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The 

 Illinois Agricultural Association 



RECORD 



Volume 13 July, 1935 Number 7 



59th General Assembly 

 Draws to A Close 



Final Days Will Determine Fate of Many Important Measures 



As THIS is written the 59th Gen- 

 eral Assembly is fast drawing to 

 a close. It has been an unusual 

 session in many ways. While appro.xi- 

 mately 2,000 bills and resolutions have 

 been introduced, considtiation and ac- 

 tion on most of them was delayed un- 

 til the last three to four weeks. Many 

 will never be taken up. Controversy 

 over unemployment relief and related 

 problems has featured the session. Very 

 little important legislation has been en- 

 acted. The 59th General A,sembly 

 promises to close July 1 without action 

 on a number of important i.ssues. 



The interest of the I. A. A. in this 

 session centered in securing more eco- 

 nomical administration of relief funds, 

 insisting that those who are able to 

 work make some contribution for their 

 keep at public expense, securing ma.xi- 

 mum mileage of improved farm-to- 

 market roads out of federal and state 

 relief funds, securing the submission 

 of a satisfactory revenue amendment, 

 killing bad bills particularly those de- 

 signed to increase the burden of taxes 

 on property, removing objectionable 

 features from milk marketing and other 

 agricultural regulatory meaeures, and 

 abolishing township taxes on property 

 for poor relief. The Association also 

 has supported a number of meritorious 

 measures introduced by members of 

 the legislature. 



The I. A. A. road bills introduced by 

 Senator Lohmann and Senator Lantz 

 passed the senate by a vote of 39 to 

 several weeks ago. They were reported 

 out of the House road and bridge com- 

 mittee with favorable recommendation 

 on June 19 with the understanding 

 that they would be held on second 

 ■reading to give the state highway de- 

 partment an opportunity to propose 

 amendments which department ofRcials 

 feel are neces.sary. These bills spon- 

 sored in the House by Representatives 

 Sinnott and Hunter, are designed to 

 bring about an equitable distribution 

 among the counties and a maximum 



mileage of improved secondary roads 

 out of Illinois' share of the $4,880,000,- 

 000 federal work relief funds. 



The key bill, S. B. 371. provides that 

 unless otherwi.se required by federal 

 regulations, not less than 50 per cent 

 of all sums apportioned to Illinois for 

 roads and streets other than sums for 

 grade crossing elimination shall be used 

 for the construction and improvement 

 of secondary roads. 



This money would be apportioned 

 among the counties, one-half in pro- 

 portion to their total mileage of roads 

 and one-half in proportion to their 

 mileage of unimproved roads. The bill 

 fi.xes the .ma.ximum requirements of 



designs for roads and authorizes coun- 

 ties, townships and road districts to 

 contract for maintenance of roads con- 

 structed out of federal relief funds. 



The companion bills. S. B. 372-373- 

 374-375, authorize co-operation be- 

 tween stale, county and township high- 

 way and road ofiicials, provide for the 

 use of unemployed men who are on 

 relief rolls m building roads iind re- 

 quire that ill .case any employable per- 

 son refuses work which he is physical- 

 ly able tf) do he shall bo denied further 

 direct relief .so long as he persists in 

 such refusal. 



The Association is hopeful that these 

 bills will pa.ss the House in the closing 

 days of the session and be signed by 

 the governor. Members 'of the Hou.sc 

 road and bridge committee gave their 

 unanimous approval to the bills follow- 

 ing a clear, concise exphmation of their 

 provisions- by Paul E. Mathias of the 

 I. A. A. leiiishitive committee on June 

 19. Mr. Lieberman, Chief Engineer of 

 the State Highway Department, stated 

 that the administration is in sympathy 

 with the purpose iof the .bills but sug- 

 ( Continued an next page) 



t,^ 



PAUL E. MATHIAS. LEFT, JOHN 

 director from the 20*h district have 

 the session, with assistance from time 

 the staff. 



C. WATSON, CENTER. AND K. T. SMITH. I. A. A 

 represented the Association at Springfield throughout 

 to time of President Smith and other members of 



^'H 



