Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1908 — DIG UP OLD LAW. [ARTICLE]

DIG UP OLD LAW.

Republicans Seek ('ustodiun and Chief Engineer Appointment. Indianapolis, Ind., November 18.— Some of the Republican leaders have dug up an old law which they believe will empower a commission composed of the State Auditor, the Secretary of State and the Governor to appoint the State House custodian and the State House engineer. With a Republican State Auditor the appointment of Republicans to the positions would be assured. The Republicans contend that this course may be followed under a law passed in 1895. In 1889 when the Governor was a Republican and the Legislature was Democratic, the Legislature passed a law giving : .v% . . i, *. ' • .-i • -

the Legislature the power to appoint the custodian and the engineer. This law was held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In 1895, when the Governor was a Democrat and the Legislature was Republican, a law was passed placing the appointments in the hands of the commission composed of the Secretary of State, the State Auditor and the Governor. Before the law was passed the appointments for that term had been made. In 1597, when .lames A. Mount, Republican, was elected Governor, the Legislature undertook to place the appointments again in the hands of the Governor. In its efforts to amend the law, the Legislature it is said, amended the old law of 1 889, which had been repealed, and left the law of 1895, which created the commission, intact. In spite of this, however, the engineer and custodian ever since that time have been appointed by the Governor. Samuel C. Shutt has been engineer at the State House for several years. He has always been appointed by the Governor. Otway Baker is at present custodian. Both the engineer and the custodian have large forces of assistants.