Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-08

4
| bly,, which convened here today.
| promises to exceed that of the fif-
tieth general assembly when 1858
bills, a high record, were intro
| duced.
Aside from the speakership is
sue the legislature will fix a time
and decide the manner of electing
| delegates to the constitutional con-
vention, approved by vote of the
people last November. A place for
holding the convention also will be
fixed. The drafting of a new basic
| law has in it the possibilities OF
radical change. Practically every
| special interest is expected to be
On watch to guard what it now has
| and to seek new rights.
| A vote on the federal prohibition
amendment to which the speaker
ship contest is an opening skirmish
| is expected to come soon after sell
ection OF the speaker. The 'drys''
| are admittedly in control of both
| senate and house, and are antici-
pating no hitch in putting the
amendment over without delay.
| The "wets" on the other hand
maintain that their forces are
secretly strong and will be able to
defeat the prohibition resolution.
| The "drys" are claiming a majority
of fifteen or sixteen in the senate
and a safe margin in the house. In
the lower branch, with seventy
seven votes required to put the pro-
hibition resolution over. eighty-two
members, it is declared, have
pledged themselves to vote dry
and three or four more are expect
ed to support the federal measure.
/ Fifteen states have ratified. the res
olution and thirty-six are required.
Two years ago the statewide pro-
hibition proposition received sixty
seven votes in the lower house. The
present session is the first in which
the house has been recognized as
dry"
Some alterations are anticipated
in the civil administrative code,
enacted by the fiftieth general as
SembIy under the sponsorship Of
Governor Frank o. Lowden and the
present administration. The code
as it now stands does not take in
all state governmental agencies.
some of which were left out as a
result of compromises. A bill prob
ably will be introduced proposing
the adjustment of the farmers in
stitute and providing for consolida-
ton of its activities with those of
the department of agriculture,
which falls within the operation of
the administrative code. Strong
opposition to such a move is antici-
pated, however. from the rank and
file of the farmers.
Sentiment in favor of civil ser
vice reform is taking shape in both
houses, it is declared, and some leg
islation is looked for to correct So
called abuses of the present system.
The administration is said to have
under consideration creation of a
new dictatorship in the administra-
tive code to be known as the direc-
tor of public employment. This
official would replace the present
civil service commission of three
members. A measure proposing
these changes, it is said, would pro-
vide for preparation classes in
which persons wishing to try for
civil service examinations might
make preparation for specific work
Such a bill further would provide,
it is declared. for greater freedom
in the matter of eliminating incom-
petents from the state service, and
at the same time would include
safeguards against discharge for
political reasons. Gov. LOWden, it
is understood, is not satisfied with
the present method of administering
the civil service il Illinois.
In the field of civil service legis-
lation, a bill now is being prepared
to correct the present law with ref
erence to employment of ''non-res-
idents" of Illinois. By recent rul-
ing of the state supreme court, per-
sons who come into Illinois from
residences in other states are not
entitled to hold civil service jobs.
Because this is said to work a hard
ship to departments needing highly
technical help unavailable In the
state, the statute will be amended,
if possible, to change the present
wording.
A movement starting recently at
Peoria by representatives of Illinois
municipalities, probably will result
in an effort to have the legislature
repeal the act creating the Illinois
Public Utilities commission, or
amend it to give cities largely in
creased powers of control over pub
lie utilities. Friends of the COM
mission system, however, are pre-
pairing to meet the attack and de
clare they will be able to defeat
apv attamDtS tn crjDDIn seriously
the authority of the regulatory
body. Increases in rates, allowed
by the commission during the past
years, it is declared, were made nee
essary by big advances in the cost
of fuel and materials (which the
utility companies were forced to
meet
Extension of Illinois health ser
vices will be attempted at the pres
ent session, according to DIR. C. St.
Clair Drake, director of the Illinois
of health, who has COM
piled figures to show that the re-
cent influenza epidemic has made
necessary a more adequate rural
health administration rafiating
from the central headquarters in
Measures to be push |
ed by the state health department /
will include one providing for the
creation of county health jurisdic- /
tons with full time health officers |
and another giving the state de- !!
partment an appropriation to cover |
The expense of hiring district health |
Welfare legislation in a number |