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Commission to make preliminary arrangements for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union; and

WHEREAS, The term of the Forty-eighth General Assembly has expired and it is desired to continue the work so well begun; and

WHEREAS, Illinois was admitted to the Union as a State, December 3, A. D. 1818, the Centennial Anniversary thereof being rapidly approaching and it being meet and fit that the State which has given of its sons so liberally to the progress of the nations of the world during the period of its Statehood should fittingly observe its one hundredth anniversary by a celebration which shall do honor to itself and to the Nation; therefore, be it Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That a commission consisting of E. J. James, E. B. Greene, and J. W. Garner, of the University of Illinois, and Jessie Palmer Weber and Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, of the Illinois Historical Society, and five members of the Senate and five members of the House of Representatives of the Fortyninth General Assembly, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, shall be appointed to have charge of and continue the preliminary arrangements for such celebration to be held in Springfield, the State Capitol, on such centennial date and to determine, as may be, the character of such celebration and to report the result of such findings to the Fiftieth General Assembly. Such joint commission to hold its meetings in the city of Springfield at such time or times as may be necessary to successfully inaugurate and promote such movement.

Adopted by the Senate June 8, 1915.

Concurred in by the House June 10, 1915.

COMMITTEE ROOMS-KEPT AND PRESERVED INTACT.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 38.)

WHEREAS, Certain rooms have been appropriately furnished and remodeled during this session of the General Assembly for the exclusive use of the respective committees on appropriations for the Senate and House.

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Repre sentatives concurring therein, That the Secretary of State be instructed and directed to keep and preserve the said rooms occupied by the respective committees on appropriations of the Senate and House intact and undisturbed in any respect during the recesses and after any adjournment of the General Assembly and until the reconvening of the Fiftieth General Assembly, and that the use and occupancy of the said rooms shall not be permitted by any persons other than the respective committees on appropriations.

Adopted by the Senate June 16, 1915.

Concurred in by the House June 16, 1915.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-TAXATION, SUBMISSION TO VOTE.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 21.)

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That there shall be submitted to the electors of this State for adoption or rejection at the next election of the members of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois in manner provided by law, a proposition to amend Article IX of the Constitution by adding thereto an additional section to be known as section 14 of Article IX, as follows:

Article IX. Sec. 14. From and after the date when this section shall be in force the powers of the General Assembly over the subject-matter of the taxation of personal property shall be as complete and unrestricted as they would be if sections one (1), three (3), nine (9), and ten (10), of this article of the Constitution did not exist: Provided, however, that any tax levied upon personal property must be uniform as to persons and property of the same class within the jurisdiction of the body imposing the same, and

all exemptions from taxation shall be by general law, and shall be revocable by the General Assembly at any time.

Adopted by the Senate by two-thirds vote May 18, 1915.
Concurred in by the House by two-thirds vote May 20, 1915.

CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK-ASSENT BY LEGISLATURE, (House Joint Resolution No. 3.)

Joint resolution for giving the State's assent to the act of Congress of May 8, 1914.

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has passed an Act approved by the President, May 8, 1914, entitled, "An Act to provide for the cooperative agricultural extension work, between the agricultural colleges in the several states, receiving the benefits of the Act of Congress approved July 2, 1862, and of Act supplementary thereto, and the United States Department of Agriculture;" and,

WHEREAS, It is provided in section 3 of the Act aforesaid, that the grants of money authorized by this Act shall be paid annually "to each state which shall by action of its legislature assent to the provisions of this Act;" therefore, be it

Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein, That the assent of the Legislature of the State of Illinois be and is hereby given to the provisions and requirements of said Act, and that the trustees of the University of Illinois be, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to receive the grants of money appropriated under said Act, and to organize and conduct agricultural extension work which shall be carried on in connection with the College of Agriculture of the University of Illinois, in accordance with the terms and conditions expressed in the Act of Congress aforesaid.

Adopted by the House March 3, 1915.

Concurred in by the Senate March 4, 1915.

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EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY-AID TO SUFFERING PEOPLE.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 6.)

