Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1908 — What the Legislature Should Do and Why [ARTICLE]

What the Legislature Should Do and Why

By GOVERNOR HANLY

Pointed Declarations in Message to Lawmakers Convened in Special Session. j* "County Local Option. EVILS. More than 85 per cent of the saloons are owned or controlled by brewery corporations. Many of the officers or directors of breweries live in palatial residences in the larger cities of the state, far removed from the scenes of the barrooms they maintain. ' The agent of the brewery is given to understand that he can evade the law without substantial risk. The brewery corporation, to evade the law, secure the license in the name of some irresponsible person, who has no concern, and no mission, except to sell intoxicants to anybody; at any hour, on any day in order that his master may gather his daily measure of profit. REFORMS. • The township and ward election method would greatly impair, If not effectually destroy, the remonstrance law. It covers too small a territory to be an effective unit, m • 1 . < i . No, township or city ward single banded, protect itself from ;the ravages and evils of the traffic, so long as it is permitted in tha townships and wards surrounding it t ; , . , i Under the county unit the people 'all share the coat of criminal prosecutions for crimes committed widhln it tint -■ 1 : J >' ' . ...... H . . _— T; . . . Right is right, and he who opposes it can not long find safe refuge behind the barricades of party. , ri ; «. j iCeuhtyoplion is in hkhnbny with the ' spirit of our institutions, meeting the' Ve<fnitCmetet of the ireat declajrationj "gpvsrnmenta shalt derive 1 theiir Just powers ftoin tie consent 61Jte goyerned.” ■ The brewery, the distiller, tjie saloon, the brothel on the one side; the church, the school, tne home the other. Every brewer, distiller, every saloon keeper, the keeper of evgiy brothel and of every unlawful resort, aid their allied Interests, are here and will be here through the session, active, dominant, arrogant, intimidating and corrupt, prepared to defeat county option at any cost, or by any means within their power. Appropriations. Unexpended appropriations for Ruud we University, Girls’ School, Village of Epileptics, Normal School, School for Deaf and Southeastern Insane Hospital, amounting to $816,974.79,. should be continued. Night Riders. ■ io Threatening letters are again being received by tobacco growers warning them not to cut their crops at peril of the destruction of crops and barns by fire. A law should be enacted making it a criminal offense to destroy tobacco in the fielder after |be«Bame shall be severed from the sdil. The Governor should be given power to appoint officers, with the powers of sheriffs. The Governor should be authorized to fix the compensation of such officers, in addition to their actual expenses. An appropriation of $16,000 is recommended. Vincennes University Claim. The act’authorizing the bond issue, in my opinion, Is unconstitutional. I would be violating my oath of office to issue the bonds. Repeal of the bonds will save the state $156,000, a sum sufficient several times to defray the expnsee of extra sessions. Opinions of Miller, Shirley & Miller and the attorney general, as to the unconstitutionality of tbe a?t, will be submitted. If the state desires to bestow a gratuity upon the university It must bestow the gratuity In money and not In evidences of Indebtedness.