Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1907 — DOING GOOD WORK [ARTICLE]

DOING GOOD WORK

Th# General Assembly Is Setttinj [ Down Is a Careful Consider* at ion of Important Measures. REDEEMING PLATFORM PLEDGES ; "V; - -•' - ' • Republican Member* Are Working In Cloee Harmony In the Enactment of Such Reform Measure* as Were Demanded by the People In the Last Campaign—More Has Already Been Done Toward Redeeming Theae Pledges Than the Public Generally Appreciates. t Special Corrrapohdene*.! Indianapolis. Feb. 6.—With both branches of the legislature disposing of business at a very rapid pace and with the Republican members showing a “dl^posiUon to work id harmony, the party leaders are now certain that the pledges made on the platform last year will be redeemed. In fact more has been already done towards redeeming them than the public appreciates. In the senate the two-cent railroad fare Bill has .been passed and within a few days the upper house will adopt a good bill providing for strict state supervision of private banks. It is expected that before the end of this week the senate will have enacted A good primary election reform measure, thereby fulfilling another promise. The house has not advanced as far as the sente in consideration of these bills, but Speaker Branch says that it is now about ready to take them up and give them the immediate consideration that they demand. A subcommittee representing the house and senate has been appointed to prepare a public depository bill and it will be ready to report within a day or so. Several bills on that im port an t subject have been examined, but none of them exactiy meet the requirements of the situation. It is the plan now to have the subcommittee agree upon a measure that will embody all of the good points in the several depository bills that have been offered. When that is done it is not likely that there will be a great deal of trouble in passing It in both branches, although it is apparent that nearly every member has some ideas of his own on this question. As evidence of the difficulty in disposing of this proposition a dozen bankers who held a meeting here this week, were unable to get together on a depository plan. Each had different ideas as to what sort of securities should be given by the dei>ository and as to what rate of interest should be paid by them. At the end of several hours discussion they gave the matter up and decided to leave it entirely with the members of the legislature. It is apparent that the difficulty in reaching a solution will be in providing for securities that will permit the bankers to handle the funds with profit to thenisdws and with safety to th - ;-""t:ry or v:‘\ wHirhrv-r the e-t- :~\ b<> T : •; • .*••» disposith :r-h v v>—, an. sh. *-,.•• :nV;r* to d' i-rTConsl.irrrf-?-n r.ff This ntnrcr and it is c< rt.riu that >• «=•.- sort of a do; . y bill will ' enacted that - will at 1-a ‘ ' • •' a ■ 1 ' - f. fut :. h - is': :ien on ou* - ■: te ' ct. -‘‘ : .. ■■■ - : r; r Y •‘ ■' • : -IA , i n .•F. . , “ *y,'* hers v.\-:o.sa'Lhsh : ■ :ci a..miui.eaL ■ble *o*' ev’ c app >inted It' tV.e - l a bill f<t c.yj’ity nr. : I timb r it file r ruses will 1 a;:.; 1 V ; r-‘ tun it y of express im: it-r choir inthe nomluation of «• -.hd; • v -b whom tin y havo to (ha!. *A s’.viiur WffPfTT is p : . * l ing been Introduced by Reprev ntnrive . Fitch of Metaeie. It *mf-rn»y mrtfffnr for a good . • :.i ■ • g nomtna. tirms by direct vote, but it offers every In fact either of shese Mils, if (n----acted will go a long ways towards purifying the methods of nominating men for office. v The Democrats\nv hHciupfld to put the Republicans in the hole during the consideration of the primary election hill. they failed completely. For party purposes the Democrats •ought to convey the impression that they were In favor' of a law providing for a direct nomination of the state ticket, but privately many of them admitted that they would have voted against the plan had It ever reached a point where final consideration was necessary.

But very little opposition is being offered to the Ganiard bill, providing f£*r state supervision of private hanks. This Is really one of the most important measures now pending. The purpose of it is to.make it impossible For private bankers to misuse the funds entrusted to them by the people. The long list of failures of private and wild-cat banking institutions has furnished an object lesson that is difficult to get a way from. The Republicans for three sessions of the legislature have attempted to obtain some eu aytment on this subject, but each time the private bankers’ lobby was too strong. Two years ago the private banker* had the most powerful and persistent lobby around the state house. They succeeded then In preventing the enactment of the law such at is now proposed. It Is apparent to them this time, however, that a majority of the members have very strong views on the question and that it will b« impossible to prevent enactment ,of the Ganiard bill, which embodies the ideas of the leaders of the Republican party and which will carry out to the letter the pledge that the party made to the jieople a year ago. Under this bill the auditor of state -will be permitted to examine the private banking institutions at regular intervals and such safe-, guards will be imposed as to make it necessary for the private bankers to have sufficient funds or property on hands to meet the demands of their depositors at all times. The Republicans will go a step further in strengthening the banking department of the stae government by enacting a law providing for the appointment of additional bank exam- ■ lnera who will work under the direc.tion of the auditor of state Under the present law the system of state bank examination is not all that is to be desired, as the examiners work for the fees they are allowed. Under the plan that is now proposed the examiners will receive a straight salary and the fees will be paid into the state treasury. By this system it is believed that the examiners will not only tab- more interest in their work but the state will net a considerable sum at the end of each year from the examination fees. .rl. ♦ It cannot be stated at this time what will be done in the way of insurance legislation. This is the most complex subject with which the members have to deal. Nearly all of Ahem, however, are trying to get information that will enable them to act intelligently. The life insurance companies have a very powerful and persistent lobby on the ground that is doing everything in its power to prevent from carrying out their campaign pledges on this subject. It is not very likely that the Babcock bill, introduced at the opening of the session, will become a law in its original form. However, those who framed it on behalf of the present Republican administration did not anticipate that it could he enacted in its entirety. The subject was new in a way to them and it was not to be expected that a perfect bill could be prepared. It has served as a starter and a great deal of it will be emhedi--d trt the Ist rhrrt~wil! b? finally. ado; ted. The tw-> in-iurance conimitts ( u hate hi} i a* number of- 1 i n mc.ttin.v s at wbieit - the nppnncnt.a-nff • the bill havi kB3 opn jrti ; to r\; • -- tin \ s. that t.: • can be j., ■ aruj * bile iher<" A sub-, ... nT •_£ : at anting H. •_ now sr. v. :■ .. <w •ii - -taut, amend* rrtents ! > t''... 1 , s fpnt nrcMhlv «i; i ,• '' 1 . U ' . V. \ \ office W 1 b- * ’ -♦ Tlie U<- •• .’ Thru bm a> 1 11 passed the senate lias been reported favorably in the "Koine*. This is one* of the most in poriaut reforms ever obtain'd f>T the K. ;v)t« rrf Indiana. The fact that lt'V.a*. mined'is due almost < n‘|rdy. to tin.' determination of the rept> seitthiiv*** of-the Republican party who worked untiringly to bring it Under this reform the cost of transliortalfohT will be reduced ope-tnird. which. wiH mean an im-mens-o saving to the-people. An effort was made to amend the bill in the senate so *hat the railroads might charge 2 l * cents a *mlle where tickets were bought on the trains, but it was- defeated by the Republican

