HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 21. Curran Committee Investigation of Charities.-Senators, Albert J. Olson, George W. Harris, Joseph G. Bardill, Francis Hurley and John T. Denvir. SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 14. Committee on Uniform Legislation.-Swanson, Latham, Tossey, Meeker and Canaday and Lieutenant Governor. Respectively submitted, FREDERICK B. Roos, E. S. SMITH, SAMUEL A. ETTELSON, AL. F. GORMAN, F. A. HURLEY, RAY D. MEEKER, A message from the House by Mr. Vogel, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President-I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has acceded to the request of the Senate for a second committee of Conference to consider the differencs between the two Houses in regard to the Senate amendments to a bill of the following title, to wit: HOUSE BILL No. 948. A bill for "An Act making appropriations for the five State Normal Schools of Illinois.' I am further directed to inform the Senate that the Speaker of the House has appointed as such second committee on the part of the House, Messrs. Shurtleff, Murphy, Harvey, Purdunn, and Devine. Action taken by the House, June 19, 1915. B. H. MCCANN, Clerk of the House. Mr. Tossey called up the following resolution for consideration: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25. WHEREAS, Because of the necessarily complex nature of the affairs of the University of Illinois and of the magnitude to which its various departments have grown and because of the many demands upon the time and attention of the members of the General Assembly, but few of its member have sufficient opportunity to inform themselves as to the needs of the University of Illinois; and, WHEREAS, Because of this condition much time is spent both by the House of Representatives and by the Senate endeavoring to reach conclusions as to the proper general policy of both Houses towards that institution and the proper amounts to be appropriated for its support; and, WHEREAS, President Edmund J. James of the University of Illinois, believing it to be for the best interests, not only of the University but also for the taxpayers of the State, has requested that a joint committee representing both Houses of the General Assembly be appointed to visit the institution and secure information both as to the administration, policy and the needs of the University; therefore, be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a joint committee of six be appointed, three to be named by the Speaker of the House and three by the Senate, whose functions and duties it shall be to keep in close touch with the University of Illinois and to visit the institution at such times and as often as may be necessary and make such inquiry as they may need to make to secure detailed and complete data and informa tion relative to the actual administration, policy and needs of the various departments of the institution and the University as a whole, and such committee is given full authority to make such inquiry as it may deem fit and proper to secure exhaustive information concerning the University of Illinois, and make a report of their findings, together with such general recommendations as in their judgment may be warranted by the information secured, to the Fiftieth General Assembly of Illinois; to the end that the General Assembly may have at first hand concise information as to the needs of the University, the wisdom of its policies, and the efficiency of its administration, all as seen from the view point of members of the General Assembly; and for this purpose the said committee is authorized to employ not more than one clerk and one stenographer for a period not exceeding sixty days each. The Secretary of State is hereby requested and directed to furnish said committee with such stationery, blank forms, and other printed matter as may be required by the committee. The Board of Trustees, the President of the University, the heads of the various departments, and the faculty of the University are hereby requested to aid said committee in every way possible and to furnish the members thereof all information sought. The said committee and the members thereof shall be entitled to their actual expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions hereof; the expenses of the members of said committee and the pay of a stenographer and a clerk shall be paid out of the contingent funds of the Senate and House of Representatives, or out of any appropriation made therefor, on itemized vouchers properly signed by the chairman of the committee and approved by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and filed with the Auditor of Public Accounts. Mr. Meeker moved that the resolution be laid on the table, And the yeas and nays being called, the motion was decided in the affirmative by the following vote: Yeas, 24; nays, 6. The following voted in the affirmative: Messrs. Abt Barr Boehm Broderick Campbell Carroll Compton Cornwell Denvir Cleary Nays-6. The following voted in the negative: Messrs. Womack The following resolution offered by Mr. Compton March 4, 1915, was taken up for consideration: SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 8. WHEREAS, it appears from the report of the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of Illinois, that fire insurance companies doing business in this State, usurp their powers, rights and privileges and that there exists a system of interlocking organizations, which savor monopoly; and WHEREAS, It is charged in said report that certain combinations obtain among officials and other whereby exorbitant, unjust and discriminatory rates of premium are fixed and maintained and that other evils exist which are detrimental to the welfare and interests of policy holders and that the administration and business methods of fire insurance companies may be materially improved; and WHEREAS, It is believed from various reports of the Superintendent of Insurance and other official sources that the interests of policy holders and their beneficiaries in life, industrial, accident and other insurance companies doing business in the State of Illinois are not properly safe-guarded by existing laws and that a comprehensive revision or codification of the insurance laws of the State of Illinois should be undertaken; and WHEREAS, The inquisitorial powers of the Superintendent of Insurance are limited to the examination of the officers and agents of companies and their books, with reference to their business and with a view to their solvency, chiefly, and that before any radical laws are enacted, it is expedient as a basis for legislation that the operations of insurance companies should be investigated as fully and promptly as may be; Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That a committee of five Senators and five Representatives be appointed by the Senate and House, respectively, who shall proceed to investigate and examine into the business and affairs of fire, life, industrial, accident and other insurance companies doing business in the State of Illinois, with reference to the investments of said companies, the relation of officers thereof to such investments, the relations of such companies to subsidiary corporations, the government and control of said companies, the contractual relations of said companies to their policy holders, the cost of insurance, the expense of said companies and any other phase of the insurance business generally of whatsoever nature, deemed by the committee to be proper, for the purpose of drafting and reporting to the General Assembly such revision or codification of the laws relating to and regulating insurance in this State as may be proper, wise and expedient. Further