Provided, however, that in the event of acquittal, such person shall not suffer any loss of salary by reason of the suspension. If at any time any member of the teaching force who is willing to continue is dismissed or discharged before the time he or she would under the provisions of this Act be entitled to a pension, then such member shall be paid back at once the money he or she may have contributed under this law. Any member of the teaching force who shall retire voluntarily from the service, prior to entering upon the period of service during which he or she might become entitled to a pension or benefit for or on account of disability, as provided by law, shall receive a refund of one-half of the money he or she shall have contributed under this law.

§ 2. WHEREAS, an emergency exists, this Act shall take effect from and after its passage and approval.

APPROVED April 20, 1917.

COMMITMENT TO PARENTAL OR TRUANT SCHOOL.

§ 1. Amends section 145, Act of 1909.

§ 145. Order committing child to such parental or truant school to be kept there until sixteen years of

age.

(HOUSE BILL No. 462. FILED JUNE 29, 1917.)

AN ACT to amend section 145 of an Act entitled, "An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1909, as thereafter amended.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section 145 of an Act entitled, "An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1909, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

§ 145. ORDER COMMITTING CHILD TO SUCH PARENTAL OR TRUANT SCHOOL TO BE KEPT THERE UNTIL SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE.) Upon the filing of such petition the clerk of the court shall issue a writ to the sheriff of the county directing him to bring such child before the court, and if the court shall find that the material facts set forth in the petition are true, and if, in the opinion of the court, such child is a fit person to be committed to such parental or truant school, an order shall be entered that such child be committed to such parental or truant school, to be kept there until he or she arrives at the age of sixteen years, unless sooner discharged in the manner hereinafter set forth. Before such hearing, notice in writing shall be given to the parent or guardian of such child, if known, of the proceedings about to be instituted, that he or she may appear and resist the same if either of them so desire.

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. Wintess my hand this twenty-ninth day of June, A. D. 1917. LOUIS L. EMMERSON, Secretary of State.

CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

§ 1. Amends Act of 1909, by adding section 121a.

§ 121a. Provides for the con

solidation of school districts, and the submission of proposition to voters.

(SENATE BILL NO. 199. FILED JUNE 28, 1917.)

AN ACT to amend an Act entitled, “An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1909, as subsequently amended, by adding thereto a new section to be known as section 121a.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That an Act entitled, “An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1909, as subsequently amended, be and the same is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to be known as section 121a which new section shall read as follows:

§ 121a. (a) Any two or more school districts may be consolidated and all the pupils of the school districts so consolidated, may attend the consolidated school in accordance with the terms hereof.

(b) When it is proposed to consolidate two or more school districts, a joint meeting of the directors of the schools it is proposed to consolidate shall be called by not less than two directors representing each district by giving not less than five days' notice by mail, of the time and place of such meeting to each of the directors of all the districts. proposed to be consolidated. By action of the meeting so called, the question of consolidation may be submitted to the voters of each district in which a majority of the directors shall favor consolidation. The call for such election shall state the time of the election and fix the place at the school house in each district included and shall be advertised in the same manner as is or may be provided for advertising the election of directors. Such call shall also state the place or site of the proposed consolidated school.

(c) Upon such election, if in each school district the majority of the votes upon the proposition shall be in favor of the consolidation, such districts shall be consolidated according to the terms of the proposal. If in any one school district the majority shall be against the consolidation, the election shall be of no effect.

(d) Additional districts may thereafter be added to the consolidated school by a majority vote of both the consolidated districts and the districts seeking to be included therein, upon such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the consolidated district or may be mutually agreed upon.

(e) The board of directors of such consolidated school, at any time. after a consolidation has been effected, shall provide free transportation for pupils residing at a distance from such consolidated school site.

(f) Such consolidation and free transportation shall be held to be a compliance with paragraph 9 of section 114 of this Act entitling school districts to receive a share of the funds distributed in accordance with section 35 of this Act.

(g) The ballot for use in voting upon consolidation under this section shall be in substantially the following form:

For the consolidation of the schools of districts No.

At.

Against the consolidation of the schools of districts No.

At..

The electors shall mark their ballots with a cross in the square opposite and to the right of the proposition they favor.

(h) If two or more districts shall vote to consolidate, the directors of such district shall, within ten days after the election, meet and call an election for directors of such consolidated district. At such election there shall be elected five directors, two to serve for one year, two to serve for two years, and one to serve for three years; directors thereafter elected to serve three years.

(i) The board of directors so elected shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers conferred upon board of school directors, in connection with such consolidated school, and to all intents and purposes, such consolidated district shall be and become a single school district.

FILED June 28, 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-eighth day of June, A. D. 1917. LOUIS L. EMMERSON, Secretary of State.

EDUCATION OF DEAF AND BLIND CHILDREN.

§ 1. Duty of parent or guardian. § 2. Expense.

