Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1905 — A PLACID SESSION [ARTICLE]

A PLACID SESSION

Remarkable Quietude Characterizes L Deliberations of the Indiana General Assembly. NO TROUBLE-BREEDING MEASURES Things Go ng on in a Very Matter-of-Fact Way, the Brunt of the Work Falling Upon the Busy Members in the Committee Rooms. [Special Correspondence.] Indianapoli3, Feb. 21. —In commenting the other day on the placidity of the present session of the general assembly up to that time, an experienced legislator ventured the opinion that the remarkable quietude which had characterized the proceedings was in all probability only a forerunner of tempestuous times to come. The trouble-breeding measures, he thought, were being held back, but he felt that there was scant chance of the much longer continuance of tranquility. But this prediction has not been verified. Last week was perhaps the quietest of the entire session up to this time. No issue has arisen of a character calculated to create unusual excitement upon the floor of either house. Things have been going on in a very matter of fact way, and to a degree unknown in any legislature of recent years the brunt of the work has fallen upon the committees. There has been more "threshing out" of proposed legislation there than In the halls of the general assembly. One thing characteristic of the present general assembly in a marked degree in its manifest independence of the Influences which often control legislation. The professional lobby has been less in evidence than during any session of the legislature in recent years. Indications of its presence in behalf of any measure have been the strongest argument to be adduced against the bill affected. Partly, no doubt, this Is due to the warning note sounded by the outgoing and the incoming governor at the beginning of the session, hut partly because it Is becoming evident that this is a pretty high grade legislature. Some Fears Unfulfilled. It will be remembered that at the beginning of the present general assembly there was a feeling that the majority was “top heavy,”—that there was danger in excessive numbers. It was believed that the influence of snch unusual party strength would be toward excesses in legislation. But up to this time the general assembly has done nothing rash, —In fact it has been extremely conservative In Its attitude toward every question which has been up for discussion. The greater service of the present general assembly has been in the number of bad and foolish measures put out of the way rather than in the quantity of its contributions to the statute books, which, from present Indications, will be somewhat meager. In its attitude towards moral questions the present legislature has been in touch with the best sentiment of the state. The amendment of the Nicholson law was followed by the favorable consideration of a bill, which, if passed, as it doubtless will be, will mark high tide in anti-cigar-ette legislation. The Parks’ bill makes not only the manufacture and sale, hut the possession of cigarettes or the "makings" thereof illegal, and heavily penalizes infractions of the law. The Newhouse Bill. A vote of thirty-eight to nothing indicates a degree of unanimity that It would be difficult to surpass. This was the vote in the senate when the Newhouse railroad commission bill came up for third reading. There was almost no discussion, though of course the bill was not exactly what every one would have it to be. Senator Slack sought to introduce partisan politics into the consideration of the measure, and declared that if congress would strengthen the interstate commerce commission sufficiently no such legislation would be required by the states. This, of course, Ignores the fact that one of the difficulties In the way of national legislation on this very subject is Democratic opposition based upon states’ rights and upon the assumption that it Is the states themselves that should he permitted to make such laws as they desire hearing upon the subject. It was rather an unfortunate suggestion to come from a Democratic source, but it was not taken seriously and the senator himself voted for the hill: The sennl'e bill met with the same degree of favor in the house committee on railroads and on Thursday was favorably reported by a unanimous Vote of the committee. Last Week a Busy One. Last week was u busy though a quiet one. for the members of the general assembly, and much substantia! progress was made In the consideratlol of pending legislation. The senate has moved with greater rapidity than the house, in harmony with the well established prlneiplo that large bodies move slowly. The codification bills continue to hold the center of the stage In both houses. The bill j on eminent domain has passed the ! senate and is now in the house comI mlttee. The house will take favorable j action on the criminal code I>lll In the near future, end pass It on to the

