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County and Township Government in 1947

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Clyde F. Snider  and
Neil F. Garvey
Clyde F. Snider
Affiliation:
University of Illinois
Neil F. Garvey
Affiliation:
University of Illinois
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Extract

Rural local government received considerable attention during 1947 at the hands of state legislatures and the general public. The legislative sessions in many states were the first regular meetings since the end of the war, and therefore afforded the earliest opportunity to deal at length with various postwar problems and with certain problems of a peacetime nature on which action had been deferred during the war period. Perhaps the most significant phase of the year's developments was the conferring upon counties and townships, or special districts serving unincorporated areas, of numerous powers of a regulatory or service nature traditionally possessed only by municipalities. Another subject which received major attention was that of finding new and increased revenues to finance expanded programs of local services at rising price levels. Widespread interest was also displayed in such matters as areal readjustments, the modernization of local-government structure in the interest of efficiency and economy, and intergovernmental coöperation in the performance of local functions. In reviewing the events of the year, a topical arrangement similar to that used in previous summaries will be followed.

I. Areas

New Areas. State legislation authorizing the establishment of special-purpose districts was more extensive in 1947 than for several years past. Problems of water supply, sewerage, and refuse disposal frequently overlap political boundaries and sometimes involve suburban and rural areas as well as incorporated communities. Several states authorized the creation of special districts to deal with these and related problems. In some instances the districts are permitted to include only unincorporated territory, while in others they may embrace two or more municipalities or both incorporated and unincorporated areas. Nebraska and South Dakota authorized the organization of sanitary districts to provide sewage-disposal facilities in areas outside municipalities. Boards of county commissioners in Utah were empowered to establish improvement districts to provide water supply and sewerage for unincorporated areas. Special districts for supplying water, sewerage, or both, were authorized in Idaho. A Nevada law permits the establishment of districts for supplying water, sewerage, and garbage disposal, singly or in any combination.

Type
Rural Local Government
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , February 1949 , pp. 53 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1949

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References

1 See this Review, Vol. 41, pp. 28–47, 1130–1141, and earlier articles listed, Ibid., p. 28.

2 General Laws of Idaho, 1947, ch. 152; Laws, Resolutions, and Memorials of Montana, 1947, ch. 292; Laws of Nebraska, 1947, ch. 115; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 138; Laws of South Dakota, 1947, ch. 226; Laws of Utah, 1947, ch. 25.

3 Statutes of California, 1947, chs. 632, 1193; Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 239; Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 193; Kansas Session Laws, chs. 172, 482; Laws of Missouri, 1947, vol. I, p. 452; Laws of Nebraska, 1947, ch. 173; General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, chs. 183, 184, 185, 186, 406.

4 School District Reorganization: Kansas Experience, 1945–1947 (Publication No. 150, Research Department, Kansas Legislative Council, Topeka, Sept., 1947).

5 Kansas Session Laws, 1947, chs. 374, 375, 377; State v. Hines, 163 Kan. 300 (1947); State v. Common School District No. 87, 163 Kan. 650 (1947).

6 Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 1530; People v. Deatherage, 401 Ill. 25 (1948).

7 General Laws of Idaho, 1947, ch. 111; Session Laws of Minnesota, 1947, ch. 421; Laws of North Dakota, 1947, ch. 147; Wisconsin Session Laws, 1947, ch. 573; Session Laws of Wyoming, 1947, ch. 163.

8 Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 281; Laws of Pennsylvania, 1947, no. 361.

9 General Acts and Resolutions of Florida, 1947, p. 1616; Session Laws of Washington, 1947, p. 1386.

10 General Laws of Alabama, 1947 (reg. sess.), no. 591. See infra, “Research.”

11 Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 240.

12 Private Acts of Tennessee, 1947, chs. 41, 210, 235, 254, 345, 349, 384, 459, 769, 877; Williams, Henry N., “General Sessions Courts in Tennessee,” Jour. of the Amer. Judicature Soc., Vol. 31, pp. 101–104 (Dec., 1947).Google Scholar

13 General Laws of Idaho, 1947, p. 906; Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 330.

14 Laws of New Mexico, 1947, p. 565; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 564; Laws of Pennsylvania, 1947, no. 64; Session Laws of Washington, 1947, p. 1385.

15 Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 638; Mauck, Elwyn A., notes in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 349 (June, 1947)CrossRefGoogle Scholar, ibid., Vol. 37, p. 111 (Feb., 1948).

