The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
HOUSE BILL 159.
Claim that 1t Is So Phrased as to BE
Full of Dangerous Possibilities.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
As matter of proposed, highly danger
Gus and unjustifiable legislation, now pend
ing in the State Senate, set out the text
Of House bill No. 159:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Indiana, that all
elections for officers of INCORPORATED towns,
Incorporated under the laws of this State
since the year 1881, are hereby legalized
and made valid. and all laws. ordinances.
bylaws, rules, regulations, appointments.
elections, proceedings and official acts OF
the boards of town trustees, and the boards
or schoo! trustees and all other officers or
such towns are hereby legaliZed and made
valid: And provided further, that all ordi-
Eances. bylaws. rules, regulations and
proceedings of such towns passed, ordained
of, since the year 1881, shall be received
and admitted as competent evidence in all
courts for the purpose of attesting the
acts of such boards OF trustees, and for all
other purposes whatsoever for which they
may be received in all courts of law: Pro-
v1ded, however, that nothing in this act
shall in any way affect any suit now pend
ing in any of the courts Of this State, but
such suits. If any, shall be heard and deter
mined the same as if this act had never
been passed.
Sec. 2. An emergency is hereby declared
to exist for the immediate taking effect OF
this act, therefore the same shall be in
fuil force from and after its passage"
1t should be clearly apparent to any one
taking the above under even casual con-
sideration that there is extreme danger Of
gross and irreparable injustice being done
should such blanket measure become
law in Indiana or any other State. While
this bill would reach back, in it's legaliz-
ing scope, to the year 1881, the writer is
absolutely confident that the date fixed
is SIMPLY a blind one, and that the true
cover up by a wholesale Equalization acs,
matters OF quite recent and present vital
concern. My assumption of this is based
on the fact that the author of a bill for
the specific legalization of a certain town
incorporation, which was introduced at the
last preceding session Of the Legislature,
which Was vetoed by Governor Mount. re-
Gently submitted just such bill for the
opinion CT a Fort Wayne attorney, and
am conversant with the disgraceful con-
cition of affairs that the proposed bill was
Intended to legalize. / firmly believe that
the two bills are from the same author
have every reason to believe that the pres
ent purpose Is 10 accomplish just what
of the Shirley City bill of two years ag,
IL looks to your correspondent like do
r-in-the-dark' attempt TO legalize all the
proceedings connected with the notorious
Shirley City incorporation, which were SO
rotten as TO arrest the attention of Gov
ernor Mount, when his conscientious con-
sideration of the case influenced him to pu-
his disapproval on the BILL his veto being
sustained in the Senate.
III the retroactive purpose of the bill in
reachlng Dack TO the year 1881 is good and
sincere, II must be apparent that in twenty
years no such attempt at wholesale legal
corporated town in the State is actually
suffering under simple or technical irreg-
uarity in the conduct of its affairs, its
relief should be asked and provided for
openly by specific legaliZation.
Let concede what we please to the
innocence of purpose that might underly
any petition for such wholesale, blanket
legalzation enactment and take look at
its possibilities for evil Every election and
every act of every town board in the State,
not only from back in the year 1882 but
up to date, that is not now a matter that
has been submitted TO the courts or been
made the subject of pending suit is to
become legal, Ye gods! What an oppor-
, tunlty Tor covering up frauds ana rascality
ali over the State that may be just reach
ing the light Town boards that may have
Isurped all sorts OF power and authority
ana fastened on suffering taxpayers all
sorts of bylaws. ordinances, exorbitant
and Illegal fees and salaries, and any dis
graceful mountain of taxation that they
payers-ali to become pure and legal, under
the snowy cloak of Indiana law-making
The whole idea should be preposterous
Who asks for this kind of wholesale
legislation? If 1t is the people who pay the
ization act, they are not afraid to ask for
specific legislation. IL such legislation was
asked for by scoundrels who wanted their
guilty tracks covered up by Indiana law
and their dirty line washed in the State
Assembly. they would seek their end in
just such a wholesale. job-lot. blanket
legalization act as is presented in House
Lii No. 159.
let such a vicious measure pass and its
effects become known to the many rInsus-
pecting communities who may be ruin
cusly and unjustly affected. and wall
OF despairing distrust In Indiana justice
will send its discordant sound throughout
the State. to our everlasting disgrace.
&. w. EDGERTON
Fort Wayne, Ind, Feb 16.