Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1920-05-08
SLOW WORK BY
C0N-C0N BODY
Basic Law Makers in Fifth
Month With Only One Com
mittee Report Adopted.
Plan to Curb Crime and Reduce Elk.
pense OF Criminal Prosecutions
object Of Subcommittee
on Bill of Rights.

gins the fifth month of the session of
the constitutional convention and thus
far only one committee report has
been adopted and the committee of the
whole has partially considered two
other reports.
The past week was spent on the re-
ports of the suffrage and public works
committee. A provision for one cleo
ton a year, which some argued would
abolish primaries, sent the proposed
article on suffrage back to the com
mittee for revision.
The committee on public works un-
dertook to put through section re-
moving all restrictions TO state aid to
canals and waterways. Members from
downstate not living along the pro-
posed water route TO the gulf fought
this through the sessions of two days,
and there were three amendments
pending when the con-con adjourned
for the weekend
A subcommittee on the bill of
rights headed by Judge Wall of Mound
City, decided to recommend to the con-
stitutional convention new jury plan
to curb crime and reduce the expense
of criminal prosecutions.
At present the grand jury consists
of 30 men. Sixteen Is a quorum and
IL of n quorum can vote an indict-
ment.
The Wall committee would have n
grand Jury of IL men and permit nine
of them TO return an Indictment.
At present a justice Of the peace or
u municipal Judge holds preliminary
hearing of person charged with
crime. If there Is reason TO believe
he Is guilty he Is held to the grand
jury. which returns an Indictment,
and the trial of the case comes later.
The Wall committee proposes that
the preliminary hearing shall be held
by Judge of the circuit court. IT
the Judge thinks the defendant Is
guilty, he Is TO be granted power to
permit the states attorney to file an
information. Then the trial will fol-
low, eliminating the justice of the
peace and grand jury. This system
can be applied In all except capital
punishment cases, such as murder and
treason.
Another recommendation designed
to speed up justice In civil cases pro,
vides that nine Of the jury of twelve
may return n verdict.
An agreement has been reached be
tween Chicago and downstate mem
bers of the convention judiciary com
mittee to recommend the appointment
of judges In Cook county IL the com
mitteemen so decide.
On this point Cook county members
are to say what shall be recommended
and downstate members will decide
what their court system shall be.
The country members have gone
still further. They have said that II
all of the delegates Of Chicago vii
vote for appointed judges In Cool
county the great majority OF down
staters will add their o. X. That Of
fer has not been accepted, because o
word brought to Springfield that Ger
tain politicians in Chicago have com
bined to attack any plan providln,
| for appOintiye judges, even In Chicago
Nearly every delegate believes tina
| the bonding power of cities for gen
| eral corporate purposes should b.
| boosted. At present that power Is lin
| tied to 5 per cent of the assessed
| valuation of all property, which l
| One-half of the full valuation. TIL
I convention will decide, as minimum
that the cities shall have power to Is
| sue bonds against per cent on tn
| full valuation of the real estate only
| That means an increase In Chicago
borrowing power from SS2,0OO,OO0 t
| S117 AGO. 5S7. on the present valuation
In addition II Is proposed to Civ
| Chicago the financial power to acqulr
| public utilities. The ardent advocate
of municipal ownership have bee
clamOrng for that for many years
Others see a political or financial ad
vantage of a personal character !
gaining such power for the city @
Chicago. These have been fought b
private financial institutions and tn
public utility corporations.
They explain they want good maj
ketable bonds and I'm sufficient quar-
titles, If the city is to take over tn
utilities. They are opposed to bond
secured only by the property Of tn
utility. They favor full credit bond
of the city, having the entire taxin
power of the municipality benin
them.
To acquire the utilities OF Chicag
some delegates think that 10 per Ger
additional bonds will be suflicien
That means an added bonding powe
of 1884, S33,17f. Others want IS pc
cent additional. That in bonding pow
er on the present valuations mean
$685., 309,7G1.
Members of st. James Methods
Episcopal church of Chicago have p,
titioned the constitutional conventio
to insert clause in the new constitl
ton requiring school teachers to rea
mt least ten verses from the Bible
the opening session of each schO
day.