Journal of the Senate

an Act entitled, 'An Act concerning local improvement,' approved June 14, 1897, in force July 1, 1897, and subsequent Acts amendatory thereof, by amending section forty-two (42) of said Act,”

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass and that it be ordered to a first reading.

Under the rules, the bill was ordered to a first reading, and was immediately taken up and read at large a first time, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Barr, from the Committee on Judiciary and Judicial Practice, to whom was referred a bill, Senate Bill No. 176, for "An Act to amend an Act entitled, 'An Act to provide for the annexation of cities, incorporated towns and villages, or parts of same, to cities, incorporated towns and villages,' approved and in force April 25, 1889, as heretofore amended,"

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass and that it be ordered to a first reading.

Under the rules, the bill was ordered to a first reading, and was immediately taken up and read at large a first time, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Barr, from the Committee on Judiciary and Judicial Practice, to whom was referred a bill, Senate Bill No. 36, for “An Act to amend section seven (7) of an Act entitled, 'An Act to amend an Act concerning circuit courts and to fix the time for holding the same in the several counties in the judicial circuits of the State of Illinois, exclusive of the county of Cook, approved May 24, 1879, in force July 1, 1879,' approved June 11, 1897, in force July 1, 1897, as amended by an Act entitled, 'An Act to amend section seven (7) of chapter thirty-seven (XXXVII) of an Act fixing the terms of holding court in the several judicial circuits of the State of Illinois, exclusive of Cook County, approved June 11, 1897, and in force July 1, 1897,' approved May 11, 1903, in force July 1, 1903,"

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass and that it be ordered to a first reading.

Under the rules, the bill was ordered to a first reading, and was immediately taken up and read at large a first time, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Curtis, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported back the following resolution with the recommendation that it be adopted by the Senate:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 12.

Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That a commission of nine members be and is hereby established to be known as the Commission on Unemployment of the State of Illinois. The members of said commission shall be appointed by the Governor as soon as practicable after the taking effect of this resolution and shall consist of three representatives of labor, three representatives of employers of labor, and three representatives of the public who are not identified with either the employing or employed classes. Each member of said commission shall have equal authority, power and voting strength in considering any action upon all matters considered by the commission.

The said commission shall have power and authority to investigate the subject of unemployment in Illinois, together with the causes leading thereto, and the effect of such idleness upon the commonwealth and its citizenship.

Said commission shall meet at the State Capitol building in Springfield, on the third Tuesday after notice of their appointment, and shall

immediately elect a chairman and secretary from among their number, one of whom shall be an employer and the other a representative of the employees.

Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business, but a fewer number than a quorum may adjourn the meeting of the commission from time to time.

The meetings of said commission shall be held at such times and places within the State of Illinois as may be fixed by the said commission.

Said commission shall report to the Governor and to the General Assembly at its next regular session, submitting, so far as they have agreed, a bill or bills or other means destined to meet the purpose announced in this resolution.

The commission may employ such necessary assistance as it deems wise and expedient in pursuit of its investigation and shall fix their salaries.

The commission shall be allowed its necessary and actual expenses incurred in pursuit of its investigations out of any moneys appropriated for the purpose upon presentation of proper vouchers certified to by the chairman and secretary of said commission and approved by the Governor.

Mr. Curtis, from the Committee on Appropriations, to whom was referred a bill, Senate Bill No. 159, for "An Act making an appropriation to meet a deficiency in appropriations for the Illinois State Public Utilities Commission and to provide the necessary funds to carry on the business of said Commission, including the amount necessary to carry on the business of the State Grain Inspection Department, until the first day of July, 1915, and declaring an emergency,"

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill do pass and that it be ordered to a first reading.

Under the rules, the bill was ordered to a first reading, and was immediately taken up and read at large a first time, and ordered to a second reading.

PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Swanson offered the following resolution, which was laid over under the rules:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 14.

WHEREAS, The proposition of uniformity of certain laws has been the subject of much agitation throughout the various states of the Union.

WHEREAS, Much commendable criticism has been expressed in editorial columns of newspapers in the nation and by associations of citizens who believe in the advancement of legislation in the interest of social justice and political economy; and,

WHEREAS, There are now assembled in session more than forty of the forty-eight state legislatures in sister states in the Union; and,

WHEREAS, The variety of laws in various states on identical subjects vary to such an extent as to become perplexing; and,

WHEREAS, Such condition of affairs, could be materially remedied and lead to advancement and a better understanding by the people engaged in commercial enterprises, throughout the length and breadth of the land, in having universal laws enacted which would be clearly defined in preference to forty-eight separate rules construed in forty-eight ways by as many courts.

