Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-08
PROGRAM OF
STATE GIVEN
EX-GOVERNOR
Work Before Legislature
Cited by Lowden at
Joint Session.

Springfield, Ill, Jan. S.-The full
membership of both senate and
house of the Fifty-frst general as
sembly was on hand today for the
session which convened at noon.
Backers of the federal prohibition
amendment were maneuvering this
morning 10 have it introduced to-
day in the senate which is expected
to adjourn this afternoon. There
was some question as to the form
in which it should be presented.
The house will be in session to-
morrow.
Governor Frank o. Lowden ap-
peared before d joint session at 2
O'Clock this afternoon and deliver
ed his biennial message. The gov
ernor's message follows:
Gentlemen of the Fifty-first Cen
eraI Assembly: In compliance with
the mandate of the constitution,
Neg TO report to your honorable
boy the condition of the state, to-
getHeT with some recommendations
which seem to me important at the
present time.
The financial condition of the
state is good. When l came into
office III January, 1917, there was
in the treasury of the state, in the
general revenue fund, $307 ,66074;
against this there were outstanding
warrants $30TI3292; the available
cash in the general revenue fund
was $52S.S2. In addition, there
were many claims against the treas
ury for which warrants had not
been issued. On January /, 1918,
there was in the same fund tless
outstanding -warrantsJ, s4.734 ,316,
and on January l, 1919, there was
tless outstanding waTrants) S12,-
901, ,744J4. Six months TO the year
for which appropriations have al
ready been MADE remain, the eX-
penses of which must be largely
naId out Of this amount if we would
avoid the unbusinesslike practice
niCh has Obained at times in the
past OF using the taxes levied for
the following year. The improved
condition Of the treasury has made
it possible to reduce The general
property tax for the year from
ninety cents on the one hundred
dollars TO seventy-five cents. The
department OF finance estimates
that this rate Will be ample, with
the other income of the state, to
raise, sufficient revenue to meet all
itSGXpenses until July 1, 1920.
y The road fund has incfeased in
the same period from 2,072,115.66
to S4.732, ,062.S0.
All bills are now paid promptly,
Il, . Ii. 81,
greatly improved, enabling the
state to secure better prices upon
the commodities il Has 10 purchase.
We also are able to take advantage
b all cash discounts, which in itself
is resulted in d considerable say
IG.
Civil Administrative Code.
The ciyli administrative code
went into effect on July /, 1917. 1t
amounted to revolution in gov
ernmeut. Under it a reorganization
of more than one hundred and TWEEN
ty-five boards, commissions and in
agencies was effected.
Nine departments. with extensive
and real power vested in each head
have taken the place of those bod
Sharge, under the general supervis-
iof-Of the governor, the details of
government for which the governor
is responsible. At the time the bill
was up for consideration it was
claimed tfat it would result in both
and economy.
1t has more than justified all the
expectations that were formed con-
cerning it. The functions of the |
are discharged at the !
capitol The governor is in daily
contact with his administration in /
all its activities. Unity and har-
mony of administration have been |
and vigor and energy of !
enhanced. /
1t seems to me almost providen- /
tial that it should have been enacted /
into law before war actually came. /
A large number of the states most !
expert officials and employees were /
drawn upon by the government at /
because of the exigen- |
ries of the war. The same difficult !
ties arose in the conduct of public /
business, which vexed private busi- |
ness so much. There was neces-
sarily much confusion. The cost
Of all supplies rose~Tapidly. I'm
less the more thar sundred scat
,ered agencies, which had existed
had been welded by the
civil administrative code into a
compact and coordinate govern
nent, anything like efficient state
government, during these difficult
lines, would have been impossible.
limos. through the greater elias
I&y and efficiency Of her new form
81 government, was able to meet
very emergency of the war with
,ut an extraordinary session of her
legislature.
The appropriations made by the
asst general assembly were based
lpon pre-war prices and conditions.
md yet, we will have completed
he biennium without deficiency in
ny department under the code.
With the exception OF the item of
uppIies for the charitable and pen
i Institutions in the department of /
,ublic welfare.
Reports OF the directors OF the
everal departments, under the