Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1920 — CONFERENCES HELD SUNDAY [ARTICLE]

CONFERENCES HELD SUNDAY

SPECIAL SESSION OF LEGISLATURE TO ADJOURN MIDDLEOF THE WEEK. Indianapolis, July 18.—Having disposed of only three of the twelve emergency measures recommended by Governor James P. Goodrich in his message at the opening of the Indiana general assembly last Monday, the legislators will reconvene at 3 p. m. tomorrow. Leaders of the republican majority are hopeful that week-end conferences held on some of the important bills which the governor desires passed will have paved the way for their quick consideration and passage in the two houses. The three bills which have been, passed by both the house and senate are the election bill revising election laws so as to provide for the feminine vote in case the federal suffrage amendment is ratified before the November election, the bill abolishing the employment commission and placing its functions under control of the industrial commission and the deficiency appropriation measure providing funds for state institutions that have exhausted their appropriations. The latter bill is in the hands of a conference committee, the house having refused to concur in amendments made by the senate. The other two bills are ready for the governor’s signature. The legislation is causing the legislators the greatest concern. If an early agreement can be reached on a bill taking care of the situation created by the supreme court’s decision invalidating the action of the state tax board in making horizontal increases in 1919 assessments leaders believe that an adjournment of the special session will be possible by Wednesday. Hopeful of Agreement. The tax bill of Representative Harry B. Tuthill, republican, of Michigan City, passed by the house and sent to the senate, was not favorably received at first by many republicans but the conferences held during the week-end are reported to have converted a majority to the Tuthill bill. This bill legalizes the action of the state board in making the increases.

Coal Legislation. Another important piece of legislation was put up to the special session Saturday when the coal commission bill was introduced in the house by Representatives John W. Winesburg, republican, of Wabash county, and John M. Bonham, democrat, of Hartford City. The bill is an . administration measure, having been prepared by Attorney General Ele Stansbury and Ferdinand Winter, an Indianapolis attorney, following a conference with Governor Goodrich. Its provisions for fixing the price of fuel, regulating. its distribution and for state operation of mines in case of shortage by operators are recognized as of far-reaching importance in connection with the present high price of coal. At Various Stages. The bills recommended by the governor in his message at the opening session are in various stages of progress. The elections bin. the deficiency appropriations bill and the employment commission bill have passed both houses and gone to the governor. The tax legislation bill has passed the. house and will probably come up in the senate tomorrow. . The war memorial bill may ne taken up in the house either tomorrow or Tuesday. The bill for restoring “lost amendments to tne county unit road law so as to restore jurisdiction of township trus* tees over dirt roads has passed the house. The bill giving the public service commission power to order 100 per cent car service for coal mines which qupplv state institutions with fuel has nassed the house and will come un for vote on final passage in the senate tomorrow. X • Lost In Shuffle.. The governor’s proposition for a state owned coal mine apparently has been abandoned in favor of tne coal commission bill. The bill restoring to county units . authority over tax levies and bond issues has been passed to second reading in the house. The bill requiring all public clerks and treasurers , to come under provisions of the public depository law was killed m the senate. .