16 See infra, “Home Rule and Optional Charters.”

17 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 652 (Dec., 1947).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 H. M. Olmsted, notes in ibid., Vol. 36, p. 631 (Dec., 1947), Vol. 37, p. 317 (June, 1948).

19 See infra, “Home Rule and Optional Charters.”

20 Mitchell, James M., “Personnel Developments in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 97–102Google Scholar; Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 471 (Sept., 1947)Google Scholar; H. M. Olmsted, note in ibid., Vol. 37, pp. 95–96 (Feb., 1948).

21 Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 415; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 179; Laws of Utah, 1947, ch. 26; Session Laws of Washington, 1947, ch. 274; Mitchell, loc.cit.; Mauck, Elwyn A., notes in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 471 (Sept., 1947), Vol. 37, p. 342 (June, 1948).Google Scholar

22 Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 27; General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 410, p. 1191.

23 General Laws of Alabama, 1947 (reg. sess.), nos. 344, 581; Public Acts of Connecticut, 1947, no. 460; Acts and Resolutions of Georgia, 1947, pp. 849, 1010; General Laws of Idaho, 1947, ch. 130; Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 174; Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, oh. 184; Kansas Session Laws, 1947, ch. 13; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 205; Page's Ohio General Code, 1947 supplement, secs. 3180–1 to 3180–50; Oregon Laws, 1947, chs. 537, 558; General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 391; Olmsted, H. M., “Cleveland Area Inaugurates Regional Planning,” Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 332 (June, 1947)Google Scholar; Blucher, Walter H., “Planning and Zoning Developments in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 240–245.Google Scholar

24 Acts and Resolutions of Georgia, 1947, p. 1757; Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 192; Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 507; Laws of Nebraska, 1947, ch. 61; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 253; Laws of New Mexico, 1947, ch. 148; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 395; Laws of Pennsylvania, 1947, no. 549; Wisconsin Session Laws, 1947, chs. 4, 68, 412.

25 Laws of Missouri, 1947, vol. I, p. 430; Laws of North Dakota, 1947, ch. 125; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 246; General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 304.

26 Laws of Illinois, 1947, pp. 740, 744; Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 840; Laws of Missouri, 1947, vol. I, p. 451.

27 Laws of Colorado, 1947, ch. 204; General Laws of Idaho, 1947, ch. 105; Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 271; Laws of New Mexico, 1947, chs. 148, 199; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 388; Hiscock, Ira V., “Health Developments in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 271–274Google Scholar; Mauck, Elwyn A.. note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 37, p. 111 (Feb., 1948).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

28 Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 1480; Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 245; Public Acts of Michigan, 1947, no. 179; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 395; Laws of South Dakota, 1947, ch. 46.

29 See supra, “New Functions”; infra, “Purchasing.”

30 Public Acts of Michigan, 1947, no. 359. See infra, “Home Rule and Optional Charters.”

31 General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 178; Mauck, Elwyn A., notes in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, pp. 538, 592 (Oct., Nov., 1947)Google Scholar; Vol. 37, p. 57 (Jan., 1948).

32 Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 240. See supra, “Creation and Abolition of Offices.”

33 Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 330.

34 Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 240. See supra, “Creation and Abolition of Offices.”

35 Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, chs. 231, 232; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 179; Session Laws and Resolutions of North Carolina, 1947, ch. 421; Laws of North Dakota, 1947, chs. 356, 359, 360, 361; Public Acts of Tennessee, 1947, ch. 209.

36 Laws of New York, 1947, ch. 278. This legislation, which also conferred power to impose various new levies upon New York City and other large municipalities, was amended in several respects by Laws of New York, 1948, ch. 651.

37 Peitzsch, Frederick C., “New Sources of Municipal Revenue in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 176–192.Google Scholar

38 Laws of Pennsylvania, 1947, no. 481; English v. School District of Robinson Township, 358 Pa. 45 (1947); Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania's New Local Tax Law in Operation (Harrisburg, April 1, 1948).Google Scholar The law contains an over-all limitation to the effect that the amount of money raised by any subdivision from taxes imposed under the act may not exceed the amount which could be raised by imposition of the maximum permissible rate upon real estate.

