Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 4, DeMotte, Jasper County, 13 December 1946 — STATE SOLONS REVIEW PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR [ARTICLE]

STATE SOLONS REVIEW PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR

Republican Policy Committee to Study Proposed Bills for 1947 Session Indianapolis, Dec. 12 The powerful Republican legislative policy committee will hold a fulldress review tomorrow of bills proposed by the various agencies of Indiana government for enactment at the 1947 session of the general assembly. . The meeting, planned for an allday session, will be the first since the 16-member group organized shortly after GOP legislative caucuses last month. High on the agenda will be the administration-sponsored bill aimed at outlawing the Ku Klux Klan and other so-called “hate-inciting organizations.” Attorney General James A. Emmert said late today the bill was ready for presentation to the steering group. Its general porvisions are understood to be broad enough to coVer not only the Klan but the Columbians, Inc. The measure provides for fines up to SIO,OOO and imprisonment for as much as three years, depending on the degree of violation. It was suggested by Governor Gates after investigators learned that the Klan, powerful in Indiana policies during the early 1920’5, was being revived. Nearly 25 proposed pieces of legislation either in the form of bills or suggestions, are ready for the committee, approval from which will be tantamount to passage since the GQP holds overwhelming majorities in both houses. Dr. Burrell Diefendorf, chairman of the alcholic beverage commission, said the ABC had not yet submitted any legislative proposals. There has been speculation that the committee might get suggested revisions of the liquor control act, including one abolishing the present ber and liquor wholesaler system. Governor Gates told the GOP state convention last June he believed the wholesaling should be returned to the industry. The state conservation department has ready a series of proposals, drawn while Milton Matter of Marion was director. Matter and dismissed by the governor, and Paul Squires, department publicity director, said that Matter’s suggestions were due for “severe scrutinty” by department officials. Squires said, however, they would not be “discorded in their entirely.” He explained that the department’s legislative proposals would deal with maintenance of parks and improvements to existing parks. Squires asserted that “the legislative program will be limited to projects which can be completed within two years.”