IN NOVEMBER 1974, the electorate in some 300 townships throughout Illinois were asked: "Do you want your township retained as is or consolidated into a larger unit?" By overwhelming majorities the people voted for their own township government — against consolidation. The pluralities went as high as 90 per cent. On an average, township government was supported by more than three to one.

We could practically close the case for retaining township government right there. If we in the United States and in Illinois believe in and support government by the will of the people, then townships certainly should not be abolished.

But we need not rest the case on the November 1974 election. The question also arose in 1974 in the General Assembly on whether townships should be given broader powers in their application of federal revenue sharing and general funds. By substantial majorities, both houses approved Senate Bill 1314, and it was signed into law by Gov. Dan Walker in September 1975.

Earlier in the year, township government was challenged as a unit of general purpose government by its perennial detractors, the League of Women Voters (LWV). The issue, which related to the right of townships to receive federal revenue sharing funds, was submitted to the Department of the Treasury in Washington. Without hesitation, the Treasury Department ruled in favor of township government.

In late 1972 and early 1973, the LWV launched a concentrated, aggressive campaign to abolish townships in Cook and DuPage counties. In two Cook County townships—Northfield and Niles—referenda were held on the abolition question. In Niles Town-ship, League members and officials took temporary leaves of absence from their organization to run for township offices in the 1973 election.

Their platform stated that they would abolish township government if they were elected to office. These abolitionists were beaten by nearly three to one. The two referenda supported township government by three-to-one and two-to-one. The people spoke loudly and clearly against abolition. Very obviously, abolitionists and the LWV represent a minority opinion. To circumvent the majority, they have sought extrajudicial ways to abolish or butcher townships.

Of course, the LWV is not entirely alone. The Daley political machine in Cook County would like to wipe out townships. There is also a variety of minority groups and associations throughout the country which promote regional government and don't want townships in their way. It is easy to understand why Mayor Daley wants to abolish townships in Cook County. The county political machine would then control suburban and rural areas, which are now mostly in the hands of the opposite political party. The LWV and the other associations all say the same things: "Township government is obsolete, inefficient, wastes money."

A comparison of township government and larger governing units, however, demonstrates the ability of the townships to perform better, more efficiently and more economically. For example, in Cook County, townships handle general assistance (temporary welfare) in suburban and rural areas, just as the county government does in Chicago. A few years ago a study, based primarily on data supplied by the Illinois Department of Public Aid, found that the cost of administration of general assistance by townships to be half that of the county's. Over a 10-year period of rising costs, county costs quadrupled, while township costs increased at only half the county rate.

Throughout downstate Illinois, there is much debate about retaining township tax assessors. In a presentation made to the Joint Legislative Committee to Study the Property Tax, Rep. Calvin Skinner, Jr., (R., Crystal Lake) showed that township assessors out-scored commission county assessors by substantial margins on "coefficient of dispersion" performance ratings.

Another example: A downstate study, made by the Township Officials of Illinois Association a few years ago, showed that administrative costs for road maintenance by townships averaged less than half that of county costs. There was an even more startling revelation in Cook County. Better Government Association figures released in 1973 showed that the county spent $5.7 million to maintain 580 miles of roads. A comparable study revealed that the 30 townships in Cook County, maintaining about 600 miles, spent only a little over $1 million. There was sub stantial evidence, too, that township maintenance was superior. Efficiency and economy were clearly demonstrated by townships.

Are townships obsolete?
This form of government was founded in the mid-1630's to give voice to freemen resisting the control of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many political observers today think the United States is headed in the direction of totalitarianism. If this is true, we absolutely need the free, grass roots form of government which townships represent. In fact, we need to make it stronger.

The people want township government. The Illinois General Assembly has strengthened it in recent years. The governor supports it. Charges against it fail to hold water. And township government, with elected, not appointed, local officials is essential to maintain democratic processes in Illinois and in the United States.

Of course township government must be retained! 

208 /Illinois Issues/July 1975