Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1920 — STATE NEWS ITEMS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS ITEMS

The Doings of Hoosierdom Reported by Wire. CAR PRIORITY BILL PASSED Measure Adopted by the House Gives Power to Public Service Body to Order Full Fuel Supply for State Institutions. Indianapolis, July 16. —Power to order 100 per cent railroad car service for mines supplying state institutions with coal would be conferred on the state public service commission by a bill passed by the house of the Indiana general assembly. The vote was 78 to 15 after rules had been suspended by a vote of 75 to 18, permitting immediate action. The measure was sent to the senate. General applause resulted when Speaker Eschbach, preceding the passage of the bill, which was Introduced by Representative Swain (Rep.), said that “the people have about lost their patience in regard to the coal situation,” and that a speedy remedy should be brought about at once so that the situation will be improved. “I am sorry that we cannot put every coal mine In the state under the jurisdiction of some state commission or board,” said the speaker. “I would like to see the coal prices handled the' same as the rates of water and light are handled.” After favorable action had been taken on the measure, Mr. Eschbach spoke again of the fuel difficulties at present affecting the public. “This is the most unjust comblubtlon of hardships on the poor people of this state that I have ever seen,” he said. “If some statesman will give hW attention to drawing up a law to control this situation and to give the people relief, I will lend every effort to see that it becomes law.” Before taking up the car priority bill the house passed consideration of the institutional appropriation bill temporarily until it can be printed and distributed to the members. Representative Walker was the only Democrat voting for the car service bill. Republicans who voted against the measure w r ere Grayson, Sambor and Smith. The Democrats who voted against the bill were Axby, Barker of Posey, Benz, Bldaman, Craig, Curry, Deem, Lee, O’Leary, O’Neil, Scott and Thomas. Representative O’Neil, who lives at Terre Haute, objected to the measure. He said the miners would hold the sack if the bill was passed, contending that it is unfair to the coal miners, Inasmuch as It would give all the work to the mines having contracts to supply coal for the state. “If the state gets this coal it will pay a dog-goned good price for it,” O’Neil shouted in a moment of fervent argument. O’Neil himself is a miner and he said the minors abandoned their strike for higher wages last winter only because “Judge Anderson would have put us all In jail if we hadn’t.” Representative Decker (Rep.), speaking for the measure, said the railroads now divert cars to mines with which they have contracts and there was no reason why the state should not have power to divert cars to mines supplying state Institutions. “I am proud to vote for this bill,” said Decker. The Republican side of the* house applauded. Representative Craig (Dem.), protested against the haste on the measure and wished ft read In full. Representative Curry (Dem.), said the bill would Interfere with the miners’ plan to have cars alloted yearly to mines, and Representative Deem (Dem.), asked whether the Interstate commerce commission did not have power to make such orders. Mr. Eschbach said, according to press reports, the commission had returned that right to the public service commission. Representative Johnson (Rep.), said he believed it more Important that the unfortunate wards of the state be kept warm next winter than that there should be an distribution of coal contracts or coal cars among the mines. ?

Many Auto Thieves Solved. Indianapolis. July 16.—Twenty-two automobile thefts, 16 of which occurred In Indianapolis, have been cleared up as a result of the arrest of Walter B. Adams, alias James L. Wiston, North Meridian street, and Willard J. Hiatt, 2909 East Washington street, according to the police. Wiston and Hiatt were caught by detectives at a gravel pit in Eagle' creek when they started to drive away In a car that had been taken from John Anderson’s garage. Wiston was shot In the ankle by one of the detectives when he and Hiatt attempted to escape. The detectives say all except six of the stolen cars have been recovered and that they expect to recover the other six In a few days.

Seize 240 Quarts of Whisky. Indianapolis, July 16.—Two hundred and forty quarts of bonded whisky, valued at approximately $6.000, and three automobiles. In which the liquor was being transported, were confiscated by Sergt. George Winkler and Patrolmen Baker, Hodago and Patterson In an alley In the rear of 134 West Arizona street. Three men, who, the police say, were In the act of unloading the liquor, were arrested on “blind tiger” charges and are held under heavy bond. They gave their names as William Shoemaker of Chicago, Bert Dunlap, 1145 Udell street, and John F. List, 634 Noith Capitol avenue.