losses as they &C
crue. If such a division of member
ship should be permitted by the stat.
utes and each class OF members. includ
ing new members, should be permitted
to retain and use its own funds without
reference 70 the other class. it would
in the Governors opinion. solve {
most perplexing problem. The mes
sage recommends the enactment O
special provisions for life and acct
dent policies along lines OF the pres
ent law affecting policies OF life in
surance.
The message recommends strong
snti-disCrimiPation law applicable t,
fire insurance companies doing bust
ness in this State
, The message presents the work 0
the Illinois State Geological Survey il
detail. It discusses its progress an,
states that our mineral output is $l45,
$4,000 per year
lllinois-M Michigan Canal.
! The Governor refers to the com
! munications received from the Attor
] ney-General and the assistant AttOr
e. ney-General OF the United States rela
y tive to the federal government requir
! ing the State of Illinois to place tn
! canal in its original condition as
- water highway and gives the COZ
/ respOndenCe. The message states ais
{ that the Morton Salt Company OF CHI
= cago has begun the shipment Of i
e products over the canal and tina
d barges are being constructed for NOR
r. extensive shipments next year.
{ also states that the canal can be rt
n stored to its old condition withor
r. great expense, but says that it woul
{ require approximately one million do
+ lars for Improvements Of a moder
= type and character and OF permaner
n benefit. The commission has made
d survey of the freight that is offered t
the canal and states that the toll
would amount to approximately $500
n 600 per year if the canal were put int
: condition TO be used more extensivel
q Rivers and Lakes Commission.
II The work Of the Rivers and LAX,
Commission is stated in great detail
reference to stream improvement
, water power development, land re
II lsmstion and river drainage, embra
! ing the drainaGes of the Mississip
e River, the Rock River, the Illino
Is River, the Kankakee River, the D
i PLANES River, the Fox River. Il
Sangamon River, the Kaskaskia Rive
the Big Muddy River, the Ohio Rive
re the Wabash River, the Embarra
y River and the Little Wabash River.
g The Deep Waterway.
:. The Lakes-to-the-G Gulf deep waite
way has been discussed and the fac
: regarding it presented, together wi
A. the correspondence between the Pre-
:. ident Of the United States and I
;. Governor. The Governor sets for
:. the Improvements which are being co
:. Quoted by the federal government
q, the Ohio River, the Missouri Riv
= the Mississippi River, the Chica
=, River and Lake Michigan The &c
ernor also recites the work of I
4, Sanitary District OF Chicago and Z