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

4
! which have been investigated and dis
posed OF informally by correspondence
or conference. In addition to the
above, the Commission has approved
1,160 leases. made by utility corpora
lions. Orders were issued in sixty-five
1 stock and bond cases. authorizing the
issue OF s17s 81, 3o400, par value. OF
stocks, bonds, and notes. On Deem
Der Is. 1914. there were pending. ap-
! plications for authority 10 issue Sc
curities OF the par value OF $3.50, 1885,
| 25S.0O On December % a majority
/ OF the pending applications for au-
/ thority 70 issue securities had been
/ heard. The amount of fees paid into
/ the State Treasury for authorities
granted up to this time was $685.
( 2O2.7S. The total receipts OF the Com
mission at this time was s51o.17S-S9.
! The total amount of appropriation ex-
pended to maintain the Commission
was $11S,54sI4.
The benefcient effects OF the opera
/ ton of the Utilities Law are already
apparent on every hand. Discrimina-
{ tons in rates and service have been
eliminated. and it may now be said
U
among all the utilities OF the State
The question OF rates has probably
! been most often brought to the atten-
ton of the Commission; for while
rates and service are fundamentally
Joined in almost every case, the ma
iority of complaints coming to the
: Commission thus far have found their
expression in terms of rates. In a
~
ments have resulted in substantial re-
ducticns in rates. In some of the
more important cases the determine
ton OF reasonable rates has necessi-
tated the making of property valua-
tons. which requires much time and
labor.
Standards OF service to govern gas
and electric utilities have been estab-
ished by the Commission, and serv-
ice inspectors are now at work in
speeding the quality of service fur
nished by the various utilities of the
State.
One of TIE main objects. sought BY
the Legislature. in the establishment
OF the Utilities Commission was to Sc
cure TO the people OF the State a, =
quate service at reasonable rates, and
the Commission in all its acts has ever
kept before it this condition, and has
sought TO accomplish and is accom-
plishing this great purpose. for which
it was created.
While the operations of the Com
mission have been satisfactory
throughout the entire State, including
Chicago, and while there seems to be
he IN,
favor of local commissions to regulate
intraurban utilities down the State,
outside of Chicago, there is consider
able sentiment in that great city in ia
vor of a local ancillary Commission,
to take charge of and control the in
traurban municipal utilities of that
city, and, I, therefore. favor the ere
alton of such an ancillary Commission
for the city of Chicago to take charge
of and control the intraurban utilities
of that city.
Public Charities.
Upon the public charities of the
State a greater proportion of our rev :
euue is expended than on any other |
single object except public education.
In the last two years, the increase !
in the population of the institutions
under the Board of Administration has
exceeded the normal rate. For 1913
it was per cent. and for 1914, AZ
per cent. The appropriations for /
for the biennium 1913 I
1915 were based upon an estimated /
increase of per cent. In addition
there has been an abnormal increase
In the cost OF food. which is the chief
item of expense in the maintenance
of the institutions. Nevertheless, by
wise economy and careful manage
ment. the institutions have been main
tanned at the usual high standard and
a substantial saving has been made
IN the maintenance fund.
The Forty-eighth General Assembly
$2,427.3O4.67 for the con-
tinuation of the physical rehabilitation
Of these institutions and for the con-
struction of the new State Hospisa
at Alton and State Epileptic Colony
which urged upon the Legislature in
my inaugural address.
The $1.Oo0,Oo0.OO appropriated for
these new institutions has been ex-
pended or contracted for. After
careful investigation, the Board of Ad-
selected a site for the
.pileptic colony at Dixon, Illinois, in
/ beautiful location on the Rock River.
md contracts have been let for the
of nine buildings. AT
Alton work is progressing upon five
buildings You will be asked TO appro-
,riate $4,000 for the completion OF
ach of these new institutions and to
'rovide a fund for the maintenance of
as both will be ready for
before long.
Owing to the large amount provided
or building by the last Assembly
Thich was more than sixty per cent OF ,
he amount which has been expended ,
! the previous eight years, the total
equest of the Board of Administration ,
or all purposes for the next two years
S397,632 less than two years ago,
nd this in spite of the maintenance