Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1907 — INDIANA LAWMAKERS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

Governor Hanley's Memiaffe. ‘ T{te message of Gov. Hanly which -he read at the opening of the Legislature Thursday devotes special attention to insurance legislation. The Governor recommends that the law prohibit an offiogr of an insurance company from receiving over SIO,OOO a year and that special contracts, -rebates and excessive commissions be prohibited. He suggests the prohibition of the level premium charge for preliminary term insurance. In his message Gov. Hanly referred to the fact that during the two years of his administration three State officers have been ousted from office for misappropriation of funds; that $159,460 has ben recovered from them and turned into the treasury, and that suits for $120,504 .have been instituted against’ former State officers for alleged misappropriation of money belonging to the Sjtate. He recommends a 2-cent rate law, private bank supervision, a primary election law, a law providing for a depository of public funds and laws more definitely fixing the responsibility of pub-lic-officials. The enlargement of the authority and power of the State railroad commission was recommended. An inheritance tax law is urged, the message suggesting that an income of $200,000 annually would be derived, and the election of United States Senators by popular vote is advocated. The Governor also urges the abolition of the death penalty, and expresses himself emphatically on the ..subject of gambit ngat West- Raden -and French Lick, and appealed for a statute which will enable the Governor to close such places summarily.

A \Vor«l from Lieutenant Governor. Lieut, Gov. Miller, before calling the newly elected Senators to the bar of the Senate to take the oath, spoke as follows ; "Gentlemen of the Senate, in accordance with established custom, I take the liberty of a word with you as we begin one work of organization. It will be but little more than a word. Our last session was one upon which we still look back with pride. The patient industry of this body two yeays ago was in every way remarkable. Night meetings of the Senate or of important committees, Succeeded days filled with hearings and debates. Exhaustive measures, real reform ß —business of the highest 1 , jfnportanee to the people of the State of Indiana —received careful, conscientious , attention from every Senator. Some of the laws enacted then, it is true, must now be ftiore or less amended; a few provisions I will doubtless bo repealed. Experience lias supplied the information and argument that were lacking two years ago. Again we find ourselves called to deal with vital miestions; other reforms are proposed. This, too.' will be a tfflsvrTml'oftant\SPssion. It is not for me to speak of these questions, or to propose solutions for these .problems. But as heretofore it will be my aim to facilitate in every possible wgiy. the--transaction of public business.. 1 firtialTTffecthm service. Debate will Ti? tree and every ,g?n and every measure will have fair place. I bespeak a continuance of The loyal, earnest, enthusiastic support which both sides of the ehambex gave me in the winter of 1905.”

The New Speaker. Emmet Forest Branch is .“2 years old and was born and reared at Martinsville, lie is married and has a wife and one child. Mr. Branch was educated in the public schools at Martinsville and Indiana university. He is a lawyer and a prominent business and club man, being president of the Branch Grain and Seed Company of Martinsville; vice president of the “Bradley Brick Company of Martinsville; president of the Martinsville Athletic Club, and a memher of the Columbia Club. Marion Club and Board of It ado. IL I is a 32d degree Mason, and a Shriner. He holds a commission as major in the Indiana National Guard and was a captain in the Spanish-American * war. His first experience in the Indiana Legislature was twenty years'ago, when he was appointed page by / Warren Sayre, lie was a member of the House. 1903-5. Mr. Branch had the honor of making the nominating speeches for both Senator Charles TV. Fairbanks and James Hemeuway.

Important Sennion Expert**,l. The Sixty-fifth is expected to be both important and interesting; important for the reforms pledged by the platforms on which men of both parties reached their seats in the body, and interesting because of the smallness of the Republican majority in the House, which assures anything but a sleepy session. In the Senate the Republicans are to the Democrats as 87 is to 13, but in the House the difference is only that between 53 and 47, and the 47 are about as active and wide awake as ever occupied the west side of Ihe House chamber. Senator Park* Has Pneumonia. Senator John TV. Parks, a well-known number of the Legislature, is seriously ill*wTtli pneumonia at his home in Plymouth. His condition gives his family and friends the gravest concern. Senator Parks had prepared several measures to be presented to the Legislature, the principal ones being a public depositories inll and a ditch bill.

Branch h Elected Speaker. Emmet F. Branch of Martinsville was elected Speaker of the House. Both Ilotlse nud Senate are Republican. Members of the majority have expressed n desire to carry out the wishes of Gov. Hnnly in his refortn policy and it is Relieved tlmt tunny of the measures advocated hy the Governor will be passed. Demand Two-Cent Fares. On the first roll call for the introduction of bills Friday there were introduced six 2-ctmt railroad fare bills, three public depository bills, one for an inheritance tag, two for high license, two antitrust measures and one resolution for the election of United States Senators by popular vote. One bill introduced asked for an educational qualification for voters. Stnatqr Cavins oFTerre Haute introduced B bill to “prevent discrimtnarton fir the price ptaid for products and commodities of like grades, gravity and quality.”