Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1908 — THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. [ARTICLE]

THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

The people of the state were astounded when they learned that Governor Hanly had issued a call for a special session of the legislature, to begin Sept. 18th. The reasons given by the governor for this startling action are that be wants some blunders made by the regular session in the appropriation laws corrected, wants something done about the “night riders,’’/wants the Vincennes University bond law repealed and a county local option law enacted. These are the things that Governor Hanly specifies. There is no doubt that there was blundering legislation by the Republican majority at the regular session, which now adds to the state’s embarrassments, just as there was extravagance and general Incompetency on the part of that same majority. But these financial difficulties could have been tided over by a capable executive without putting the people to 3100,000 expense in doing it. And that is what the special session will probably cost the people, along with the cost of the many special elections that will be necessary to fill vacancies./ All of the matters enumerated by the governor in his call as now dasirable to be done might have been at tended to at the regular session by the Republican majority. Not a single valid excuse is given for saddling upon the taxpayers of the state* this unnecessary and wholly indefensible expense. Governor Hanly knows, if he possesses the wisdom that he assumes, that the state's affairs could have been conducted until the next legislature meets in January, without this extra ordinary session. Rut the real reason for calling the expensive special session is not stated by Governor Hanly in his proclama tlon. A hitter quarrel between the Republican factions is the actual cause. For some time it has been common talk that Governor Hanly had demanded written pledges from James E. Watson as to his attitude toward the county local option law, the Vincennes Uni-versity-claim. the Babcock insurance bill and other pet measures of the gov -ernor. It is- declared that Hanly threatened to call a special session if Watson failed to “come through.”

In what respects Watson failed to satisfy the governor is not yet known, but it is known that the different Republican factions were soon in a fierce quarrel and Hanly has carried out hia threat. This quarrel will cost the taxpayers of Indiana something near SIOO,OOO. It ia a sheer waste of money. There is not a single reason to justify it. If Republican party continues much longer in state house there will be little left but the-buildlng and the taxpayers' load will become unbearable.