(B.) The highway commissioner of each town or road district shall have power and it shall be his duty: (1) To lay out, alter, widen or vacate roads as hereinafter provided. (2) To cause such roads used as highways, as have been laid out or dedicated to public use, but not sufficiently described, and such as have been used for twenty (20) years but not recorded, to be ascertained. described and entered of record in the office of the district or town clerk. (3) To determine the taxes necessary to be levied on property within his town or district for road and bridge purposes, subject to the limitations hereinafter provided. (4) To direct the expenditure of all moneys collected in the town or road district for road and bridge purposes and to draw warrants on the town or district treasurer therefor. (5) To direct the construction and repair of roads and bridges within the town or district, to let contracts, employ labor and purchase material and machinery therefor, subject to the limitations herein provided: Provided, however, that no contract shall be let for the construction or repair of any road or bridge or part thereof, in excess of an amount of $200, nor shall any machinery or other appliances to be used in road construction, in excess of such amount, be purchased without the approval of the county superintendent of highways. (6) To have general charge of the roads and bridges of his town or district, to keep the same in repair and to improve them so far as practicable. (7) To take possession of and keep under shelter, when not in use, all scrapers, plows and other tools belonging to the town or district wherever the same may be found and not allow the same to go to waste, and not lend the same except to persons employed to work the roads by contract or otherwise. (8) To cause to be erected and kept in repair at the forks or crossing place of the most important public roads, post and guide boards with plain inscription thereon, in letters and figures giving directions and distances to the most noted places to which such road may lead; to prevent thistles, burdock, cockleburs, mustard, yellow dock, indian mallow and gympson [jimson] weed from seeding and to extirpate the same so far as practicable; and to prevent all rank growth of vegetation in the public highway by causing the same to be cut and destroyed prior to the seeding of the same; and at the farthest prior to September 1st in each and every year. And said commissioner may, at his discretion, adopt any suitable and convenient mode of supply [supplying] water in troughs conveniently situated on the public highway for public use. (9) To issue his warrant or order on the treasurer for the payment of all moneys paid out by such treasurer. (C) The highway commissioner shall annually make report in writing, showing: (1.) The amount of poll tax assessed, how much paid and how much delinquent. (2) The amount of road and bridge money received by him and a full and detailed statement as to how and where expended and the balance, if any, unexpended. (3) The amount paid for damages in laying out, altering, widening or vacating roads and right-of-way for ditches. (4) The amount of liabilities incurred and not paid; and if such liabilities are undetermined they shall be estimated. (5) Any additional matter concerning the roads and bridges of the district he may think expedient and proper to report. In counties under township organization such reports shall be made to the board of town auditors at the semi-annual meeting, immediately preceding the annual town meeting. In counties not under township organization such reports shall be made not later than the last Tuesday in March to the district clerk, who shall file the same in his office and he shall record such report at large in the records of said road district. § 53. The commissioner of highways shall receive for each and every day he is necessarily employed in the discharge of his duties a salary to be fixed by the county board in counties not under township organization, and by the board of town auditors in counties under township organization, not to exceed in counties of the first class three dollars. ($3.00) per day, in counties of the second class four dollars ($4.00) per day, and in counties of the third class five dollars ($5.00) per day, upon a sworn statement to be filed by such commissioner in the office of the town or district clerk, showing the number of days he was employed and the kind of employment and giving the dates thereof. The town or district clerk shall receive three dollars per day for each day he shall be required to meet with the highway commissioner and the same amount per day for the time he shall be employed as clerk of elections or in canvassing the returns of such election. He shall receive no other per diem. In addition to the above he shall also receive fees for the following services, to be paid out of the town or district fund, except where otherwise specified: For serving notice of election or appointment upon district officers, as required by this Act, twenty-five cents each. For posting up notices required by law, twenty-five cents each. For copying any record in his office and certifying to the same, ten cents for every hundred words, to be paid by the person applying for the same. The ex-officio treasurer shall in addition to the other compensation to which he is by law entitled, receives two (2) per cent on all moneys paid out by him, up to and including two thousand dollars ($2,000) and one (1) per cent on all moneys paid out by him in excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000), excepting such amounts as shall have been paid to his successor; also except all moneys paid out in payment of bonds or other borrowed money. The justice of the peace whose services are required by this Act shall receive two dollars per day for his services. § 2. Sections 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, and 167 of an Act entitled, "An Act to revise the law in relation to roads and bridges," approved June 27, 1913, in force July 1, 1913, as amended, are hereby repealed. FILED June 29, 1917. This bill having remained with the Governor ten days, Sundays excepted, the General Assembly being in session, it has thereby become a law. Witness my hand this twenty-ninth day of June, A. D. 1917. LOUIS L. EMMERSON, Secretary of State. LAYING OUT, ALTERING, VACATING, WIDENING ROADS. § 1. Amends section 74, Act of 1917. (HOUSE BILL No. 645. APPROVED JUNE 25, 1917.) AN ACT to amend section 74 of "An Act to revise the law in relation to roads and bridges," approved and in force July 1, 1913, as amended by subsequent Acts. