Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1920-03-27
NOT To ADJOURN
UNTIL JUNE IS
Long Session Is Feared by Basic
Law Makers.
RATIFICATION IS NOW TOPIC
Approval by People May Not Be
Asked Until Next Spring-St.
Louis Wants Relief Through
Con-Con.

tht utltEuttS
who Hoped for an early adjournment
Of the con-con now despair of taking
their final leave of Springfield before
June 10, they have begun to discuss
seriously the form in which the draft |
for new constitution is to be SUBJ
mitted to the people.
Gossip among the members agrees
generally that ratification will be
asked at special election next spring. |
In that event the committee on
phraseology and style would have the |
custody of the proposed new constitu- |
ton during the delay. The draft has
to be submitted within six months
after its completion.
Three plans for submission are dis !
cussed. One Is to submit the draft as
whole, or to put the eggs all In one
basket II this is done, few delegates
believe their work would be ratified. |
Bitter opposition Is expected to differ |
ent articles and those who opposed
one section would have to vote against
all others to defeat the one.
On the other hand It might be SUBJ
voted on separately. This would
permit the people to veto any pro.
visions.
A compromise between these two
plans may be adopted. BY It the
main part of the proposed constitution
would be submitted and voted upon as
whole; but questions such as the
limitation of Chicago's representation
in the legislature. home rule for cities,
the initiative and referendum and
others that developed fights that 9th.
erwise might endanger ratification
would be left as amendments to be
voted on separately.
st. Louis wants something from the
Illinois convention. To get It, the St
Louis board Of estimate has voted S12,-
500 to employ lawyer, who will get
| $40 800 more II he Is successful.
This lobbyist is former Judge w. T..
Hadley of Edwardsville. Mr.. Hadley
frankly admitted his employment and
fee. Some time ago he appeared be-
fore the convention In the committee
Of the whole to present Il new court
plan for Illinois.
| The favor desired by st. Louis Is
the exemption from taxation of Its
municipal bridge connecting with East
st. Louis. Hadley said that this
bridge cost S6,25OOOO and Its annual
upkeep is around 100000. Tast st.
Louis decided that the bridge should
be taxed, and the Illinois supreme
court confirmed that view recently.
| st. Louis wants to nullify that de-
cIsiOn. Hadley said that the bridge
Is free. East st. Louis residents
claim that the original ordinance I'M
der which 1t was built prevents II
from being wholly free unless the Ordi-
nance is amended and approved by the
| st. Louis electorate. II Is asserted
that only part OF the bridge Is free.
On the other hand, HadIey privately
contends that the net of congress
permitting the construction prevents
It from being anything else except
free bridge.
On the Illinois supreme court de-
cision East st. Louis Is entitled to $1S,-
900 In taxes yearly for the railroad
approach only, but II Is asserted by
some East st. Louis calculators that
II q tax Is placed on the bridge to the
center of the Mississippi river between
S25, 900 aud $4,000 could be collected
4 annually.
Other residents of East st. Louis
estimate that Si,5OOOOO on the bridge
value is on the Illinois side and that
S235,OOO year could be collected In
taxes on II, giving the city Of East st.
Louis $4,000 n year, its schools $45,-
600, st. Clair county $500, the state
SO, $50, and levee board $35,0OO and
the park board $4,000.
Therefore East st. Louis has start
ed fight aglnst the object OF the
Hadley lobby 1t has sent letter to
every delegate signed by its corpora
ton counsel, II. l., Browning.
The city council Of East st. Louis
got busy and adopted resolutions, part
of which read:
"Resolved, That the city of East st.
Louis protests against such exemption
and urge It's citizens and all taxing
bodies of this state to oppose the adob-
ton Of such provision In the consti-
tuition, both in the convention and In
the election at which the same viii
be presented TO the people for ratifica-
ton"
The board of supervisors of st.
Clair county Is scheduled to file Ike
protest.