members, who felt that the., people were entitled to a flat two-cent rate whether they bought tickets on the train or at the stations. The railroad lobby is very-kore over the result, but it will be unable to prevent the senate bill fr6m being adopted in the house. It is very likely that it will go through in its present form, and that it will become a law within the next three months. The railroads have asked for that time to arrange to comply wit hthe new provisions. It looks now as if the Republicans will be able to enact some legislation to strengthen the powßr of the railway commission so that the interests of the shippers will be guarded. The representatives of the railroad are greatly, concerned over bills introduced for this purpose, but the opinion seems to be general among the members that- the, railroad commission should have authority to enforce its decisions, Qne of the important amendments proposed in connection with the railway commission law will provide for appeals to trial courts which will enable the commission to go into every subject more thoroughly than under the present arrangements. Y ♦ Republican members have not relaxed their attitude toward appropriation bills. Every measure is being closely examined before any report is made upon it. In spite of the extraordinary demand made for money at this time, it seems safe to say that owing to the good management of the Republicans who have the appropriation hills in charge the state will not be embarrassed financially by the action of this legislature. Y It seems practically impossible for anyone to get an increase of salary. On this matter Republicans are treating everyone alike. A few days ago the Republicans killed a bill to increase the salary of State Geologist Blatchley. A short time afterward they turned down a demand for an increase in the salary of Dr. Hurty, secretary of the state board of health. There are a number of bills pending to increase the pay of minor officials throughout the state, but it looks now as if none of them will be considered favorably owing to the disposition of the Republicans to hold the expenditures down to the minimum. A lot of good work is being done by the members of the house committee on ways and means and the senate committee on finance, which hold Joint sessions to consider the appropriation bills. The demands for appropriations L are being cut by them right and left. They have planned to save the state several hundred thousand dollars during the next month. The demand for appropriations has necessarily been larger than usual, owing to the fact that four new* state institutions are being erected- More money* will have to be appropriated before these can be completed, but the expense account is being~Aieid down as much as possible. In practically every bill that has been introduced for an appropriation of minor character the committees have cut them square in two. ♦ Tlro-Democrats have been making a grandstand play relative to the departrnent of state oil insp-crion. of which Si.l Conger of She!by\i44e is at the he ad. Rept> -\ utativc. Cravens of Madison, a Democratic leader, offered a resolution calling on the inspector to funrlsh-iu detail inform?'Vn as to the*' amount of oil ins d, the ’ amour.r of men cullact 1 I y each irY*‘ tl • ■' of flit** ju sectors i and Y im:. n:s miiYYy-Y v. as to yy!y poHtiT cy: XY--Kf’T ’ rt » ** *}.*.• , mY, - /.* * • -' 1 ’ •’ • •- d • * • ‘ fv'-.-.-n l .«T fr>g Pyy. Yy’t T: . • c i the fc •: : • t four j ( ~ ' rrnart- i til' * yd—.' I i ey c '!■ 'irt. V’.i ' “ • was ' ~ • ■ _ • ■_ .-in' I *'- ! ti*. •are Vi -• •• .*. • tate’s | share this war ir* u ti;' in . c on Of j oil rim/ in' .1 * ctv, r *, t.wtnch is i clear :• ■*' r.i *-• i 1-r. ti. the de- « . cons-, tvniiu.: bm-Incafili:-* ilm.s, the j ♦ration iff ti. various d .. . nts at i the state! ease com mom Id I -ger-very i.i-idy -ua lu* which were nlfide in strict compliance with the law. Tie resolution of Mr. Cravens was referred to a house committee on fights and privileges; as the Republican members saw through his scheme the minute it .was j-resented, The Democrats have been totally unable to cast any odium on any of the departments as they are notv conducted by th>* Republicans. ♦ The Democrats are still lined up pretty solidly against the \ proposed j temperance measures. Nearly all of j them in the senate have the bill to increase the saloon license to SI,OOO a year, and most of them were augyist the “blind tiger” bill. Both of these bills were put through In the senate find are now pendiug iu the house, where they are favored by a majority of the Republicans. A hard fight is being made for nhef against them, and it cannot be stated at this time what will be the oufeome. If the forty-seven Democratic members persist in opposing the reform they may be able to defeat It.