Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-18
GALAXY OF BILLS
AWAITING ACTION
AW-MAkERS AT SPRINGFIELD
HAVE FULL HOPPER TO Dis
POSE OF-WANT TO ABOLISH
PRIMARIES.

Springfield. ILL.,. Jan. lS.-The way
in which bills have poured into the
General assembly during the first two
days for introduction indicates full
hopper. In the long list already IN
he hands of the clerk OF the house
and the secretary of the senate are
attempts at legislation on almost
every conceivable subject from prize
dghting to primary elections. II IS
proposed TO make the former legal
and to abolish the latter.
AS usual the old soldiers are favor
ties of the bill drafters. In the hrst
lot of bills are measures providing
state pension of Si0 month for all
union soldiers and sailors OF the Civil
war living in Illinois; an act exempt
ing veteran soldiers and sailors from
paying peddlers' license and another
exempting the property OF veteran sol
diers or sailors or their widows ana
families from taxation in cases where
the total assessed value is less than
5000.
Absent voting, fought for so long by
travelling men and railway employees,
is advocated in at least a half dozen
measures.
Several bills also aim at the reguia'
ton of cold storage houses.
One bill demands that the state APP
propriate S65o,000 to pay the national
guard for service on the Mexican Dor
der in addition to what they received
from the government, and two appro'
prations for guardsmen injured in
border service are sought
Among other things members OF
the new legislature want are the fol-
lowing
Payment by the state of 1920 an
aually to be applied on the salary OF
agricultural advisers in each county
In the state.
Prohibition of the discharge OF a
gun on the public highways.
The abolition of capital punishment.
Making it felony for any firm or
corporation to increase the price OF
food products.
Giving cities the right to increase
the term OF aldermen from two to
three years.
Providing that party primaries may
be discontinued in cities of $500 or
less.
Requiring the transportation Of
miners underground from the mine
entry to their work.
Abolishng the primary act entirely
and substituting nominating CONVEX
lions.
Providing for the audit OF books of
county ollicers
Regulating collection agencies.
Providing a penltentiary sentence
f0r keeping saloon open on Sunday.
Providing fine for the operation OF
any business on Sunday, places OF
amusement excepted.
Requiring owner of sheep killing
eogs to pay for the sheep killed.
Prohibiting plays pictures and so
Fnpth which in IN batr rod
Extending state aid for the con
struction Of highways thru villages OF |
5000 population or less.
Providing for the licensing and req.
ulation Of dealers in convict made
goods.
Providing for the regulation by the
state Of all banks.
Increasing the pay of judges and
clerks Of election
Committees named by the house to-
day and by the senate yesterday win
get busy on the numerous measures
when the assembly reconvenes next
Tuesday BY that time, however, at
least as many more measures will be
ready for Introduction and during the
ensuing three or four weeks every
legislative day will add considerable
to the number. More than a thousand
bills will be introduced, it Is estimat.
ed, before the last day for the intro.
duction of bills.