Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1914 — THE LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

THE LEGISLATURE

The recent admirable report of the grand jury—the best grand jury that tlie county has had for many years—will undoubtedly have a powerful influence on the legislature that is shortly to meet. That body can hardly avoid taking some measures to protect itself against the lobby, whose operation two years ago the grand jury so completely exposed. Ihe democratic party leaders-—even those of the boss type—will hardly dare ignore this subject. The grand jury’s report has been read by the people all over the state, and as a result they will demand legislation to put an end to such scandals. And they will insist on having a real, and not a mock remedy.

We think, further, that, though the indictments were not sustained, the legislature will be very likely to act as though it were bound by the law of 1895, regulating the appointment of employes. The chancfes are that even the job hunters will be somewhat discouraged, so that the lawmakers will be relieved from that pressure for place that was so strong two years ago. And the lawmakers themselves will, even if there is pressure, hesitate about yielding to it. We look, therefore, for no such riot of the spoilsmen as disgraced the last legislature.

Probably there will be much greater care in the matter of procedure. It is hardly possible that any more bills that -were not passed will find their way to the statute books. It is to be hoped that the men in charge of the bills will be Chosen for their fitness and qualifications. The officers of the legislature will themselves exercise much greater care. On the whole, therefore, it must be said that the grand jury performed a service of the very highest importance. We shall have a much better legislature because of that service. The people are grateful to it for what it did.—lndianapolis News.