Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1919 — GOV. GOODRICH READS MESSAGE [ARTICLE]

GOV. GOODRICH READS MESSAGE

Urges Completion of Public Work Halted by War. —“Y ESCHBACH ELECTED SPEAKER Lieut Governor Bush Preeide* Over Opening Session of the Senate — Organization of Both Houses Completed. Indianapolis, Jan. 10. —Governor Goodrich read his biennial message to the joint session of the house and senate and recommended many changes in the state’s legal structure. Representative Jesse E. Eschbach of Warsaw was re-elected speaker of the house of representatives after his selection for the honor by the Republican house caucus. Lieut. Gov. Edgar D. Bush of Salem presided over the opening session of the senate and William A. Roach called the house to order. A roll call was held in each house and then the organization of both houses was completed, after Judge Lawson Harvey of the supreme court had sworn the legislators into office. The senate came to the house for the joint session and the governor, still on crutches from his accident of several months ago, addressed the members of both houses, dilating at length on the part Indiana had playod in the great war.

The governor said at least $40,000,000 of public Improvements in Indiana have been held up by the war and must now be completed, so that there really seemed little doubt of enough work being available for all, who might temporarily be without employment because of readjustment conditions. Then the governor discussed needed legislation at great length. He recommended tax revision to the point that the more complex forms of property, such as intangibles* should be made to bear a relatively more proportionate burden of taxation than the simpler forms of property, such as real estate, which now bear the greater burdens., A new state highway law is an imperative necessity in Indiana, he showed, and the state should be given the authority and machinery to establish and build the main market highways of the state. He recommended the almlition of the office of state geologist ns an elective office and the creation of a conservation commission to have jurisdiction over fish and game, geology, entomology, forestry and parks and waters. He recommended abolition of the office of state statistician and empowering the industrial board of Indiana to license private employment agencies. He advocated separating the departments of banking and insurance from the state awfltor’s office and letting heads of these departments be appointed by the governor. He urged creation of a live stock sanitary board to have authority to appoint the state veterinarian.

He recommended (hat the following constitutional amendments be adopted, for recommendation to the 1921 session : Equal suffrage, limiting the right to vote and hold office to citizens of the Stated-abolishing the elective offices of state superintendent of public instruction and clerk of the supreme court, these offices to be made appointive; providing for the budget system and authorizing the governor to veto items in the appropriation bills; preventing an increase in salary of any official for the term for which he is elected; authorizing the legislature to classify counties for purposes; authorizing the legislature to adopt an income tax and classify property for taxation f i striking the word “white” from the constitution so that colored men may be permitted to become members of the Indiana state militia and National Guard.

The governor recommends the abolition of the office of attorney general and his appointment hereafter by the governor. He advocates repeal of the “teaching of German” law. He transmits the federal resolution for prohibition for the consideration of the legislature. He recommends law permitting cities to adopt commission or city manager form of government. He would create a woman’s division permanently In Inspection department of industrial board of Indiana. He advocates the all-time health officer bill. He urges creation of U commission to study and report on social insurance. He urges amendment of the existing teacher’s pension law. He recommends additional legislation to care for mental defectives in Indiana. He urges economy by the legislature. He urges legalizing the acts of the state council of defense, and additional appropriations to pay war costs of state institutions. He recommends removing the Indiana teformStory at Jeffersonville to a more central location and makes several other less noteworthy recommendations. Strongly denouncing any scheme for a centralization of power or for personal agrandizement, Lieut. Gov. Edgar D. Bpsh opened the seventy-first session of the Indiana state senate.