Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-17

I EesteO-
In the past the struggles between
/ the advocates OF the initiative and
! referendum and the advocates of rev
emu reform for paramount recoeri-
/ ton have operated TO prevent the
I adoption OF either. With the amend
I ing clause amended, as suggested, it
: will open the way for an early amend
ment OF the Constitution along the
| lines OF revenue reform, the initiative
I and referendum, and other necessary
amendments, all of which could be
I voted for at the same session and sub
mitted to the people at the same cleo
{ ton.
Re-diStricting OF Senatorial and Con-
gressionaI Districts.
SENATORIAL.
The Constitution provides that. "The
General Assembly shall apportion the
State every ten years into 81 sena-
torial districts. each OF which shall
elect one senator and three represent
atives.
The last senatorial apportionment
was made in the year 1901. The new
senatorial apportionment should have
been made, pursuant TO the Constitu-
ton, in 1911. Nearly four years have
elapsed since the senatorial appor-
ttonment should have been made.
I. therefore. recommend. in com
pliance with the Constitution. that the
Legislature re-spportion the sena-
torial districts of the State
CONGRESSIONAL.
The last congressional apportion-
ment in this State was made on May
18th. 1901. Since that time Illinois
has become entitled 10 two additional
congressman. who are now elected in
the State at large.
new congressional apportionment
should also be made at this session to
provide for 81 congressional districts.
Cost OF Elections.
Elections for city, village. township,
school districts. counties and State
are unnecessarily too frequent and
too costly. In the city of Chicago
alone a single primary election costs
s275.OOO and a single final election
$4,000
I would respectfully recommend the
passage Of bills requiring all city. vii
lage, township and school elections to
be held on the same day. and have
only one such election every two
years. and that all county. state, con
gressional and national elections
should be held upon the same day ev-
cry two years. II the State. county.
congressional and national elections
are held on the even year, the city,
village, township and school elections
might be held on the odd year, thus
having only one election day each
year.
This will considerably reduce both
the cost and number Of elections and
be for the public interest.
I further commend that elections
for all judicial Offices be held on
date when no other officials are voted
for. The primary election for judges !
might, however. be held on the same
day as a general election, had fc-
other Offices.
Legislation should also be enacted /
cutting down the number of elective (
Offices where possible, thus shorten |
ing the ballet and providing for the |
of names of candidates upon /
the ballot at all elections for all Of
fees.
I further recommend that. at all [
primary elections, each candidate be 1
on fling his application, to
pay 20 the clerk, where such applica-
ton is filed. a filing and printing fee
sufficient to cover the cost of print
ing. at least one page of printed mat
ter. relating to his candidacy and that
said clerk cause to be printed and paid
for out of such fee. copies of such
page of printed matter TO the amount
81. .
the district from which said applicant
is a candidate. said copies to be de-
livered TO the applicant, before the
for distribution by him OF
mailed to all voters by said clerk upon
such candidate paying the cost of the
postage thereof and that all cansi-
;ates be limited in their election ex-
oendituTes TO a reasonable amount
)ver and above the cost OF such distri-
,ution of such printed matter. Prob
IDLY twenty per cent OF the legal sal
NY, paid to the incumbent OF the Of
ice should be the maximum of ex-
to be permitted.
The election laws should also be
so as to provide for report
Z a candidates expenditures within
nd before he be permitted to assume
he duties OF his Office, with effective
enalties for violation of the law.
State Public Utilities Commissions. {
The State Public Utilities Commits
ion closed the first eleven months OF
IS administration on November 80, !
914. During that time the Commits
ion was organized, its work systema- |
Zed. and the administrative. en- J
ineering. accounting. rate. and serv- c
q departments were built up 20 such
state OF efficiency as the limited time Z
nd the means at the disposal of the v
would allow. a pres I
NJ working force of the Confusion. il
ttorneys. engineers. accountants. sta I r
sticisns. experts, inspectors. clerks, 4
etc. numbers seventy Is
lree persons. The Illinois Public a