Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-15
OPPOSITION bREWS
To LOWOEN BILLS
CONSOLIDATION PLAN OF COVER
NoR'S TO BRING FIGHT IN
BOTH BODIES or STATE LEGiS-
lATURE.

Springfield, Ill.,. Jan. lJ.--As a pre-
liminary to the fight which will start
in the legislature within the next few
days for the enactment OF his consoli-
dation bill, Governor Lowden today
had long conference with editors OF
agricultural papers published in the
state. He explained in detail his plan
for the organization of an agricultural
department to take the place of the
various boards and commissions now
having Jurisdiction over agricultural
affairs.
Tomorrow Governor Lowden will
address the farmers gathered here at
the farmers legislative conference.
A desire to cooperate with the Gov
ern0r in securing greater efficiency in
agricultural administration was ex-
pressed by the editors today.
The Governors plan is to consoll'
sions, having to do with the live stock
industry. farming and allied agencies
the game and fish commission and the
present state board of agriculture
which has the management Of the
state fair. The authority now eXer'
cised by all these boards will be vest
ed in department of agriculture
This department will seek to encou-
age and promote the interests OF agrl
culture. horticulture the live stock IN
dustry, dairying, cheese making, bee
keeping. forestry and the production
OF wool 1t may conduct investlga
tions relative to the adaptability OF
the climate and soil to the production
OF various kinds of fruits. vegetables
grains, grasses and other crops, tn
use of fertilizer crop rotation, stoc'
breeding, food stuffs and reforcsta
ton.
The Governors bill is fast takint
form, but it will not be ready for SUB
mission this week. When the Genera
Assembly returns to Springfield TO
morrow the Governor will immediate
ly get into touch with members ant
present to them the various features
of this bill The time of the legisla
ture this week will be taken up in TIL
introduction OF bills, the appointment
of committees and the completion o
organization.
The rough draft of the Governor
bill provides for the following depar,
ments which will take over all board
and commissions OF concurrent or a
lied jurisdiction:
The department of finance, whic
will prepare a state budget, take owe
the business of the court of claim
and take Jurisdiction over the depar
ment of printing; the department
labor; the department of mines an
minerals; the department Of publ
works. taking over the duties of tn
highway commission. canal and waite
way commission, the park commit
sion. state architect, state examiner
of architects and structural engineer
and so forth; the department OF cha
tiles and corrections abolshing tn
board OF administration and the boar
OF pardons and taking over all char
table, penal and correctional instit'
tions; the department of health tn
department Of corporate control. ha'
ing the power now exercised by tn
public utilities commission and tn
insurance superintendent and llr
marshal's department, the depar
ment of education. including jurisdi
ton over normal schools legislativ
reference bureau, the state histories
society and various surveys; the stat
civil service commission, which wi
remain as it now is
These agencies will constitute III
entire government so far as it is no
exercised by boards or commission
named by the governor.