The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-02-03
TINES BUREAU
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
indianapolis. Ind, Feb. 3.-The big
best thing done by the legislature yes
terday was the passage of the house
of the bill to legalize the playing of
baseball on Sundays. That is, it was
the biggest thing from the standpoint
of the galleries and the side lines which
were packed with people, attracted by
the announcement that the fight over
this bill would be pulled off in the
house during the afternoon. But even
at that the bill did not have much to
go on to win out. The score was 81 to
A. Fifty-one votes is just enough to
pass a bill in the house, and that was
all the bill received.
The passage of the bill was attended
with choice assortment of oratory
from both sides. Representative Tai
bolt of Orange county easily showed
himself in his debate to be the best
speaker that has been In the house in
many years. He spoke against the bill
| taking his position on two grounds,
first that it was in opposition to the
religious fact that Sunday is a day of
rest and we are commanded to keep it
holy This he said could not be done
with Sunday baseball.
Says IL is Unconstitutional.
His other strong point was that the
| bill will be unconstitutional even if
enacted into a law. The bill says 1t
shall be legal to pay professional ball
on Sunday between the hours of and
6 in the afternoon on grounds that are
not less than 100 feet from any estab-
lished house of worship.
'This bill is in direct conflict with
the general statute which forbids any
person to follow his usual avocation on
Sunday" said Talbot. when a base
ball player, who receives $2,0 900 to $10.-
600 year for his services, plays on
Sundays is he not following his usual
vocation? OF course he is. And you
cannot legalize it in this way. You
cannot suspend the operation of a Grim
inal statute during certain hours. II
you could do that you could say to q
murderer that between noon and soc
o'clock you may kill your neighbor; tc
the burglar you could say that between
2 and 4 o'clock he may rob my house
But you may not do this. 1t would be
illegal. just as this bin will be illega
If it becomes law"
BrOlIey Makes a Home Run,
Representative BrolAey, author of the
bin. had already stated that he intro
duced the bill in order that the labor
ing people who work during the week
! might have the opportunity to see s
ball game on Sunday.
1T is not right to drag the name O.
: honest labor into this effort to Sc
aside the criminal laws of this state
/ was Talbott's shot at this statement
, And then Representative Gauss O
| No =,
! is timer but he can crate some, too
II was born within gun shot of thi
{ state house" said Gauss, land I hav,
, lived here ever since, and I have neve
seen a game of baseball in my life
But I know that seventy-five per cent
, of the people of Indianapolis woul,
: vote for Sunday baseball If the ques
, tion were put to them. 1 am the fathe
/ of twelve living children and l woul
be a traitor to my offspring If I wer
to stand here and advocate something
that was a detriment to their mora
condition and surroundings. but know
that Sunday baseball would not harr
them. 1 would rather see them at
baseball game on Sunday than to sc
> them in saloons and other places. Let
legislate for the majority of the peopl
and not for the minority"
Mickey Against the BILL
) When the roll was called the vot
I stod 81 to Al. Among those who vote
4 for the bill were Wells and Roggon {
I Allen county, Elliott of St. Joseph. Rat
1 lift of Wayne, Faulkner of LaPort
Grieger of LaPorte and Porter. Klive
y of Lake. Among those who vote
! against the bill were: Wasmuth
: Huntington, Gardner of Wayne. Mile
e of Starke. st. Joseph and Pulaski
h Mickey of Lake. Among those abseI
lie when the vote was taken was Shirl
J. of Allen county.
h Disregard Hanly's Veto.
A big lobby of sheriffs from over IL
state was present yesterday in II
lie house when the vote was taken on Il
= passage of bill over the veto of Co
i vernon Hanly. 1t was a bill passt
rs two years ago to authorize the pa,
# ment to shertffs of the in and out fe
=, for locking prisoners in and out
W Jail This has always been considers
: a graft, pure and simple. and it hi