Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-26
PASS BILL TO
BOOST SCHOOL
TAX OF STATE
Enables School Districts to In.
crease Tax Levy From -Four to
Three Percent.
TAX LEGISLATION CONFUSED
Fifty Revenue Bills Dumped on
s. Legislature Without Plan
Raise Judges Salaries.

Springfield, ILL.,, March 26.-The
senate by a vote of Al to o, today
passed the house bill of Represen-
tative Hicks enabling school dis
trtcts to levy taxes up to four per-
cent on the assessed valuation of
{ taxable property, an increase of one
percent over the present limit The
measure now goes to the governor
for his signature.
All revenue bills pending in the
senate except the Hicks house bill
were referred to the senate revenue
committee today when the upper
branch adopted a rule to that end.
This action was said to have been
suggested by state finance depart
ment to clear up an anomalous
condition due to Overlapping of
similar bills dumped into both
houses.
: The Hicks school tax law would
permit school districts to tax up to
four percent provided that not more
than three percent was diverted
into educational fund as differen-
tiated from the building fund
Approximately fifty revenue bills
have made their appearance in the
legislature without any plan, it Is
declared by senate administration
leaders, with the result that great
confusion exists. on the question Of
tax and revenue legislation.
Revise Chancery Code.
The senate today passed Senator
Bars bill revising the chancery
code of the state. The vote was II
to 0, and was without debate
Lobbyists were cleared from the
senate floors today by Lieutenant
Governor Oglesby, after complaint
was made that persons holding
guests cards were abusing their
privileges.
A bill introduced by Senator
Bailey would repeal the Illinois
two-cent passenger fare law, made
imperative by the federal railroad
administration.
The senate passed the bill of Rep
resentative Mueller increasing
salaries of probation officers IN
counties of the third class; the bill
of Representative Dieterich permit
ting cities under 100000 population |
to levy five mill tax to establish |
and maintain public hospitals; and |
sthe Tice bill accepting the Old |
Salem site in Menard county for a |
state park. They now go to the gov
ernor for his signature.
Among the senate bills passed by |
the senate were the following:
Glackin-City coming bill permit |
ring city councils or village boards |
to restrict industries TO certain dis |
tricts.
Mccullough - Prohibiting motor
vehicles on public highway with
muffler open.
singer-Providing for state
home for juvenile female offenders,
also for delinquent boys.
~RoOs-Enlarging the corporate
limits of the Chicago sanitary dis
trict.
Day In House.
BY vote of SO to the house
today passed the bill of Represen-
tative William r. McCabe of Lock-
port enabling any school district
to vote on the question of free text
books for the district, the election
TO be initiated by a petition of 3
per cent of the voters of the dis
fTict 1t now goes to the senate.
Minority Leader Michael Igoe of
Chicago opposed the measure on
the ground that the language of the
bill would make ii mandatory on a
school district to furnish free text
books. Representative Lee O'Neil !
Browne, Democrat, supported the
bill.
The house finally passed, Ill to
Z. Representative Charles Curren's
bill increasing the salaries of cir
cult court judges to $4,000. The
present salary is $1,000.
The house by a vote of III to
passed Representative Roderick's
bill providing for licensing of OPP
temetrists by the department of
regulation and education.
BY adoption of joint resolution
sent to the speakers desk from the
of health, the house
favored setting aside the week be-
with the second Sunday in
May as health promotion week"
in Illinois. A pretentious cam
paign would be waged by the health
during this week for
the eradication of communicable
diseases said to have taken a toll (
Of 1000 persons in the last year in !
this state.
The house adopted a resolution !
passed by the senate ex- {
tending adjournment, when the leg I
Islature quits tomorrow, until 10 /;
a. m. Wednesday, because of the [
election next Tuesday.
IT DA~>no,