Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1920 — LEGISLATURE IS ADJOURNED [ARTICLE]

LEGISLATURE IS ADJOURNED

COMES TO AN END AFTER 15DAY SESSION—SS BILLS PASSED. Indianapolis, July 30—The special session of the Indiana general assembly called by Governor James P. Goodrich to consider emergency tax legislation and appropriation measures adjourned sine die at ll:15 o’clock tonight. A total of fifty-five bills were acted upon favorably during the special session, most of them dealing with local problems. The legislature has been in session since July 12. Final action was taken by both houses tonight approving remedial tax legislation designed to meet the situation created by horizontal increases made in 1919 assessments by. the state tax board and later declared invalid by the supreme court. The assembly also approved tonight a home rule tax bill giving local taxing units authority over bond issues and tax levies which has been held by the state tax board. Appropriate* $1,200,000. The emergency appropriation measure passed during the second week of the session provided approximately $1,200,000 for the use of state institutions until September 30, the close of the present fiscal .year. \ ». Another important measure passed provides for the construction by the state of a war memorial building to cost $2,000,000 on ground donated by the Mtate on the north side, in Indianapolis. The building will provide national headquarters for the American Legion. Bills enabling the city of Indianapolis and Marion county to participate in the war memorial project to *the extent of acquiring two blocks of ground south of the site of the memorial building and constructing on this ground a memorial were lost in the final hours of the session. A motion to suspend the rules of the house and pass bills was lost by a vote of 62 ayes and 5 noes. Sixty-seven votes are required to suspend the the rales. Senator E. P. Elsner, of Seymour, declared in the senate that there was an understanding reached when the war memorial bill was in the hands of a conference committee that the state war memorial bill as framed by this committee would be passed with the assurance that the bills enabling Marion county and the city of Indianapolis to participate in the project would also be passed. The conference report on the home rale tax bill was concurred in by both houses tonight without opposition. Democrats in both houses voted against concurrence in the report on the remedial tax bill, however. The democrats in the senate demanded a roll call and the vote showed thirty senators, all republicans, voting for acceptance of the committee’s report with ten democrats opposed. Scrap of Paper. Senator Elsner, the minority leader, predicted the bill would not stand the test of the courts and termed it a "scrap of paper.” He declared it was passed only after the “party lash had been brought into play.” The agreement on the remedial bill was reached this afternoon 'after several hours of conferences participated in by legislators and republican party leaders. There was little hilarity in the closing hours of the session. The senators exchanged felicitations and repartee while awaiting adjournment of the house but members Of the lower body adjourned with little demonstration. Most of the assemblymen left for their homes tonight immediately following adjournment. Summary of Law*. The following is ai summary at the administration bills outlined by the governor in his opening message and which were acted upon favorably by both houses: Emergency appropriation bill providing funds for state institutions which had exhausted their appropriations. Restoring “lost amendments,” to county unit road law and giving township trustees jurisdiction over dirt toads. Restoring the fee of $5 per day to county auditors and treasurers for attending meetings of the county boards of review. Increasing the rate of public legal advertising in newspapers, making it correspond more closely to commercial rates. Providing for construction in Indianapolis of a war memorial build-

"Remedial tax legislation dealing with invalidated horizontal increases in 1919 assessments. Home role tax bill giving local authorities control over bond issues and tax levies. Abolishing employment commission and placing its functions in control of industrial board. Election Law. Composite bill including all election law changes necessary to provide facilities for additional voters created by ratification of federal suffrage amendment. ~ Coal commission bill authorizing state board of accounts to investi-

fats and regulate prices of foot Giving public service commission power to order priority for coal can to mines with which tbs state has contracts for fuel