Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1915 — DEMOCRATIC NEWS LETTER. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATIC NEWS LETTER.

[By Lew Ellingham.]

Indianapolis, February 26.:—The writer believes that senate bill 276 which passed the upper branch of’ the general assembly Tuesday; is a had piece of legislation.', The bill would create a state highway commission composed of the state geologist and two others to be appointed by the governor. The first business of this board would be to appoint a state highway engineer .whose salary 1 would not exceed four thousand dollars a year, and his,expenses;. Where the improvement or repair of a public road would exceed one thousand dollars a mile, or where a bridge or Its . repair would ,exceed three hundred dollars, the* approval of this, state highway board is required,- One can easily: see, what this.means. Every public improvement of this character would require the county officials to make a trip to Indianapolis and there make arguments before a highway board, and receive from them

the- privilege of making this improvement. In other words, a county cah not even spend its own money without a centralized board issued them a certificate granting the privilege sought. Could the imagination of man think of anything more contrary to the rights of the people of the state than this proposed law. Improvements must wait while a part of the officers of the county make a trip to the capitol and invite a board to giVe them authority to do what these came county officers .know before they leave home, is the right and the business thing to do. Was there over anything so ridiculous? Other provisions of the bill are that the state engineer shall make a map of the state showing principal roads and the available materials for road construction. The proposed law concludes by having the revenues derived from the automobile funds collected by the secretary of state, transferred to the credit of the state highway board and after the expenses of this board is paid .the balance if distributed as the law now provides. Soft .for the state highway board. This is none of my business, of course, but if eVer there was a just cause., for the kicker. Ibis is the opportunity of a life time. The bill has, passed the senate arid now goes to the house. Every mother's son in the

state should stand right up on his bind legs and raise seven kinds of u—ll and high water, until this bill is as dead as a gnat's hell, Another provision of the bill not mentioned, provides that before the board of conntv commissioners appoi nt a road supterintendent, said applicant must produce a certificate from this state board showing that he lias successfully passed an examination and is qualified to superintend road construction. That is going some isn’t it?

r Along with woman'; .suffrage, the Bell finance hill is now sleeping the sleep that' knows no awakening. The end came after several appeals for its life and these appeals were followed by many parliamentary strategic. moves, all of which failed to save the day or save the late of the Bell finance bill. The house democrats failed to cancus on the measure, that is enough of them refused to be bound bv caucus action to pass the bill. So those backing it gave tip-the ghost and made room for the legislative axe. The bill only concerned Indianapolis.

Another senate bill is the ninefoot hotel bed sheets. Senator Gruhe is the author. Passed. While Representative Feiok is using up a lot of energy in trying to legislate Dr. Hurty out of an office, along comes the Marion County Medical Society, and resolutes to the extent of naming Dr. Hurty as pne of the really big men of the state and: the nation. Here is the resolution : "During, this period there have been placed on the statute books of Indiana a considerable number of sanitary laws, practically every one of which lias been conceived and written by Dr. Hurty. These laws cover almost every phase of progressive sanitary science. Some of them are unique and original. All of them are of immense value to the citizens of our state- “ His work has been so practical, so far-reaching and helpful and has mfbeen pursued with such unselfish, singleness of purpose.that the state of Indiana will undoubtedly honor itself by some day erecting a monument to commemorate his notable public service.”