Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-27

Chicago. That opposition to removing
chicago from jurisdiction of the Iu- |
nois public utilities commission will
be expressed here is the belief. as this |
subject has been one of the main ones
Drought out at the meetings held in
East st. Louis and Danville.
! Mr.. Campbell said today that he had
been advised that there are six mem
bers Of the committee making the trip.
There are 80 members on the commit
tee. The committee will report back
TO the next session of the legislature.
The committee will leave Rock Is
land at Abs O'Clock tomorrow after
noon over the Rock IslaLd lines, clos
ing the state tour in Ottawa on Sat
urday
Danville Session.
Danville. Ill, April 27.-The big OBJ
stacle to home rule for Chicago and
one that hitherto has proved insur-
Imountable was brought out here yes
terday by State Representative ". P.
Holiday of Georgetown, Vermllion
county. who testified before the legis-
lative committee on public utilities
Downstate opposition TO removing
Chicago from the jurisdiction of the
utilities commission, according to Mr.
Holiday, is based on the fear that
within a few years Cook county will
have majority representation in the
state legislature. He asserted down
state legislators will never consent to
give Chicago home rule unless Cook
fcounty's representation is greatly re-
duced.
Other testimony before the commit
tee was regarded as showing clearly
that the state as whole favors giving
Chicago home rule. provided the down
state legislators are assured of control
in the legislature.
DOwnstate Wants Home Rule.
AT the present time Mr. Holiday
said, Cook county has representa-
ton of two-ffths of the members of
the general assembly In the course
Of another census or two it will be en-
titled to a majority. The downstate
|. feels if Chicago wants home rule, If
the people want self-government in
Cook county, then their representa-
ton in the state legislature should be
: limited so as to give US measure of
home rule downstate."
But that cannot be done, except uI-
der new constitution" Chairman
Medill Mccormick suggested. Are
you in favor of a new constitution"
Il am if we can arrive at a gentle
mans agreement beforehand to limit
Cook county's representation" he an
swered.
do you think that is possible in the
legislature?' asked Representative
Thomas German, a member of the
committee and vigorous advocate of
the state commission.
Judging from past experience Mr..
Holiday replied, Il should say no."
Urges Separate Commissions.
Mr.. Holiday went on to say that he
believed there should be two commits
Sions. one for downstate and one for
Chicago. and both to be appointed by
the governor.
Other witnesses included business
men OF DanVille. mayors and officials
of surrounding towns and attorneys
for utility corporations. Almost with
out exception they advocated the re-
tentiOn of the present state commits
sion. None expressed any objection to
amending the law to give Chicago home
rule Their chief complaint was that
the present commission has so much
Chicago business on its hands that
small towns throughout the state are
not getting their share of attention.
The suggestion was made by many that
the commission hold regular sessions
at intervals in the different county
seats or judicial districts. With the
commission sitting in Chicago or
Springfield, they said, the cost of pre-
senting a case before the board is
burdensome, especially for a small
town.
Not Concerned About Chicago.
You're Indifferent as to whether
Chicago has home rule, them" Mr.
Mccormick asked Mayor !. E. Merritt
of HOOpestOn.
We'll, | never thought much about
it." was the reply. But l don't think
we have anything to do with Chicago"
This answer was typical.
Were trying to get at the senti-
ment of the people on the utilities
law" Mr. German said at another
iuncture. The city officials Of Chi
cago tried to repeal the law at the
last session of the legislature, and no
doubt it will be a live issue at the
next session l am against home rule
= and my friend, the chairman, is for it.
We've been hearing nothing but anti
home rule, but l suppose we'll hear
>. nothing but the contrary in Chicago.
, Let me supplement that" Mr.. Nc
ICormick said. When the Chicago bill
was pending there was division of
sentiment among the members outside
l., of Cook county Some said if Chicago
wanted home rule it would have to be
granted to other municipalities. My