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section 74 of the law in relation to roads and bridges, approved and in force July 1, 1913, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: § 74. REDUCING WIDTH OF ROADS.] The commissioners of highways of any town or road district may in their discretion reduce the width of any existing public highway in any town or road district to a width of forty feet when the same is petitioned for by a majority of the land owners along the line of said road within said town or district. When possible the land so vacated by reducing the width of the road shall be taken equally from both sides of the public highway. In cases of natural obstruction on one side of the public highway or where the said road extends along the right-of-way of any railroad, river or canal, the commissioners are authorized to reduce the width of road on one side only, provided that any highway that has been heretofore laid out and dedicated to the public use and which has been set apart in any county by the proper authorities as a State aid road shall not be reduced in width without the consent in writing of the Department of Public Works and Buildings. APPROVED June 25, 1917. LEGALIZING ELECTIONS FOR ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES. § 1. Legalizing elections held and bonds issued for construction of bridges and approaches. (HOUSE BILL No. 377. APPROVED JUNE 11, 1917.) AN ACT to legalize elections held under and by virtue of section 61, of an Act entitled, "An Act to revise the law in relation to roads and bridges," approved June 27, 1913, in force July 1, 1913, and all Acts upon and proceedings taken by virtue of such elections. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That all elections held under and by virtue of section 61 of an Act entitled, "An Act to revise the law in relation to roads and bridges," approved June 27, 1913 in force July 1, 1913, where any such elections in any town or district were held and conducted at the place of the last annual town or district meeting in any such town or district, are hereby made and held to be legal, valid and binding, notwithstanding that any such town or district had theretofore been divided into two or more election precincts, and any bonds which have been or may hereafter be issued in pursuance of such elections and proceedings shall be and same are hereby, made the legal, valid and binding obligations of any such town or district, notwithstanding any objection which, except for the passage of this Act, could have been made to the legality of such bonds, or such elections, or such bond proceedings or to the taxes levied or to be levied and collected for the payment of the principal of, and the interest on, such bonds. AN ACT to amend an Act entitled, "An Act defining motor vehicles and providing for the registration of the same and of motor bicycles, and uniform rules regulating the use and speed thereof; prohibiting the use of motor vehicles without the consent of the owner and the offer or acceptance of any bonus or discount or other consideration for the purchase of supplies or parts for any such motor vehicle or for work or repairs done thereon by others, and defining chauffeurs and providing for the examination and licensing thereof, and to repeal certain Acts therein named," approved June 10, 1911, in force July 1, 1911, as subsequently amended, by amending sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 13 thereof, and by adding thereto one new section to be known as section 15b. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois. represented in the General Assembly: That an Act entitled, “An Act defining motor vehicles and providing for the registration of the same and of motor bicycles, and uniform rules regulating the use and speed. thereof; prohibiting the use of motor vehicles without the consent of the owner and the offer or acceptance of any bonus or discount or other consideration for the purchase of supplies or parts for any such motor vehicle or for work or repairs done thereon by others, and defining chauffeurs, and providing for the examination and licensing thereof, and to repeal certain Acts therein named," approved June 10, 1911, in force July 1, 1911, as subsequently amended, be and the same is hereby amended by amending sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 13 thereof and adding thereto one new section to be known as section 15b said amended sections and additional sections to read as inserted herein at length. § 3. The Secretary of State shall supply and deliver to the address of the owner of each licensed motor vehicle or motor bicycle registered in his office, as herein provided, charges prepaid, and without additional cost, one number plate for each motor bicycle, which shall be of a size one-third of that required for motor vehicles, as hereinafter provided, and which shall be conspicuously displayed thereon, and two number plates for each motor vehicle other than a motor bicycle. All such number plates issued during any calendar year shall be of like design and color combination, simple and inexpensive as may be for the purpose required, and the number thereon shall correspond with the number of the certificate of registration issued by the Secretary of State, as hereinbefore provided, and such number plates shall be conspicuously displayed upon the front and back of the motor vehicle to which they are assigned as herein provided, whenever the same shall be driven or used upon the public streets, roads, turnpikes, parks, parkways, drives or other public highways in this State, and shall be firmly attached to the said motor vehicle so that they will not swing loosely, and the rear number plate shall not be less than twenty (20) inches above the surface of the ground, and both shall at all times be kept clean and free from grease and dirt. The figures upon such number plates shall be separate Arabic numerals, not less than four (4) inches in height, and each stroke shall be of a width not less than one-half (2) inch, and said number plates shall also bear as part of such number the letters "Ill." and each of such letters shall be not less than one inch in height. Such number plates shall be of a distinctly different color for each calendar year, and there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the color of the number plates and that of the figures and letters thereon: Provided, however, the same combination of colors may be repeated after the lapse of five (5) years from the date of their first issue. The owner of such motor vehicle shall not be required to place any other marks of identity upon such motor bicycle or vehicle. § 4. When upon any public highway in this State, during the period from sunset to one hour before sunrise, every motor bicycle shall carry one lighted lamp and every motor vehicle two lighted lamps showing white lights visible at least two hundred (200) feet in the direction toward which each motor bicycle or motor vehicle is proceeding and shall also exhibit at least one lighted lamp which shall be so situated as to throw a red light visible in the reverse direction. The number plate at the back of the motor vehicle provided for in section three (3) shall be firmly attached to the vehicle, so that it will not swing loosely, and shall be so lighted that the numbers on said plate shall be plainly legible and intelligible at a distance of one hundred fifty (150) feet: On approaching another vehicle proceeding in an opposite direction, and when within not less than two hundred and fifty feet of same, any person in charge of a motor bicycle or motor vehicle equipped with electric headlight or headlights, shall dim or extinguish such headlight or headlights. During the period from one hour after sunset to one |