Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1917 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mentior from Many, Places. NEWS NOTES OF LEGISLATURE Senate bill 39, to prohibit practicing by county attorneys before boards of commissioners, passed the house Thursday by a vote of 80-to 10. It now goes to the governor to receive his signature before it becomes a law. This will cut out county attorneys from bringing any ditch, road and other petitions, as has been the custom in the past. The bill introduced by Representative Johnson to increase the allowance to county sheriffs for boarding prisoners, was killed following a hot debate. The present allowance is 40 cents a day, and it was said that since this sum was fixed foodstuffs have almost doubled in price. But even so. it Is not necessary to provide the most palatable and luxurious foods for prisoners, and the sum now allowed can be made to cover all food costs if handled economically, it was argued by the opposition to the bill.

Senate bill 34, fixing the date for county clerks to take office on January 1, and extending the terms of present incumbents to January 1 which now expire before that time, passed the senate Tuesday by a vote of 4 3 to 0:. If the bill passes the house and becomes a law, which is likely it will, it will extend the term of Clerk Nichols of Jasper county from May 1 to January I. H. A B. 442, amending an act concerning dredge ditches, is another bill introduced by Representative W. L. Wood. House bill 44, amending law governing operation of farmers’ mutual fire insurance companies to include as risks all ‘ motor vehicles and tractors, passed the house Tuesday by a vote of 89 to 1. House bill 94, increasing the amount allowed by the state for burial of old soldiers from SSO to $75, was passed 8 5 to 5 in the house.

It seems that another auto license bill providing for the leaving of automobile license fees in the county where collected, has got through the house. It is known as the McClasky bill. _ It also provides that license plates shall be manufactured at the Indiana reformatory, and while it does not seek to abolish the present state licensing department, it would reduce the number of clerks employed in the department. Representative Houghton spoke against the bill, basing his opposition on the theory that the smaller counties in the state would be deprived of funds which are given to them under -the distribution system now in effect. These funds, he said, are used by the counties to assist in road building. Larger communities, like Indianapolis, would profit by such a law. It is estimated that SIOO,000 is collected in Indianapolis any'Hm.t only about $29,000 is returned\to Marion county from the state under the present distribution system.