The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-21
Orndorf Bill Abolishing
High School Secret So
cieties is Intellectual.
NO PENALTY PROVIDED
Health Rules To Be Rigidly Enforced
Question as to Duties of Gov
ernor's Accountant.
especial to Lake County Timea).

indianapolis, Ind, March 21-Ques-
tions have already arisen with respect
to the new bills passed by the legis-
lature, which viii be declared laws
about the middle of April, and one of
the most perpIexing of the new laws
is the Orndorf bill which is aimed at
high school fraternities.
This act is definite enough in one
particular; 1t absolutely prohibits high
school secret societies, fraternities or
other similar organizations" but it is
deficient in that 1t has no penalty
cause. Hence if the law is not obeyed,
there is no penalty that can be in
volxed in its enforcement.
The school trustees and the school
superintendent is given the authority
TO expel or suspend any member of a
high school who belongs to such or
ganizations. More than that they are
required to make such an expulsion or
a suspension. But there is absolutely
nothing in the law to force school au-
thorities to take such action because
there is no penalty clause in the bill.
In other words the bill is absolutely
non effective as a legal instrument. It
may be used in the way of moral
suasion, but IT cannot be enforced in
any legal way.
Hard On the Grocer.
Further rules and regulations of the
state board of health. announced today
specify the manner of a hearing be-
fore the board. when any one is charg
ed with the violation of the sanitary
part of new law. This, the new part, is
the one that will give great deal of
trouble to the market man and the
grocer, for It contains provisions with
reference, to cleanliness hitherto un-
heard of. The rule says:
Whenever the owner proprietor or
agent of any firm or corporation en-
gagged in the manufacture and sale of
food or drug products shall have been
notified by the inspector that his place
OF business is not conducted in ac-
cordance with the laws and rules of
the state board of health, he may,
within ten days of the date Of said no.
tice, make a written plea to the state
food and drug commissioner asking
that a hearing be given him at the
office of the state commissioner, }at
which time he may appear to give
reasons why the conditions noted by
the inspector exist. and why he should
not obey the order of the state in
spector"
Further rules state that mo sub
stance may be mixed with a food prod
uct that will lower or reduce its
strength; only harmless coloring mat
ter may be used in food products and
then only when the use of such colors
does not make the article appear better
or of greater value than 1t really is;
the presence Of any preservative sub
stance, except common table salt, salt
peter, cane sugar. vinegar spices or in
smoked food, the natural product of
the smoking process, constitutes an
adulteration." the only exception be-
ing, for the presence of a small per
cent. of benzoate of soda in tomato
catsup.
Everything must be labeled. 1t it falls
below the standard of purity set by
the state board. in some cases this Is
permitted if the fact OF the standard
is set forth on the label This part OF
the law Will be enforced very vigor-
ously.
What VIII He Do:
There is some speculation around the
state house as to what use the gov
ernor viii make of this executive ac-
countant. the $4,000 year man that
the appropriation bill allows him.
Such a man was recommended by the
investigating committee who went
through the state auditors office, and
provision was made for him.
This executive accountant is re-
sponsible solely to the governor He
makes tho appointment outlines his
duties and out of the governors fund
is he paid. Now that he has him. what
is he going TO do with him?
The answer to this question depends
upon what powers the man will have
The committee recommended q man
who should have the right TO go into
any public office in the state, examine
the books and make a report as TO the
condition of that office. In the appro-
priation bill itself no duties or rights
are enumerated.
It is supposed that he will have any
right that the governor himself has of
this sort If this is true, his powers
of examination and ferreting are very
large. and this executive accountant
will cause a great deal of news to come
from the governors office within the
next two years.