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring thercin, That a committee consisting of five Senators and five Representatives to be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Senate and the Speaker of the House respectively, be and they are hereby appointed and that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall be ex officio members of said committee, which shall be known as the Committee on Uniformity of State Laws, for the purposes of assembling

in a convention with committees of sister state legislatures, to discuss and take action on the propriety of adopting uniform state laws on such subjects as may be agreed upon and reporting and recommending the same for enactment to their respective legislatures.

Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution attested by the President and Secretary of the Senate and the Speaker and Clerk of the House, be forwarded to each branch of the legislature of every state in the United States, where such legislatures are now in session, respectfully requesting the appointment by them of committees as in their judgment may be expedient to the end that a Congress of State Legislative Committees may be assembled to take action on the uniformity of such laws as may be propitious.

Further Resolved, That in such states where no sessions of the legislature are being held, this year, or where sessions have been held and adjourned, certified copy of these resolutions be sent to the Governors, with a request that similar committees for the purpose herein expressed be appointed by the Executives of such states to meet and participate with the legislative committees in convention.

Further Resolved, That the solicitor or law secretary of the Senate, and the legal secretary of the House, be directed under instructions of the committee herein, appointed to arrange the necessary details for the meeting and organization of such Congress of Legislatures, in the event of favorable concerted action, approval of and adoption of similar resolutions on the part of a majority of other state legislatures.

Further resolved, That should the emergency arise therefor, the committee is hereby authorized and empowered to subpoena witnesses and the production of books, papers and documents, and the committee may appoint such clerks and assistants as may be essential to carry into effect the purposes of this resolution, and the committee shall receive its actual expenses and the assistants shall receive such compensation as the committee may determine, which shall be paid out of an appropriation which shall be made therefor on vouchers duly certified to by the chairman of the committee and the Auditor of Accounts, and the Treasurer shall pay the same;

Further resolved, That said committee shall make its report and recommendations together with any proposed bill or bills agreed on as the result of the deliberations of such convention, to the General Assembly, or to an intervening special session, if one be called, and the subject herein expressed be included in such call, providing the same shall be practical.

Mr. Coleman offered the following resolution, which, under the rules, was laid over:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 15.

WHEREAS, The railroad companies operating in and through the State of Illinois are desirous of increasing the rate per mile charged for the transportation of passengers in intrastate traffic; and,

WHEREAS, Representatives of such railroad companies have appeared before the Chief Executive of this State and made certain statements and representations to him relative to the necessity of securing such increase in rates; and,

WHEREAS, The Chief Executive has recommended to this Assembly that the necessity of an increase in such rates for the transportation of passengers be investigated; and,

WHEREAS, The merits of the claims and representations of the railroad companies should be investigated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That a joint committee of ten be appointed, composed of five Senators and five Representatives, who shall have full power and authority to investigate the necessity of an increase in the rate per mile for the transportation of passengers upon railroads operating in and through the State of Illinois in intrastate traffic;

Resolved, That the committee shall have full power and authority to subpoena witnesses and to examine into and compel the production of books, papers and documents;

Resolved, That the committee shall have full authority to employ accountants, stenographers and other assistants necessary to carry on its investigations and make its report;

Resolved, That the expenses of said committee and employees shall be paid out of an appropriation made therefor by the General Assembly, upon vouchers properly drawn upon the Auditor of Public Accounts, properly itemized and signed and approved by the chairman of such joint committee. The committee shall conduct its investigation and report its findings to this session of the Forty-ninth General Assembly, together with such bill or bills that it may deem proper to submit.

INTRODUCTION OF BILLS.

Mr. Bardill introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 230, for "An Act to authorize the circuit, city, county and probate judges in this State to interchange, hold 'court for each other and perform each other's duties,” Which was read by title, ordered printed, and,

Under Rule 43, was referred by the President of the Senate to the Committee on Judiciary and Judicial Practice.

Mr. Boehm introduced a bill, Senate Bill No. 231, for "An Act to enable counties or cities to segregate and treat persons suffering from certain communicable diseases,"