The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-11
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR HANLY TO STATE LEGISLATU RE

kind or character paid, incurred or
promised to counsel or agents and spe-
cifying the nature of said legislation
and the interests of the person. firm.
corporation or association therein.
The act should also make the viola
ton of any of its provisions crime
and provide severe penalties as pun
ishment therefor.
Railroad Passes.-Two years ago l
urged upon the General Assembly the
necessity of anti-pass and anti-frank
legislation. None was enacted. The
whole practice is corrupting and de-
moralizing | therefore repeat the
recommendation I made in this behalf
to the Sixty-fourth General Assembly.
Two-Cent Fare.-With free trans
portation eliminated there is no just
reason why the maximum passenger
rate of steam railways in Indiana for
intra-state travel should not be fixed
by law at two cents per mile. Such
legislation will be of substantial ben
eft to the travelling public. | take 1t
you will enact law in this behalf
since most of you come with instruc-
tons from your constituents TO do so.
Private Banks.-The Sixty-fourth
General Assembly enacted private
banking law which has been construed
by the supreme court and held valid
The law. though defective in many
particulars. is a step in the right d.
rection. Its greatest defect is the
lack of state supervision and exam
nation I recommend that the law
be amended by providing for state SUI
pervision and examination of all such
banks.
Inheritance Taxi am thoroughly
convinced of the necessity and the just
ness of a law which shall provide for
the taxation of the devolution or sue
cession of property by device or in
heritance. Such a tax is levied but
once, and that at time when 1t can
be paid without hardship. 1t is an
eminently just form of taxation. In
deed, its validity and fairness are
quite generally admitted. In case OF
inheritances by direct heirs $4,000 Is.
in my Judgment, a reasonable exemp-
ton, and in case of inheritances by
collateral heirs, the exemption should
not be more than 81 900.
OnItcQ StdtcS ScndIOFS."I DtlieNo
a great majority of the people of the
state are in favor of an amendment to
the federal constitution which shall
provide for the election of United
States senators by the direct vote OF
the people, l commend the subject to
your consideration.
Primary EIections.-I commend to
your consideration the enactment OF
primary election law which shall be
simple in the method it provides and
which shall require the nomination Of
all candidates for city and county Of
fees, of every political party, and the
selection of all delegates to any con-
vention held by any political party for
the purpose of nominating candidates
for any public Office, to be made by
direct primaries.
Trusts.-There is need OF legislation
comforting upon the attorney general
authority to proceed against unlawful
combinations of capital and against
corporations chartered by the state in
all case where they abuse the power
conferred upon them by the state.
The attorney general has prepared a
comprehensive act upon this subject
which l believe is essential to the en-
forcement either of the common law
or of any legislation relating to trusts
which you may enact. ! commend 1t
to your consideration.
Public Depositories.-The events or
the last two years have emphasized
the necessity of reform in the meth
DDS of handling and caring for the
n1Ihlfc finds nf orxyin
in the aggregate from s13, 600, 900 to
So, 100000, are constantly in the
hands of public officials of Indiana
state, county, city, town and township.
At the present time these funds are
not and for years past have not been
In the vaults of the several public
treasures, but are and have been
eithar on deposit in the banking and
fna1cial institutions Of the state or
loaned to individuals corporations
by the officers having their care and |
custody, for their personal profit. The |
system has led to many abuses, some |
of which have been criminal in char |
acter. The whole system. from be- |
ginning to end, is so demoralizing and |
that the public conscience HIS |
become thoroughly aroused and tie
people, without regard to party affil-s- |
ton, expect you to enact Legislation. |
that will destroy it.
Insurance LegisIation.-The estab- |
ishment of strong, well-equipped in |
department is essential, but |
no fair-minded man can read the re-
port OF the committee investigating |
insurance conditions in this state and /
believe that the establishment of such /
4 department will be of itself suffi-
,ient to correct the abuses which have
and still are character
zing the management OF certain In
Llama companies. Something more
han that is necessary. There must
De remedial legislation of character
% reach the root of the abuses and
put an end thereto. Taken all in all.
he matter of remedial insurance leg. |