senate. The senate has been considering the bill ,on cities and towns in committee of the whole. The bill on highways has gone to engrossment In the senate, and the drainage bill is ready for second reading In the house. The private corporations bill, which has created a great deal of discussion, is still In committee. It is evident that the report of the codification commlassion will result in the enactment of some important legislation, but more than one of the bills reported by the commlassion will probably be lost In* the confusion of the closing days of the session. From now until the close of the session both branches of the general assembly will meet at night and take brief adjournments at the noon. hour. The General Appropriation" Bill. The general appropriation bill will likely be reported to the house early in the present week. It will*represent much patient Investigation sideratlon by the ways and means committee. It is not unlikely that a small Increase in the state levy, to meet extraordinary' demands created by institutional needs, will be found necessary, although it will be possible to reduce or abolish the state debt sinking fund levy because of the extinction of all the payable portion of the state’s obligations. Anti-Combine Bill. In a similar spirit Is born what Is known as the anti-combine bill, one introduced In the senate by Senator Hugg and another in the house by Mr. TJulrlT The measure proposed is substantially the same as the Sherman anti-trust national law, which has proved so effective in the hands of an active and vigorous Republican administration, notwithstanding the declaration of a Democratic attorney general that it was unconstitutional and could not be enforced. The bill was unanimously reported in the house Thursday by the committee on railroads and it seems in a fair way to pass both houses and receive the signature of Gov. Hanly. This report was not made, however, until the matter of Its constitutionality had been submitted to Attorney General Miller. The members of the committee are warmly in favor of the hill and the sentiment of the people as well as that among the members is such that provisions such as those included in this measure are almost certain to be enacted. The measure is thoroughly in harmony with the spirit that is growing more and more restive throughout the country under the continued aggressions of corporations, which, not content with the use of privileges, insists upon abusing them. No consideration has been given by the majority to the proposal, coming from the Democratic side and championed by the Democratic state organ, that the state should borrow a million dollars 'for the purpose of tiding itself over the period of extraordinary institutional construction. It was the policy of borrowing money to meet current expenses, which during the last period of Democratic control in Indiana, raised the bonded indebtedness of the state nearly $8,000,000 and increased the interest charge against Indiana taxpayers to nearly SI,OOO a day. The attitude of the minority In the present general assembly and of the Democratic state organ, makes it certain that a return to Democratic management of the state’s fiscal and legislative affairs would mean another period ,of debt-making, although there is not at this time a progressive commonwealth in the Union which is not seeking to extingu.sh its bonded indebtedness. Election and Primary Reform. The senate on Saturday passed unanimously what is known as the Huge “pure election bill.” As amended it places a penalty on both the votebuyer and the vote-seller and exempts from punishment the party to the corrupt contract whdjfurnishes evidence leading to convic n. The penalty is a fine of not to e ed SSOO, to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail or workhouse: By the same unanimous vote the senate passed a primary election bill also introduced by Senator Hugg, and which applies only to Marion county. This hill introduces sweeping changes In the methods of nominating candidates. Conventions, except to name delegates to national, state or district conventions, are abolished. All nominees must be selected at primaries. An elective Jioard of primary election commissioners composed equally of Republicans and Democrats Is created. This hoard is to appoint all election officers and oversee all other details of such elections. The primary elections of all parties are required to be held on the same day. The bill prescribes the method of voting at primaries and the duty of election officials. Heavy penalties are provided for the buying or soiling of votes. The Governor at Work Again. Governor Hanly has been at his office during the past week and has been giving careful scrutiny and study to the bills laid before him, with the assistance of Attorney General Miller. Governor Hanly Is far from being a well man, nnd has been compelled to deny himself to callers for tho remainder of the session other than state officers and members of the general assembly. Nothing Is further from Governor Hanly’s desire than to seclude himself from the people, but this precaution has been absolutely essential for the protection of Important public Interests. Friends of Governor Hanly are saying that at the close of the present general assembly the chief executive should take tlma for rest and recuperation. _ q