The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-22
Farber Measure, After Warm
Debate, Is Advanced to
Third Reading by Senate.
OPINION OF SEN. KIRKMAN
FAVORED THE MEASURE, AND
SPOKE, ASKING THAT GREAT
Err RESTRICTIONS BE PLACED
ON LOBBYISTS.
fBy Demas S. Coe.)


Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 21.-There
was a stormy scene in the senate this
afternoon. 1t was a yeritable cyclone
of eloquence. In fact there were two
cyclones OF eloquence and they came
in collision, causing big chunks OF or
atory to fill the senate chamber on all
sides. And it all came about over
the consideration of two anti-lobby
bills, one by Senator Slack, democrat;
the other by Senator Farber, repubn-
can. Not in years has debate on
any subject in the upper branch OF the
general assembly of Indiana consum-
ed so much time. Three hours were
spent in the consideration of the meas
ures. both of which seemed ait the out
set to be marked for ruthless slaugh-
ter, and at the end senators, specta-
tors and the chair were all showing
visible signs Of fatigue
Early in the afternoon Senator
Beardsley called up for second reading
senate bill No. IA. The fact that this
was Senator Farber's anti-lobby bill
was not recognized generally, 1t
seems, for Senator Farber has entrust-
ed the calling of the measures for al
vancement to colleague. The . -
was advanced to engrossment, Wh .c1
means that it had reached the stage
when it should be finally considered.
The incident passed without comment.
Senator Black then called up senate
bill No. TO- a measure similar TO that
of Senator Farber's, but which is less
drastic in it's provisions, eliminating
the feature that provides that lobby
lists must register. He asked that
the bill be advanced to engrossment
and third reading, action that had
been accorded to Senator Farber's
bill. Senator Farber arose and NOV
cd the indefinite postponement of the.
bill by Senator Slack. Then oratory
was uncorked and it was of rare old
vintage. too. Senator Slack opened.
He declared that the house a few days
ago had practically killed an anti-lob-
by bill because of the fact that it's pro-
visions We're too stringent And
that very bill which the house has
slaughtered. is exactly like Senator
Farber's bill which you now propose
to consider If you, gentlemen of
the senate, are really sincere when you
propose a measure of this kind, why
eral assembly, measure which you
know will be killed? And why do
you persist in sidetracking the bill
which / propose, without the courtesy
of giving it fair consideration?
Senators Hugs. Kittinger and
Springer. spoke at length, each decry-
ing the alleged need of anti-lobby
bills. and declaring that they not oul
were opposed to the measure introdu
ed by Senator Slack, the democTc
but also were as much opposed to t
measure offered by Senator Farbe-.
the republican.
LEGISLATION" said Senator Hugg
cannot make senator honest If he
is lobbied with and is an honest man,
he will not yield to any temptation.
On the other hand. this proposed legis-
Iation will not prevent lobbyists from
working. 1t may work a hardship on
the men who have the right to come
here and ask members of the legisla-
ture to consider any measure they are
interested in."
Senator Kittinger injected much fun
in his remarks and said that in his
opinion the bill to prevent geese from
roaming the streets of towns, which
has actually been introduced by Sen
ator Pearson, had more real merit
than the anti-lobbyist BILL "hy," de-
clared the bald-headed legislator from
Madison. who is the fun maker of the
upper branch, Il can't see that the
members of this body or of the lower
branch, need guardians to watch over
their actions. II our motives are
honest, there is no need for fearing
a lobbyist I think they are a bles-
sing. Why take this medical bill for
instance. / have been on both sides
of 1t, because l have been unable to
understand its provisions. But the
Purdue and Indiana lobbyists have
told me. and now / think that / am
on the right side. DO you think that
every honest old farmer who comes
here in the interest of a ditch law or a
road law, should be made to register?
And what about the manufacturers
If they have interests they have a |
right to come here and show how they
will be affected by any measure that
is proposed"
Senator Kirkman said he favored
the Farber anti-lobby bill because it
was better one than the Slack bill
Better" said Senator Kirkman, be
cause it is more drastic in its provis--
ions. / believe that while members
of the legislature are honest, there
should be restrictions placed upon the
men who hound Hobbies, espe cially
upon the few lobbyists who are alleg-
ed TO have taken unfair means TO gain
their end. The Farber bill will not
prevent any honest corporation from
appearing before the committee are
talking to members of either branch
I am for the bill, but think the Slack
bill should be indefinitely postponed.
The Slack bill was finally indefinite I