Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 291, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1910 — INDIANA LEGISLATURE confronted WITH WORK. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LEGISLATURE confronted WITH WORK.

Option Law Repeal, Employers’ Liability, Redistricting of State, and Other Things to Act Upon. Special to The Republican. Indianapolis, December Bth.—With the convening of the General Assembly only a month away, there is probably more interest in what the legislature will do with the county local option law than in any legislative topic just now. This General Assembly will be one of the most interesting ever held, for it must dispose of several questions of the first magnitude. If it had nothing but liquor legislation, employers’ liability and the redistrlcting of the state to dispose of, It would be a very busy and important session, and there are a number of other important matters to be considered. Because the last assembly had a democratic house and a republican senate, little Important legislation, comparatively, was accomplished. The two branches played see-saw. This means the approaching assembly will practically have the work of two assemblies. In spite of the fact that the democratic platform pledges the party to repeal the county option law, it appears that friends of the law have very good reason to believe it can be saved. The anti-saloon league is urging those in “dry” counties who are interested in having the law retained to pledge their representatives (in cases where democrats represent them) against going into a party caucus on the liquor questiod. It is believed by the anti-saloon league workers that this will be an important factor toward saving the law, and it is reported the movement is meeting with some considerable success. On the other hand, the brewing interests, the distillers, and other interests which favor wiping the law off the statutes are very active. The question of employers’ liability took much of the time of the last General Assembly in spite bf the fact an agreement between the two houses never looked hopeful. A similar situation existed then as to bills to redistrict the state for legislative and congressional purposes. It is almost certain this assembly will dispose at least of the latter questions. There seems to be a strong probability that Indiana’s representation in congress will be cut from thirteen to twelve representatives, and in the event the assembly should fail to establish congressional districts, there would be elected in the next state election twelve representatlves-at-large from Indiana. The appearances are that Governor Marshall is going to be a great factor in influencing legislation at the approaching session. Some kind of progressive ballot reform for this reason seems very probable. This is a reform which has been very dear to the heart of the Governor.

The approaching assembly will no doubt take the initial step toward submitting some important question to the people for a vote as to a constitutional amendment. Under the constitution it is impossible that more than one amendment can be pending at one time. Two years ago the assembly passed for the second time a resolution calling for a vote on a constitutional amendment which would give the legislature the right to enact laws establishing qualifications for lawyers. In the recent election this amendment failed to receive sufficient votes to pass it, though a large majority of the voters who expressed themselves on the subject at all, voted for it. Those who have seen abuses grow up in the practice of law in Indiana have suggested recently that it might be possible to enact laws which, while they would not have a direct bearing upon the qualifications of a lawyer, would have a strong tendency to correct some of the abuses. Many measures with this in view have been suggested and no doubt some sush legislation will be attempted. In Indianapolis this week is being held a “Good Roads” convention, and legislation upon this subject will probably be influenced, more or less, by action which is taken during this meeting. The preachers of Indiana have been stirring up the question of marriage law reform pretty thoroughly for several weeks past, and it is certain that interesting legislation on this subject will at least be proposed. Township legislation is being urged by the Indiana State Trustees’ Association, which has drafted a bill to divide the 1016 townships into seven divisions, classifying them much as cities are now classified under the cities and towns act, salaries and other details to depend upon the size of the township. The law proposed would do away with township advisory boards. . The trustees held a convention here a few days ago. The State Association of Township Assessors also recently met here and decided to use every effort to increase the compensation of that office in all parts of the state, and the assessors expect to be represented in force at the approaching session.