The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-08
WALLUP At
QUASI PUBL|CS
Legislature Overwhelmed by
Avalanche Of Measures to
" Regulate - Things.
NOTHING IS OMITTED
Will Consider Railroads, Cigarets,
Insurance, "Lids" and Seems Bent
on Limiting Everything.
Especial to Lake County Times).

Especial to Lake County Times).
interest in the sixty fifth session of the
general assembly that meets next
Thursday centers around the so-called
administration measures = insurance,
two cent fare. public repositories for
public funds, further regulation of the
liquor business. further control of rail-
roads and further control of corpora
tions generally. through a new cqrpor-
alton law. Twice that many will the
governor recommend strongly, and
many times that number will he en-
dorse. The above may be taken as the
leading measures however In addi-
tion to these are the measures that
the state, county, township, city and
town officers are interested in; meas
ures that teachers, doctors, veterinar-
ians, etc. are interested in; and bills
that the legislators themselves will
bring to court, because of some local
condition that needs fixing up.
Insurance. first of all, for the sake
of having a beginning. Fire insurance
will probably not be touched by the
governor, nor made an issue during the
Legislature. Fraternal insurance will
be given some considerable eonsidera-
tion though perhaps not so much at
the governors hands. State Auditor
BilIheimer will have bill for the fur
ther regulation of fraternals probably,
however,
TO Cheaper Cost of Insurance.
Indiana life insurance companies are
preparing for a fight. The governor
has publicly said that new laws gov
erning these companies must be enact
ed. These new bills will look to one
end-eheapening the cost of insurance
to the insured. Whether it be done by
limitation of salaries and commissions.
general limitation of the first years ex-
pense. limitation of the amount that
a company may have for first years
expense-whateve the method, the end
will be the same, a cheapening of the
cost of insurance. The fact that the
officers of some of the Indiana compan-
les think that these limitations would
put them out of business shows with
sufficient clearness that their opposi-
tion will be tremendous.
Two cent fare-there will be a dozen
two cent fare bills introduced in the
legislature and it seems now that the
fight viii be one as to whose name
shall be attached to it, rather than one
as to whether such a bill will pass
Some bill drawn on the basis of gross
earnings per mile is expected to find
preference over fiat reduction bill.
Public repositories for public funds
perhaps a dozen of them, too, with
I'm the first week of the session. The
Marion County Bar association has pre-
pared one bill; one of the most i'm
portant of the state officers has pre-
pared another bill; and it IS under
stood that a lawyer who is close
personal friend of the governor has
been asked to prepare a third bill
along this line. The big difference in
the bills will be the method of secur-
ing the public funds. when deposited |
in institutions
Further regulation OF the liquor bust |
ness-the $1,000 license is being dis
cussed; also, the attempt to wipe out
the blind tigers Along these lines
comes another and more drastic Gig
arctic bill that may be introduced If
so, it will have to win on its merits,
or not at all.
New Commission Bill.
Further control of the railroads
this control to be embodied in a new
railroad commission bill. or a series
OF amendments to the old bill. supple
mented by additional legislation The
new railroad commission bill will prob
ABLY furnish the basis for the fight
alons this line. The new bill will. if
II emoodies the recommendations Of
the commission, immeasurably increase
the powers of the regulating authority
the commission itself.
Further
tions generaIly-this Will probablv be
sought by means of bill that 80, !.
give to the governor or the attorney
general, or both' the authority to com
pei prosecuting attorneys to act
against corporations. At present the {
is absolute; no one con 90
cree him. But If some superior power I
Is given the power to compel him Il {
act, antitrust provisions may become
effective.
Besides these scores upon scores of
other measures are already outlined:
Anti discrimination law, urged against I
he railroads and their alleged collu-
lion with the Standard Oil company;
'eform in the public printing; reor- (
yanization of the insurance department
# the state auditors office; creating
II a public and travelling examiner;
consideration of the fight between In ]
llama university and Purdue univer-
ity; private bank bill; pure food and s
'ublic health bill, etc, without number.
AT least the above furnish a sug- s
sestion of what will be brought before
he members of the sixty fifth general {
ssembly. that meets Thursday a