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Illinois Agricultural Association 



^ . RECORDS 



Number 8 



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AUGUST/1929 



Volume 7 



Our Legislative Program in tlie 56th General 



Assembly 



By The I. A. A. Committee on Public Relations 



FOLLOWING the precedent established amendments tliere to protect farmers' interests, 

 two years ago, the Committee on Public All of the bills and resolutions in which the 



Relations presents the following report on Illinois Agricultural Association had a particu- 



the legislative activities of the Association in lar interest, either in support or in opposition, 



the Fifty-sixth General Assembly. This report arc briefly described below, 

 is made to inform our membership about the 



attitude of the Association toward various bills 

 and resolutions of especial interest to farmers. 



The legislative policy of the Illinois Agri- 

 cultural Association in the recent session of the 

 General Assembly was determined, at least in 

 its major aspects, by the delegates in session 

 at the annual meeting. The major legislative 

 projects approved at Danville were the State 



Controversial Bills 



of the bills sponsored by tiie Illiniiis Agri- 

 cultural Association, serious opposition de- 

 veloped against t\s*o, one of which was de- ■ i i ■ i 

 r 1 TU uii ui t taxes, which a taxpayer might pay in this State, 

 fcated. These two bills are most suitable for . ' • ' ' .."..... 



the purpose of presenting the voting records of 



STATE INCOME TA|X BUX 



l-arly in the session Senator Lant/ intrinjuced 

 this bill as Senate Bill 39. This was practically 

 the same bill drawn by representatives of the 

 Associaticm two years ago and introduced in the 

 5 5th General Assembly by Senators Lant/. 

 Deck and Sneed. In both sessions the bill pro- 

 vided for a direct deduction of any property 



from any income tax which might be levied 



members of the General Assembly. They are 

 the bill for a State Income Tax and the bill 



Income Tax, the Limitation of the County i- •.■ .\. i- . u- u t d . Ti, 



' limiting the County Highway lax Rate. 1 he 

 Highway lax Rate, the Amendment of the 



Revenue Article of the State Constitution, and 

 the Gasoline Tax. 



In addition the annual meeting took a strong 

 position recommending resistance to tax in- 

 creases until the people of the State amend the 

 Constitution and set up a fair taxing system. 

 The resolutions adopted at Danville also asked 

 for the Amendment of the Co- 

 operative Marketing Act of 1925, 

 the Amendment of the Member- 

 ship Act of 1872, and the con- 

 tinuance of efforts to eradicate 

 bovine tuberculosis, with ade- 

 quate appropriations for indem- 

 nities for reacting cattle. 



voting record of every down state senator and 

 representative on each of these bills is given, 

 by districts, in the table on page 9 of this 

 issue. Members of the Illinois Agricultural 



against him, and for the use of the net funds 

 derived from the income tax in reducing or 

 replacing the already existing State school tax. 

 At the time of its introduction the bill was 

 referred to the Senate Committee on Revenue 

 and Finance. In a hearing before the Comaiit- 

 tee it was given very fair consideration jand 

 was recommended for passage, j Vi'hen it was 



All Subjects of Bills 



All of the projects named 

 above were the subjects of bills 

 and resolutions introduced in the 

 Fifty-sixth General Assembly. In 

 some cases the bills were prepared 

 by the Association. In other 

 cases, for reasons stated in this 

 report, no bills were prepared by 

 us. It was found advisable to 

 prepare bills on some matters 

 which were not considered at 

 Danville, these being the Amend- 

 ment of the Dog License Act, the 

 Amendment of the Insurance 

 Acts, and the Amendment of 

 the Fertilizer Act. In some cases 

 it was necessary to oppose bills 

 or resolutions or to ask for 



Association should study this table to see how called up for second reading, the Senate Went 



their senators and representatives voted on these into Committee of the Whole knd again gave 



two important measures. it very fair consideration. It was passed by 



1 the Senate on April 24 by a vote 



.. ,_-..-,., . - ,. - - ■•- I ^f jg j^ 1^ 1 



House Committee 

 . Unfriendly 



After its passage by the Scrute, 

 the Bill went to the House. It 

 was referred to th^ Committee on 

 Revenue, which was very unfairly 

 composed of ninet^n Cook coun- 

 ty and eleven downstate repre- 

 sentatives. When the bill was 

 called up for a hearing before 

 the Committee, ' Representative 

 Schnackenberg of Chicago, op- 

 posed hearing its 'supporters and 

 moved that it be rcfxirted with the 

 recommendation that it "do not 

 pass." Representatives Hunter, 

 sponsor of the billl in the House, 

 and Green, chairman of the Com- 

 mittee, urged proper consideration 

 and that its supp<ifters be heard. 

 The Chicago majority, however, 

 supported by Representative Ciow- 

 ley of Peoria, forced a vote and 

 adopted Schnackenberg's motion. 



When the Cominittec reported 



AM IMPORTANT service rendered Illinois tanners by the I. A. 

 - A. is to represent their interests where legislation affecting the 

 sselfare of agriculture is considered. Legislation invariably tends 

 to move in the direction desired by powerful and active organira- 

 tions, especially if those who may be injured thereby make no 

 resistance. In former days many burdens were thus placed on 

 farmers solely because they were not organized, and therefore, could 

 make no effective resistance. 



Representatives of the Association examined every bill and reso- 

 lution offered in the 56th General Assembly. In many cases they 

 suggested or asked for modifications. In a few cases active op- 

 position was necessary. 



The accomplishments of the Association in the recent legislative 

 session arc in large part due to the effective work of the County 

 Farm Bureaus and their collective supjsortlng membership. The 

 continued prestige and influence of the I. A. A. in matters of this 

 character in a very large measure depend upon the understanding, 

 determination and activities of the membership throughout the 

 state. 



Farmers should study the records of their representatives and 

 regardless of party affiliation, return their proven friends to the 

 legislative halls. By following such a policy, farmers can render 

 the most effective service in protecting their rightful future 

 interests. 