Resolved, that the said committee, be, and it is hereby authorized and empowered in this investigation, inquiry and examination to issue subpœnæs and to administer oaths, and to require and enforce the attendance of witnesses and the production of any and all books, papers, writings, documents and records and to employ attorneys, and such other assistants as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution; Further Resolved, that the said committee and the members thereof shall be entitled to their actual expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions hereof, which expense together with the compensation and expenses of attorneys and other employees shall be paid out of the contingent fund or out of any appropriation which shall be made therefor, on vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee of contingent expense, until the appropriation shall have been made and thereafter on the approval of the chairman of this committee, which said vouchers shall be certified to the Auditor of Public Accounts, who shall draw his warrants therefor; Further Resolved, that said committee shall if possible, complete its investigation in time to report its findings and recommendations to this General Assembly together with any proposed bill or bills or if that be impracticable then to any special session of the 49th General Assembly. If a special session be called and the subject matter hereof be included in said call, otherwise it shall report to the next General Assembly. Mr. Compton offered the following amendments, which were adopted: AMENDMENTS TO SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 8. In line 23, strike out all after the word "Illinois," and strike out lines 24 and 25 to and including the word "respectively" in line 25, and insert in lieu thereof the following words: "That a committee of five be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Senate of which the President of the Senate shall be a member. AMENDMENT No. 2. In line 48, after the word "committee," strike out all thereafter in said line and strike out all in line 49, and insert in lieu thereof the words: "and approved by the President of the Senate " AMENDMENT No. 3. In line 52, strike out all in said line after the word "resolved," and strike out lines 53 to 57 inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following: "That said committee shall report its findings and recommendations, together with any proposed bill or bills, to the Fiftieth General Assembly, or if a special session be called of the Forty-ninth General Assembly and the subject matter hereof be included in said call, it shall make its report to the said Forty-ninth General Assembly, if practicable." The question then being, "Shall the resolution, as amended, be adopted?" it was decided in the affirmative. The President of the Senate announced that the Executive Committee had appointed the following committee as provided for by the foregoing resolution, Messrs. Andrus, Hamilton, Compton, Womack, Lieutenant Governor. A message from the House by Mr. Vogel, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President-I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of bills of the following title, to wit: SENATE BILL No. 305. A bill for "An Act to authorize county authorities to esablish and maintain a county tuberculosis sanitarium, and branches, dispensaries and other auxiliary institutions connected with the same, and to levy and collect a tax to pay the cost of their establishment and maintenance." SENATE BILL No. 509. A bill for "An Act to amend section 1, of Article IV and to add a new section thereto to be known as section three (3) of an Act entitled, ‘An Act to revise the law in relation to justices of the peace and constables,' approved June 26, 1895, in force July 1, 1895, and Acts amendatory thereof.” SENATE BILL No. 401. A bill for "An Act to provide for physical training in the public and all the Normal schools." SENATE BILL No. 404. A bill for “An Act to amend section thirteen of an Act entitled, ‘An Act to provide for the sale of the Kaskaskia Commons, upon the Island of Kaskaskia in the county of Randolph, and to create a permanent school fund for the inhabitants of said island out the proceeds of said sale, and to punish any person failing to comply with the provisions thereof,' filed June 16, 1909, in force July 1, 1909." SENATE BILL No. 446. nt A bill for "An Act to authorize the reproduction of the emblem on the 'great seal of the State of Illinois' for use as a State banner." SENATE BILL No. 162. A bill for "An Act to amend section 5 of an Act entitled, 'An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools,' approved and in force June 12, 1909." Passed the House, June 19, 1915. B. H. MCCANN, Clerk of the House. A message from the House by Mr. Vogel, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President-I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the adoption of their amendments to a bill of the following title, to wit: HOUSE BILL No. 10. A bill for "An Act to amend an Act entitled, ‘An Act to provide for the partial support of mothers whose husbands are dead or have become permanently incapacitated for work by reason of physical or mental infirmity or whose husbands have deserted, when such mothers have children under fourteen years of age, and are citizens of the United States of America and residents of the county in which application for relief is made. And, also, to provide for the probationary visitation, care and supervision of the family for whose benefit such support is provided,' approved June 30, 1913, in force July 1, 1913, by amending sections two (2), ten (10) and eleven (11) thereof, and by adding two new sections to be known as section 12a, and section 18a, which amends the title thereof." Which amendments are as follows: AMENDMENT No. 1. Amend House Bill No. 10 in the Senate, by striking out after the words "period of,” in line 16, section 2, of the printed bill, the word "two," and inserting in lieu thereof the word "five." AMENDMENT No. 2. Amend House Bill No. 10, by omitting everything after the word "goods," in line 47 of the printed bill; also omit line 48 and line 49 as far as the figure “7." AMENDMENT No. 3. Amend House Bill No. 10, by omitting everything between the word "infirmity," in line 15, and the word "may," in line 19 of the printed bill. AMENDMENT No. 4. Also amend the title in line 5, on page 4, by omitting the words "or whose husbands have deserted." Concurred in by the House, June 19, 1915. B. H. MCCANN, Clerk of the House. A message from the House by Mr. Vogel, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President-I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following Conference Committee report: We, the undersigned, Committee on Conference, appointed to consider the differences between the two Houses in relation to the Senate amendments to printed House Bill No. 406 in Senate, being a bill for “An Act to provide for the licensing of structural engineers to regulate the practice of structural engineers, and to exempt licensed structural engineers from the provisions of the Act relating to the practice of architecture," beg leave to report, that we recommend the following as the action to be taken by the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively: First-We recommend that the Senate recede from printed Amendment No. 4. Second-We recommend that the House concur with the Senate in Amendments Nos. 1, 2, and 3. B. H. MCCANN, Clerk of the House. A message from the House by Mr. Vogel, Assistant Clerk: Mr. President-I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the adoption of their amendments to a bill of the following title, to wit: |