39 Cf. Alderfer, H. F., “Pennsylvania's New Local Taxes,” State Government, Vol. 21, pp. 144–145, 154 (July, 1948).Google Scholar

40 General Laws of Alabama, 1947 (reg. sess.), nos. 385, 414; Acts and Resolutions of Georgia, 1947, p. 1136; Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 740; Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 601; Statutes of Nevada, 1947, ch. 276; Peitzsch, loc. cit.

41 Phillipps, Miner B., “Finance Administration in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 163–167.Google Scholar

42 United States Bureau of the Census, Compendium of State Government Finances in 1947 (Washington, 1948), p. 28.Google Scholar

43 Statutes of California, 1947, ch. 903; Private Acts of Tennessee, 1947, chs. 102, 261, 637, 642, 750; Hall, Albert H., “Municipal Purchasing in 1947,” Municipal Year Book, 1948, pp. 173–176.Google Scholar

44 Statutes of California, 1947, chs. 816, 822; Acts and Resolutions of Georgia, 1947, p. 1759; Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 192; Session Laws and Resolutions of North Carolina, 1947, ch. 784; General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 304; Wisconsin Session Laws, 1947, ch. 412.

45 General and Special Laws of Texas, 1947, ch. 234; Session Laws of Washington, 1947, p. 1372.

46 See this Review, Vol. 39, p. 1111.

47 Mauck, Elwyn A., notes in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 349 (June, 1947), Vol. 37, p. 514 (Oct., 1948).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

48 Elwyn A. Mauck, note in ibid., Vol. 37, p. 111 (Feb., 1948). See this Review, Vol. 39, p. 1116, Vol. 41, p. 1139.

49 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 416 (July, 1947).Google Scholar

50 Public Acts of Michigan, 1947, no. 359.

51 Bromage, Arthur, “Evaluating the New Form of Government Optional for Michigan Townships,” Mich. Munic. Rev., Vol. 20, pp. 135–136 (Dec., 1947).Google Scholar

52 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 37, p. 288 (May, 1948).Google Scholar

53 Elwyn A. Mauck, note in ibid., Vol. 36, pp. 469–470 (Sept., 1947). See infra, “Research.”

54 Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 1478; Laws of South Dakota, 1947, ch. 222.

55 Supra, “Functional Consolidation.”

56 See supra, “The Property Tax.”

57 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 351 (June, 1947).Google Scholar

58 General Acts and Resolutions of Florida, 1947, p. 1069.

59 Supra, “State Aid.”

60 Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 605.

61 60 U. S. Stat. at L. 170.

62 Public Acts of Connecticut, 1947, no. 242; Laws of Illinois, 1947, p. 305; Laws of Indiana, 1947, ch. 114; Laws of Maryland, 1947 (reg. sess.), ch. 896; Public Acts of Michigan, 1947, no. 279; Laws, Resolutions, and Memorials of Montana, 1947, ch. 288; Laws of Nebraska, 1947, ch. 8; Laws of New York, 1947, ch. 489; Laws of North Dakota, 1947, ch. 1; Session Laws of Oklahoma, 1947, p. 15; Oregon Laws, 1947, ch. 497; Laws of South Dakota, 1947, ch. 4; Laws of Utah, 1947, ch. 7; Session Laws of Washington, 1947, ch. 165; Acts of West Virginia, 1947, ch. 12; Wisconsin Session Laws, 1947, ch. 548.

63 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 470 (Sept., 1947).Google Scholar

64 Acts of Arkansas, 1947, no. 250; General Acts and Resolutions of Florida, 1947, p. 644; General Laws of Idaho, 1947, ch. 228; Laws of New Mexico, 1947, ch. 45.

65 Acts and Joint Resolutions of Iowa, 1947, ch. 102; Laws of Utah, 1947, ch. 23 A.

66 See this Review, Vol. 41, pp. 46–47.

67 Report of the Joint Interim Committee to Study County Government (Madison, Wis., Feb., 1947).

68 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, p. 657 (Dec., 1947)Google Scholar; supra, “Home Rule and Optional Charters.”

69 Mauck, Elwyn A., note in Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, pp. 225–226 (Apr., 1947).Google Scholar

70 Martin, Roscoe C., “City-County Merger Proposed,” Nat. Munic. Rev., Vol. 36, pp. 367–370 (July, 1947).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

71 General Laws of Alabama, 1947 (reg. sess.), no. 591.

72 Laws of New York, 1947, ch. 18. See this Review, Vol. 39, p. 1117.

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