Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1917 — NEWS NOTES OF LEGISLATURE [ARTICLE]

NEWS NOTES OF LEGISLATURE

W. L. Wood’s bill regulating the repairs and maintenance of open drains passed the house Friday by a vote of 73 to 4. The administration measure to abolish the office of state statistician passed both branches and will become a law. The abolishment of this office will throw Ed Huff of the Monon News, who was appointed deputy by State Statistician Henry A. Roberts, out of a job. Governor Goodrich promised, when urging the abolishment of this office, co, appoint Mr. Roberts to some office paying at least an equal salary. The absent voters’ bill, giving qualified citizens the right to vote by mail when necessarily absent from the state on election days, passed the senate with bilt two dissenting vetoes and now goes to the house for hetion. Under the terms the voter absent, or expecting to be absent, would have to make application to the county clerk for a "mailed ballot’’ at least two days and not more than thirty days before an election or primary. The ballots would be returned by registered mail to the county clerk and transmitted by him unopened to the election officials of his precinct, where the package would be opened on election day and the voter’s preferences tabulated.

A new salary bill which proposed to and revise the salary of every county officer of the state was withdrawn from the senate Friday afternoon on request of th© state board of accounts whiqh had drawn the measure. Officials of several counties had come here to attend a hearing on the bill which had been scheduled for last night, but the withdrawal of the bill made the hearing unnecessary. A letter from Gilbert H. Hendron, chief state examiner, stated that the bill was withdrawn because it would not have become effective until after the constitutional convention, which undoubtedly will deal with the salary question by establish - ing a basis for each class of offices. The data collected on the salary question will be presented to the constitutional convention when it meets next year. Another example of economy by the present legislature was (exhibited Monday when the house passed the ‘‘old capitol bill,” to pay $50,00Q for the old hulk at Corydon, known as Indiana’s first capitol. The bill went through by a vote of 55 to 37, although it was amended to reduce the amount to be paid from $60,000 to $50,000, to which those seeking to unload the old shell on the state agreed. Two years ago $85,000. was the amount the county wanted for this worthless old pile of stone, but this -year they were content with $60,000, which amount the senate voted. Now they accept $50,000 rather than let the opportunity pass by, and will use the money “to assist in .building a modern and up-to-date court house at the expense -of the taxpayers of Indiana, or at least to the extent of $50,000 of their assistance. Goodrich should veto the measure.

Senate joint resolution No. 4. making all county officers four-year terms, passed the senate Friday by a vote of 34 to 1. Senate joint resolution 7, making the office of prosecutor a four-year term, was passed by the same 'vote. Senate bills 366 and 367, to extend the terms of county assessors two years and authorizing county assessors to receive 25 per cent of the sequestered tax they cause to be collected, respectively, were each defeated in the senate Friday. ■* House bi 1129, to establish a criminal court id Lake county, sessions to be held at Crown Poipt and Hammond, was defeated in the senate by a vote of 12 ayes to 23 noes. House bill 58, (the Blackmore bill to abolish state oil .inspection department) was defeated in the senate Friday by a vote of 26 to 24. Senator Nedjl, Republican, of Lake county, voted with the Democrats, thus defeating the bill, which was an administration measure. His Republican colleagues are very sore over Senator Nejdl’s action. A bill has passed the lower house of the legislature by a voteJ of 72 to 3, requiring dimmers on automobile headlights, prescribing ■

j regulations for spotlights and fixing penalties. A bill has also been passed by the house by a vote of 67 to 6, permitting’ road supervisors to work seventy-five days instead of fifty days in a year. •Senate bill 39, prohibiting county attorneys from practicing before county commissioners, except on county business, has been signed by the governor. , After defeat a few days ago, the supreme and • appellate court judges were granted an increase in salaries from $6,000 to $7,500 year. This makes a total of $16,500 a.year added to the state payroll, and it passed the senate hv a vote of 29 to 18, most of those voting X.odt it being lawyers. The senate Saturday adopted a 'measure to empower the public service commission to raise railroad passenger rates in Indiana Jrom 2 to 2i/ 3 cents a mile. A i bill was also passed by a vote of 30 to 4 to make the minimum salary of county recorders not less than SI,OOO per year. This affects Ohio, Union, Newton,. Scott and Brown. Senate bill 91, providing that in cities of the fifth class —Rensselaer is in this class: —the offices of clerk and treasurer may be held by the same person if the common council should so order, has passed both branches awaits the governor’s signature.