Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1920-05-29
ASK CON-CON To
ACT ON DRAINAGE
Subcommittee Prepares Section
for New Basic Law.
AGREE ON NEW COURT PLAN
Provision for DoWnstate Allows for
Circuit or District Court to
Take Place Of Other
Tribunals.

pringfield.--Frank W. DcWolf of
the state geological survey says there
are "1.OOO,OOO acres of maximum rich
lowlands In Illinois now lying idle"
With proper drainage these lands will
yield annually. in his opinion, prod
ucts worth SI5,OOO.OOO to SlOO,OO0,OOO.
surely" lie says. this Is II matter
of public interest Recognition of the
public character of the large problem
In the new constitution will make II
possible to legiSlate for cooperative
effort by state. counties, municipal
tiles. and private owners. with fair
proportional investment by each"
These lands are the most fertile IN
the state and border the rivers and
creeks. The overflow of the streams
prevents their use.
This problem, one of the few prog.
ressive and constructive considered "a
date by the delegates To tn" constitn.
tional convention, Is nearing solu-
tion In the opinion of the committee
on agriculture. A subcommittee
composed of Delegates Shaw. Tanner.
Parker and Gee have prepared Il sec
tiOn for the new basic law. providing
for the organization of drainage dis
tricts ana with investing corporate au-
thOriticS with powers of eminent
domain, taxation and special assess
mcnt and with such other powers as
may he deemed necessary for the de-
n
teuance of water supply and means Of
flood control und of drainage for Sani-
tary. agricultural and mining pur.
poses"
In addition the subcommittee wants
| the constitution To say that the "spccI-
hcation of the means for tue accom-
pliShmcnt of the purposes set forth Ia
| the section shall not deprive the gen.
cral assembly of the power to provide
other means"
Chairman Dunlap of the committee
| on agriculture said he hopes for favor
| able action on the report this week.
William Il. Hale Of the law depart
ment of the University Of Illinois has
| complied an elaborate statement show
| Ing that Arkansas, Missouri and Kan.
1 Sas have passed statutes TO care for
drainage by general lrys. State aid
| Is given for the same purpose In Ala
| bamn, California. Ohio and Minnesota,
| Some of these states have elaborate
| plans with commissions and apparent
| Is provision for large number of en-
| ployees.
| Eve prefer plan for q minimum
! Of Jobs and q maximum Of drainage
| said Delegate Shaw. "RiCh bottom
! lands are now idle and we want them
under cultivation At u minimum of cX'
enormous value rs soon as possible
| The new court plan for downStntC
has been prepared and Is, In effect
agreed upon. II provides for Il circuit
court, district court To take the place
of the present county, probate, city
ana other courts, and u Justice of the
I peace. at the option of those who must
pay him salary. To he n circuit
4 court Judge the man must be thirtS
years old and Il practiclng lawyer und
resident of Illinois for five years. lie
will have circuit of several counties
as at present,
! Each county will have district
court, with jurisdiction over all COun
ty, probate and city court matters. IN
counties with less than 10000 luhabi
I tants the district court will shave con
current Jurisdiction with the circuit
| court In criminal cases below the grade
of felony and in common law eases
where the amount involved does moi
4 exceed $1,000 exclusive of interest ana
costs"
| This district court will always bt
open for the transaction Of business
| and the first Monday Of each mOntl
] will be return day for process or ap
peal to said court from the Justices.
The section relative to justices Of
the peace reads:
justices of the peace shall be elect
ed or appointed In and Tor such dis
trlcts as may be provided by law
They shall receive such salaries a
may be fixed by the boards of super
visOrs or county commissioners of thu
respective counties, to be paid by thu
township or district In which they arr
severally elected or appointed; but thu
electors of any township or distric
may abolish therein, by vote, the Office
of justice of the peace. All fees anC
I emoluments received by any justice o
| the peace shall he paid into the treas
ury Of the township or district II
L ufhf IA ls, oil aH