The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-12

NET RESULTS
Aside From Falling Down on
Insurance Assembly
Makes Good.
MANY GOOD NEW LAWS
Republicans Redeem Most All Their
Party Pledges-Some Breaches
Will Not Heal.
Especial to Lake County Timexl

NcPCSAA ~ AaAE &OunNy IImeSl
indianapolis. March 12-with one
exception. the legislature did things
in the law line. Lamentably did it fall
down on the insurance bill. Passing
a bill that was written line for line,
by the representatives of the Indiana
companies, the governor vetoed it on
the theory that it did not represent
real, but nominal reform, and that real
| ly, it would have left the situation as
bad, If not worse than the present con-
dition. The house and senate both re-
fused to stand by him on the insurance
proposition.
The failure of the insurance meas
ure is taken to be the result Of two
factors, personal hostility to Governor
Hanly, and a failure to understand the
technical phases of the insurance ques-
ton. Those who had gone into the
| Indiana insurance situation with care
saw the necessity for stronger laws.
Those who did not-and not half a
dozen in the $50 members of the legis-
lature did-were inclined to accept the
plea of the local insurance companies
that the Legislature should not wreck
the home companies. And the net re-
suit was no legislation.
Il rom the SIduQpOlHI OIL the insurance
companies the result is not all that
they could desire. Laws are now just
what they were under which the pres
ent and past abuses have arisen. For
a year past they have done no business
and as confidence has not been re-
stored, they will have hard row to
hoe for the next two years. The pre-
diction is made that two years hence
these companies win come to the leg
/ islature demanding that real insurance
: legislation be enacted in order that the
! people may regain confidence in the
state institutions
Antitrust Bill Strong.
= Many meritorius measures were en-
E acted into law, however This was
that one platform pledge of the re-
5 publican party wherein they failed.
e The antitrust bill which the gov
j, ernor signed yesterdy is thought to be
a measure sufficiently strong to make
o some great cases in the state within
e the next two years. the attorney gen
n eral of the state willing. 1t inhibits
: combinations that are in restraint of
trade, and places the burden of proof
in any case on the trust or combination
> to show that it does not operate harm
fully in restraint of trade 1t gives
the attorney S6neTdt the power 10 pro-
ceed in any county of the state and
gives him, also the power to compel
local prosecutors to proceed power
which the attorney general has never
had before
Two measures of Importance to the
temperance people were carried one
: the Ganiard blind tiger" act. which,
: with the amendments made to it by
the Beardsley bill, make the Illicit sale
9 Joint absolutely out of the question if
there is any local sentiment against
: them at all. The second is the Moore
bill. which changes the form Of re-
monstrance in the liquor cases in such
. a way that the entire burden of proof
, in liquor remonstrance cases will not
4 be on the demonstrators, but a large
. part of il will be transferred to thos e
objecting to the remonstrance
. Two temperance measures of i'm
I portance were defeated; one. proposed
: by the Anti Saloon league increasing
;, the size of the remonstrance unit from
: the township to the county and from
the ward to the city This died with
. little struggle. The second was the
q $1,000 license. which had long and
troublous fight for existence in the
T house and finally died by margin OF
. four votes On this bill perhaps one
,, of the greatest fights of the Legislature
. was waged, and 1t was a losing fight.
. Towards the end of the session the
house sentiment swung around strong
. for temperance measures again. but it
, was too late the bill was dead.
Public Depository Law O. X.
. The public depository law came
i through in pretty good shape. it seems.
o At least so those say who had the
d measure in charge. No one else seems
IS to know very much about it. and it is
= still an untried enumeration of new
d processes. Nothing but time will show
e how it Will work out in practice. Suf-
/ ficient to say it takes the responsibil-
e ity for the public funds entirely out
1t OF the hands of local officials. The
.e county treasurers got through their
r bill to increase their salary.
e The private bank act that was
passed is regarded as being sufficient
= unto the needs. The senate took sew
: eral slashes at 1t, but the house plaved
q the more conservative game, and heal
s ed the slashes. And the senate was
n sorry and accepted the house amend
l, ments.
: There was never the slightest doubt
! about the two-cent fare bill. The plat
o forms of both parties demanded it. as
n did the people. The railroads ac-
d quiesed to such an extent that ever
r the three so-ealled railroad lawyers
e in the senate accepted the bill, and il
:, was enacted.
y Another bill that the railroads agreed