Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-08

at the same time be better suited 10
the needs OF modern business.
Governor Lowden also urged lare
power Tor courts and recommended
the passage OF an eight-hour labor
law for women. lie spoke on the
state housing code. urged the enact
ment OF laws for better agriculture.
forestry and an earnest consideration
Of the state pension law.
The text or the governors mes
sage follows:
Gentlemen Of the Fify-irsJ General
Assembly:
in compliance with the mandate Of
the Constitution. | beg to report 10
your Honorable Body the condition of
The state, together With some recon
mondations. which seem to ME i'm
portant at the present time.
The financial condition Of the State
is good. When | came into Office in
January. 1917, there was in the Treas
ury OF the State in the general rev
enue fund. $780, .GGg74; against this
there were outstanding warrants
317,l3.92; the available cash in the
general revenue fund was $2SS2. In
addition there were many claims
against the Treasury for which var
rants had not been issued. On Jan
4ary !. 1913. there was in the same
fund Qoss outstanding warrants,
S4,734Slf md on January I, 1915.
there va GEES outstanding warrants
sI2.90lT4I,t Six months Of the
year for w..ch appropriations have
already been made remain the eX-
penses Of which must be largely paid
out OF this amount If we would avoid
the unbusinesslike practice which has
obtained AZ times in the past OF using
the taxes levied for the following
year The improved condition Of the
treasury has made it possible TO re
duce the general property tax for
the year from ninty cents on the one
hundred dollars To seyenty'tive cents.
The Department Of Finance esti-
mates chat this rate will be ample,
with the other income Of the state.
to raise sufficient revenue to meet all
expenses until July !, 1920.
The read fund has increased in the
same period from S2,072llj.66 70
81 q Ot2se.
An bills are now paid promptly, and
thus the credit of the State is great
" improved enabling the State to
secure better prices upon the com
uodities II has to purchase We also
are able to take advantage OF all cash
discounts. which in itself has result
ed in a considerable saving.
Civil Administrative Code.
The Civil Administrative Code went
into effect on July !. 1917. Il amount
ed 10 a revolution in government.
Under it a reorganization Of more
than one hundred and twenty-five
boards, commissions and independ-
ent agencies was effected. Nine de
partments. with extensive and real
power vested in each head have taken
the place OF those bodies, which We're
abolished, and discharge, under the
general supervision OF the Governor,
the details of government for which
the Governor is responsible. At the
lime the bill was up for consideration
It was claimed that it would result IN
both efficiency and economy.
II has more than justified all the
expectations that were formed CON
,erning it. The functions OF the gov /.
arnment are discharged at the Capt.
al. The Governor is in daily contact
With his administration in all It's &C
iyities Unity and harmony Of al.
have been attained and
ligor and energy Of administration
enhanced.
II seems TO me almost Providential
hat 1t should have been enacted into
aw before war actually came. \
arge number OF the States most eX- ,
] TT officials and employees we're .
lrawn upon by the government at d
because OF the exigencieS
# the war. The same difficulties
rose in the conduct OF public bust
less, which yeXed private business 50 n
much. There was necessarily much
.onfusion. The cost OF all supplies fl
csc rapidly. Unless the more than
.0dred scattered agencies, which q
al existed heretofore, had been .
Welded the Civil Administrative il
ode int. 'gact and coordinate gov. ;,
rnment @ hing like efficient State r,
government. during these difficult
ines. would have been impossible.
LIMOS. through the greater elasticity
nd efficiency OF her new form Of gov ~,
rnment was able to meet every b.,
of the war without an eN-
raordinary session OF her Legislature. ,,
The appropriations made by the last ,
ienerai Assembly were based upon .
re.War prices and conditions. And
ct, We viii have completed the bien- .
ium without a deficiency in any de ,
artment under the Code, with the eN.
option OF the item OF supplies for -,
he Charitable and Penal Institutions =.
. the Department of Public Welfare
Reports OF the directors OF several
apartments. under the Code, have
enc submitted to me and are being
riuted and bound into one volume.