Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 13, DeMotte, Jasper County, 16 February 1939 — LEGISLATIVE COMMENTS [ARTICLE]

LEGISLATIVE COMMENTS

Howard R. Hiestand, Representative The legislature now having past, more than one half the session, we find but very few ,billl« which have passed the two houses and ready for the signature of the governor, and nearly all bills are introduced now that will be considered, except by special permission of the speaker and unanimous consent of all members. Legislation which has pusaed the house, and of vital interest to all in Jasper and Newton counties, was the highway bill No. 103. Th>s bill, as I have previously mentioned, will brine back to the counties of the state a material increase in highway funds, and will about equal the amount they would have received before the 1927 session. A very strong opposition was given this bill by the highway department and the Indianapolis Star, who would like to see all tax money controlled at the state house. An editorial by the Star following the passage of this hill by the house was an insult to the intelligence of every county commissioner, county road superintendent, and county council of every county in the state, in which they stated the tax money was dissi pated and wasted by them and that they were robbing the state treasury. I have always personally had an idea that the tax money after it was in the state treasury was still the poo pie’s, and that the taxpayers over the state who were thrifty enough to have property and pay taxes, certain ly ha<J enough common sense to know how to spend it (if they ever had that opportunity). I am informed that the highway department, with their henchmen, w r ere going to kill this bill in the Senate, and I do hope that, every one who reads this comment will take it upon themselves and write the governor and to each state senator to give the rural counties a break and endeavor to correct the wrong they did in the 1937 session. This will help keep your local taxes down, and you Tyill have decent roads throughout the county without bonding the county for that purpose. Another major piece of legislation has been the liquor control bills now pending in both the house and senate. We have two different bills. on'e of which is a reform bill in which the authors were endeavoring to take the control out of politics, and eliminate many of the evils now existing: another is a local option bill. It should be clear to all temperance people that the introduction of these two bills has greatly pleased the racketeers in this business, as it will divide the opposition into two factions, and leave the present liquor law with but one front and the united support of all those who are now reaping a harvest from this business. It seems that nearly every one wants some kind of a change in the liquor law, but unless they can get together, it will be doubtful if any change is brought about tn this session.