WHEREAS, The people of Italy are in great trouble because of the disastrous earthquake which has ravaged their country, causing great loss of life and property; and,

WHEREAS, The people of Italy who escaped with their lives are threatened with starvation and floods, and fire and disease, in addition to their sorrow and bereavement; and,

WHEREAS, The people of the United States of America recognize in each and every suffering being, a brother, and our institutions commit our people and our State to be the broadest principles of humanity; and,

WHEREAS, Our country is deeply indebted to its discoverer, Christopher Columbus, one of Italy's sons; and also to the sturdy character of the men and women who left Italy to become worthy and loyal citizens of our republic; therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring, That we appeal to the people of the State of Illinois to give of their bounty for the relief of the sufferings of the people in Italy; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Governor appoint a committee of three citizens to receive and transmit to the sufferers in the stricken district all moneys collected for that purpose by them; and, be it further

Resolved, That an engrossed copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Italian Government by the Secretary of State.

Adopted by the Senate March 2, 1915.
Concurred in by the House March 4, 1915.

INVESTIGATIONS-EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY COMMISSION.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 40.)

WHEREAS, The joint committee established by Senate Joint Resolution No. 22 of the Forty-eighth General Assembly, in the report of the investigation of the departments, boards, bureaus and commissions of the State Government, has shown the need for further study of all branches of State and local government, for the purpose of securing greater efficiency and economy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring therein, That an Efficiency and Economy Commission be established to consist of four Senators, be appointed by the executive committee of the Senate; four Representatives, one of whom shall be the Speaker of the House of Representatives and three others to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; which shall have full power and authority to prepare a comprehensive survey of all public offices and authorities, established by and under the authority of the State of Illinois, to investigate the efficiency of their organization and administration, and to make recommendations and prepare plans for the consolidation, co-ordination and reorganization of such public bodies, such as will promote greater simplicity, efficiency and economy in the management of public affairs.

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

Resolved. That the Commission shall have power to employ agents, attorneys, accountants and other experts and assistants necessary to carry on such investigation and make its report.

Resolved, That the expenses of such commission and its agents and employees shall be paid out of any appropriation made therefor by the General Assembly, upon vouchers properly drawn upon the Auditor of Public Accounts, and properly itemized and signed and approved by the chairman and secretary of the commission; and

Resolved, That the Commission is authorized to make recommendation for changes in administrative methods and regulations to the several public officers and authorities concerned; and shall report its findings and recommendations, with drafts of bills and proposed constitutional provisions, to the General Assembly of the State of Illinois.

Adopted by the Senate June 17, 1915.
Concurred in by the House June 18, 1915.

INVESTIGATIONS-FOOT AND MOUTH EPIDEMIC.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 35.)

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has found it necessary to appropriate $1,079.183.64 to reimburse farmers and stock men for the stock killed for the recent so-called epidemic of foot and mouth disease; and,

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture reported that the epidemic of foot and mouth disease of 1909 in this country was "started from some calves used to propagate vaccine virus" for smallpox; and,

WHEREAS, The same Department of Agriculture reported that "the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1902-3 probably had a similar origin;" and,

WHEREAS. Practically one-half (%) of all the foot and mouth disease in the nation was confined within the borders of the State of Illinois, and believing that it is better to prevent than to cure, and cheaper and more far-sighted to take such steps toward precautionary and educational measures than to suffer injurious losses in the future; and

WHEREAS, A difference of opinion seems to prevail as to cause of the outbreak of the so-called foot and mouth disease epidemic of 1915; therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate of the State of Illinois, the House of Repre sentatives concurring therein, That a committee of five Senators to be appointed by the Senate and five Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker, be appointed to investigate and inquire into the causes of the recent epidemic of the foot and mouth disease and all and any matters in connection therewith with a view of taking such steps are are necessary to prevent and avoid further outbreak or repetition thereof; and, be it further Resolved, That said committee be and hereby is specially authorized and empowered to summons before said committee, as witnesses, any and all persons who may, in the judgment of the committee be possessed of any information deemed valuable by said committee, this to include the power to summon by subpoena duces tecum all books, documents and papers desired as evidence by said committee; and said committee shall have and it hereby has the same power or powers possessed by the General Assembly to enforce its orders and to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, documents and papers; and, be it further

Resolved, That the said committee shall have the power to employ assistants; and, be it further

Resolved, That the said committee shall continue its inquiry and investigation and report its recommendation together with any bill or bills to the Fiftieth General Assembly, and that the said committee shall receive no compensation but shall be paid its actual expenses, and that an appropriation be made for the sum of ten thousand [dollars] ($10,000.00) to meet the actual expenses of the said committee, as well as such assistants as may be necessarily employed by it, and that an appropriation in said sum be made by the General Assembly, and that all expenses necessarily incurred shall be paid on vouchers certified to by the chairman of the said committee. Adopted by the Senate June 14, 1915. Concurred in by the House June 18, 1915.