§ 3. Neglect-penalty.

FILED JUNE 28, 1917.)

(HOUSE BILL NO. 392.

AN ACT to make provision for the education of deaf and blind children. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: It shall be the duty of every parent, guardian or other person, having the control or charge of any child in this State between the ages of eight and eighteen years, who is deaf or blind, or whose hearing or vision is so defective as to make it impracticable to have such child educated in the ordinary public schools of this State, to send such child to some school under private or public supervision, where special provision is made for the education of the deaf or blind; if there be such a school within the county where such child resides, then such child may be sent thereto, but if not, then to some other convenient school of that character, within the State or to the Illinois School for the Deaf, or to the Illinois School for the Blind, at Jacksonville. Provided that nothing herein shall require a child not physically or mentally competent to be educated, to be so sent.

§ 2. In cases where such parent, guardian or other person having the control or charge of any such child who is deaf or blind, or whose hearing, or vision is defective, as aforesaid, is unable financially, to furnish such child with transportation or the proper and necessary clothing, the County Court of the county in which such child resides, or in which it may be found on the application of any citizen of the county, may make an order directing such child to be taken to such school as the parent guardian or custodian may prefer, or if no preference be so expressed, then to such school as the court may deem for the best interest of such child, and for the furnishing of transportation for that purpose, which transportation shall include a proper custodian, preferably the parent or guardian, and also for the furnishing of suitable and proper clothing, if that be necessary, which expense shall be advanced by the sheriff of the county, and allowed by the board of supervisors on his bill properly vouchered, which order may also include an allowance for the return of such child at suitable intervals.

And further, such County Court is empowered in cases where such parent, guardian or other person having such custody fails or neglects to perform the duty herein imposed, to enter upon a summary hearing on due notice, on complaint of any citizen of the county, and to make an order directing such sending, which order may be enforced by attachment or contempt proceeding, or by judgment and execution or other civil process.

And, further, the duty of seeing that this law is enforced is placed upon the truant officer of the school district, where such an one exists and also upon the state's attorney of the county where such child resides.

§ 3. Any person who shall come within the above requirements, and who shall wilfully fail, neglect or refuse to send any such deaf or blind, child, or child with defective hearing or vision, as aforesaid to some suitable school under private or public supervision, where special provision is made for the education of the deaf or blind and which child is physically mentally competent to be educated, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars for each offense, and may be committed until fine and costs are paid.

FILED June 28, 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-eighth day of June, A. D. 1917. LOUIS L. EMMERSON, Secretary of State.

ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION. § 86. Provides form of ballot.

1. Amends section 86, Act of 1909.

(SENATE BILL No. 237. APPROVED JUNE 28, 1917.)

AN ACT to amend section 86 of an Act entitled "An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1999, as amended by an Act approved June 6, 1911, and in force July 1, 1911.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section 86 of an Act entitled

"An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved and in force June 12, 1909, as amended by an Act approved June 6, 1911, and in force July 1, 1911, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:

§ 86. If a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of establishing a township high school it shall be the duty of the treasurer to call a special election on any Saturday within sixty days for the purpose of electing a township high school board of education, to consist of five members, notice of which election shall be given for the same time and in the same manner as provided in the election of trustees of schools. The members elected shall determine by lot, at their first meeting, the length of term each is to serve. Two of the members shall serve for one year, two for two years and one for three years from the second Saturday of April next preceding their election. At the expiration of the term of office of any member or members, a successor or successors shall be elected, each of whom shall serve for three years, which subsequent election shall be held on the second Saturday in April. In case of a vacancy the board shall call an election without delay, to be held on any Saturday.

The ballots to be used at all elections held for the selection of a member or members of the township high school board of education shall be furnished by the township high school district and shall be in form substantially as follows:

For.....

Vote for...

.members to serve three years.

Frank Chance.
Tyrus Cobb

Margaret Murphy

Elizabeth Brown.

The voter shall make a cross-mark in the square preceding the name or names of the candidate or candidates of his choice and the ballot shall be so counted. The nominations of candidates for the offices of members of the board of education shall be made only by petition. All petitions shall be filed with the secretary at least ten days before the day of election. All petitions shall be signed by at least 10 per cent of the legal voters of the district, but not to exceed fifty such signatures shall be required to make valid any petition. The names of candidates shall be printed in the order in which the petitions are filed with the secretary.

Such election shall be held under the Australian ballot system as provided in the general election laws and as detailed in section 22 and section 23 of an Act entitled, "An Act to provide for the printing and distribution of ballots at public expense, and for the nomination of candidates for public offices to regulate the manner of holding elections, and to enforce the secrecy of the ballot," approved June 22, 1891, in force July 1, 1891, at the school house or such other place as shall be designated by the proper officers in the notice of election.

Within ten days after their election the members of the township high school board of education shall meet and organize by electing one