The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-23
Senator KIrkman ADDED to His
Quota of New Bills by An
other Measure.
4 BOARD OF OPTOMETRY
PURPOSE IS TO CREATE AN Ex-
AMJNING COMMISSION TO PASS
ON CIANS-HOSPITAL BILL
ADVANCED TO ENDORSEMENT
(By Demas S. Coe.)


was day of considerable business
but of little excitement within the
legislative halls Both house and sen
ate introduced large numbers of bills
Just to show the people of the state
that there was no lack Of matters
to be considered and thereby disabus-
ing the common mind that their is
no real need for general assemblies.
Senator Kirkman added his quota to
the new bills in the upper branch.
His bill creates a state board OF OPP
tometry-an examing board which
shall pass upon the fitness of persons
seeking to become opticians. The bill
provides that the members of this
board rrgh appointed by the COVER
nor. { receive no compensation
from cate, their services to be
paid by the applicants who are exam
ined for licenses.
The senate had an interesting de-
bate this afternoon on the question or
the registration of voters and also
regarding their qualification. Senator
Slack, last week, offered a joint reso-
luton proposing that after 1911, all
voters must register prior to elections
and furthermore providing that all
voters at that time, who had not been
three years previous thereto qualified
voters under the existing laws, must
stand an educational test-the ability
to read and write any section of the
constitution of the United States in
English Senator Slack asked that the
general assembly go on record as
favoring an amendment to the con-
stitution which would provide these
things. This afternoon Senator Hugg
and other republicans took Senator
Slack to task, declaring that there
was no need in Indiana of making
an educational test There are many
good citizens said Senator Hugg who
are unable to read and write. Even
if there are but a few they should
not be disfranchised because of their
unfortunate condition"
Senator Slack in reply said that his
resolution provided specifically that
all voters qualified to vote at this
time and under existing laws, would
not be disfranchised under the reso-
luton even If they could not read or
write. 1T is aimed at the classes OF
citizens who are brought from foreign
lands to do cheap labor on railroads
and other big contracts. 1t is the
purpose to demand of them certain
educational qualifications before they
shall exercise the right of suffrage"
Though majority of senators, es-
pecially the republicans, were against
the measure, the motion to permit it
to be advanced to engrossment pre-
vailed. The resolution will be killed
sure and certain when it comes up
on third reading
A bill which permits a land owner
to hunt on his land without a license,
no matter in what township his land
may be located. was passed by the
senate today after an hours tame
debate. The present game laws per-
nit hunting in ones own township
without license. but farmer whose
land lies in two adjoining townships
is liable TO arrest if he hunts on that
part of his own farm situated in the
township in which his home is not
located He must get license.
The bill will be gratefully received
by farmers all over Indiana. 1t will
pass the house and become a law.
x j.
An officer of state private bank
who shall misappropriate funds, will
get a more severe punishment in
all probability after the present ses-
sion of the general assembly. The
senate this afternoon passed a ~"
which provides that a bank
convicted of such charge sha
sentenced to prison for a period
from two to fourteen years. Under
the existing law the punishment pre-
scribed in a sentence of from one to
three years. 1t is understood that
the house will also favor the meas
ure.
Senator Cox's bill providing for the
abolition of the state board of par
dons was passed today. The governor
will act on pardoning cases without
the advisory assistance of board of
several members. The measure was
advocated by Governor Hanly him
self and the house administration
that branch.
y =
Next Monday evening there will be
a public meeting of the house and
senate committees which are consid-
ering the half dozen or more public
depository measures.
< y y
Senator kirkman's bill providing
that the Richmond city council may
give financial assistance to Reid
Memorial hospital, has been advanced
to engrossment and will likely come
up in the senate tomorrow or Thurs
day for passage. There has been no
opposition to develop to the meas
ura.