The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-03-29
The Late Corporation Controlled Legis.
lature. Its Place in hist0ry.--Dan.
ger Line at Election In 1902, as Seen
BY q Prominent Democrat.

ger Line at Election in 1902, as Seer
BY q Prominent Democrat.
Special Correspondence OF the COURIER.
INDIANAPOLIS, March %, 1901.
EDITOR CoURIER:-The recently
adjourned session OF the Legislature
is still a subject Of ridicule and
abuse. 1t is common talk that it
was the worst General Assembly
that ever sat in Indiana. "As
crooked as dogs hind leg" A
prominent Louisville railroad attor-
ney, who attended this session as a
lobbyist, said in conversation the
other day, that this was the worst
he had ever seen here or in any
other state; that usually he had to
approach members cautiously and
ask what they would take, but that
the rule of the members he did busi-
ness with here was to ask at once
what he would give.
The Democratic members appeared
to a decided advantage in compari-
son with the Republican majority,
both in ability and integrity. For
the most part the Democratic mem
bers went through with clean hands.
This may have been due to the fact
that the Republicans had such a
complete and easy working mejor-
ity, both in the committees and on
the floor. 1t was enough, to get
the Republican leaders lined up for
or against a measure; and not in
frequently the active support OF
Democrats proved an injury to a
bill, as was the cause with the Ag
new Anti Trust bill. In any event /,
all the outrageous measures were OF
Republican origin, and depended
wholly on Republican support.
The Joss Railroad consolidation
bill had the support Of some few
Democrats, but its opposition was
all from Democratic source. Sem
ator Winfield vigorously opposed its
passage in the Senate, and but ore
Republican (NealD opposed it in the
House. The Speaker declined to
entertain any discussion Of the
measure, but took the floor and de-
Tended it and then refused to allow
its opponents a hearing 1t was
truly "railroaded" through.
Frank B. Burke deserved the
credit for the defeat Of this meas
ure. He was the first to draw at
tention to its purposes ard effects
in monopolizing the railroads Of In
diana; in removing competition
from railroad business; in taking
them from State control; and in re
moving damage suits against then
from the State to the Federal courts
His open letter TO the Legislature
published after the bill had slipped
Through the Senate, appeared before
the newspapers had commented or
the measure at all. The was every
evidence OF carefully arranged
plan to enact the bill without notice
to the public. Following Burke''
letter, protests commenced coming
in from all over the State, regard
less Of politics, until Governor Dur
bin could not stand the pressure
and vetoed same. BY his veto h'
probably saved his party, as it il
doubtful if it could have carried |
dozen counties after two years op
Grafton cf such law. However
the fight is not over. Senator Win
field, Of Cass county, is authority
Tor the statement that from now
until the election Of 1902 the ener
gies Of railroad companies would bt
directed to securing its passage by
the next legislature. There is ne
doub', with the manifest attempt o
all railroads to consolidate and ge
away from State control and Stat,
courts, that this act will be kept il
mind by those whose business it i
to manage politics and legislation II
the interest Of railroad corporations
Their natural instrumentality under
present conditions will be the RI
publican party; but sharp eye
ought to BE- kept on all democratic
candidates whose attitude on thi.
question is in doubt. A note ol
this ought to be made that it be moi
forgotten. Pro Bono PUBLIco.