INVESTIGATIONS-HOME-FINDING INSTITUTIONS.

(House Joint Resolution No. 21.)

WHEREAS, The Forty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, pursuant to the request of the Governor of the State of Illinois, adopted House Joint Resolution No. 36; and,

WHEREAS, The committee appointed under said resolution entered upon the discharge of their duties and have made an elaborate report of their acts and doings; and,

WHEREAS, The committee believe that it is essential and expedient in the interests of the public and in the furtherance of the good government of this State to continue a most researching, scrutinizing and careful exami nation and investigation; therefore, be it

Resolved, That a joint committee of five Representatives and five Senators be appointed respectively by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Executive Committee of the Senate to continue the investigation and inquiry into the methods and actions of charitable institutions and organizations and of all persons, societies, institutions and corporations handling, caring for or disposing of children in any manner, whether licensed or chartered, or unlicensed or unchartered so to do, and to investigate their accounts, receipts and expenditures and to investigate all charitable organizations to ascertain if they are engaged in the name of charity to traffic for gain; and, be it further

Resolved, That the said committee be, and it hereby is, empowered and fully authorized, to take any and all steps that may be necessary to make full and complete investigation of the above specified matters; and in the doing of this, said committee is specially authorized and empowered, to summons before said committee as witnesses any and all persons who may, in the judgment of the committee be possessed of any information deemed valuable by said committee, this to include the power of summons by subpoena duces tecum all persons possessed of, or in any way in charge of books, documents and papers desired as evidence by said committee; and

said committee shall have, and it hereby is given and has the same power or powers possessed by the General Assembly, to enforce its orders, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, documents and papers; and, be it further

Resolved, That the said committee shall have the power to employ any assistants, a stenographer and clerks; and be it further

Resolved, That the said committee shall continue its inquiry and investigation and report to the Fiftieth General Assembly, and that said committee shall receive no compensation but shall be paid its actual expenses and that an appropriation be made for the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to meet the actual expense of the said committee as well as such assistants as may be necessarily employed by them and that an appropriation in said sum be made by the General Assembly and that all expenses necessarily incurred shall be paid on voucher certified to by the chairman of the said committee and approved by either the Speaker of the House or the Lieutenant Governor.

Adopted by the House May 13, 1915.
Concurred in by the Senate June 19, 1915.

INVESTIGATIONS-OPERATION OF STATE PENSION LAWS.

(Senate Joint Resolution No. 17.)

WHEREAS, For almost a quarter of a century at every session of the General Assembly bills have been introduced and passed providing for or relating to the payment of pensions to superannuated, retired or injured public employees and in many cases to their widows and children at an expense to the public now aggregating millions of dollars annually; and,

WHEREAS, The Legislature has heretofore provided for the contribution of public revenue for this purpose without making or causing to be made any investigation of the present and future cost or value of such pensions, of any plan or procedure by which economics might be affected in the administration of the various pension funds, or of consolidating, revising and making permanent the many unscientific "make-shift" laws now in force relating thereto; and,

WHEREAS, There are now pending in the Legislature several pension bills affecting various classes of public employees in the city of Chicago, each designed either to extend the benefits of the present laws or to secure the contribution of further public revenue to such funds; and,

WHEREAS, It is desirable in order that the Legislature may act intelligently upon these matters to obtain further information upon the operation of these laws, and upon the present and future cost of the administration thereof; therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring herein, That the Governor is hereby authorized and requested to appoint a commission of four members, one of whom shall be a representative of said pension funds, the other three of whom shall be persons not interested in any of said pension funds and one of whom shall be a person versed in financial affairs, one of whom shall be a person of actuarial experience, and another of whom shall be a person of legal attainments, who shall be chairman of the commission, to investigate the operation of all pension laws heretofore enacted in this State, together with the present and future cost thereof, and to collect information as far as possible in regard to the operation of similar laws in other states and countries, and to make recommendation upon this subject to the next General Assembly.

The commission shall have power to call upon the insurance department and other departments of the State Government for such assistance as it may require, to employ one or more actuaries, a clerk, a stenographer and counsel, and such other assistants as may be necessary.

The expense of said commission, including a reasonable per diem to the members thereof, not to exceed ten dollars per day, for time actually spent in such investigation, shall be paid out of funds to be appropriated therefor upon vouchers drawn upon the Auditor of Public Accounts properly

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