The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-19
SEARCH LIGHT IS
TURNED ON BLAND
BY HIS ACCUSERS
Marshall Will Have Public
Hearing to Get at Facts in
Regard to Celebrated Lin
ton SquabbIe.
BOTH SIDES HAVE CHANCE
TO PRESENT INFORMATION
Questionable Tactics by Sena-
tor to Secure Support for
Measure Charged by Many
Vague Rumors.
Palladium Bureau
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 19.

Jnotdndoottss RCD. ~.
indianapolis, Feb. 19.-Governor
Marshall announced late last night
that he would have public hearing
on the Bland Linton court bill at his
office in the state house at II o'clock
the parties interested in the bill to
appear at that time and be heard.
Marshall was taken because of ugly
fumors that have been heard since
the bill passed to the effect that un-
due influence was used in securing
its passage.
This action is also taken to mean
that the other court bills passed at
this session, including the Hammond
and Gary bills also are to be given a
run for their money before they are
signed by the governor. If they are
ever signed by him at all.
Charges Are Made.
Charges have been made in connec-
ton with the Linton bill that Senator
Bland who is member of the senate
finance committee which has it al
most absolutely within it's power to
fix the amount of appropriations the
state institutions shall receive used
the influence of his membership on
that committee to aid in passing the
court bill. 1t is said that he asked
hn rff io1S IF of hn tat,
tutions to get into the fight and help
him to pass the bill. 1t is even said
that something of this kind has been
put in writing and that it is now in
the hands of the governor, but wheth-
er this is true or not cannot be told.
Bland Makes Denial.
Bland denies all of these stories and
says he Is ready to meet any of his
accusers. Yesterday six or eight dele
cations from Linton and the surround
ing country were at the governors
office arguing for and against his
signing the bill. They became very
acrimonious and the trouble waxed
warm. In the face of all this differ
ence of opinion and the ugly rumors
that were going around Governor
Marshall thought it best to have
public hearing on the bill and give
all parties chance to have their say
about It,
1t Is said that the persons who have
been doing the talking and spread
ing the rumors of questionable tactics
in the passage of the bill have been
anvited to appear at this hearing and
make good what they have said, and
that those who are under fire will be
there to take their own part The list
Is said to include several officials of
some Of the state institutions. who
will be asked to prove what they have
been saying.
1t is believed that if Governor Mar
shall finds as a result of this hearing
that there was anything crooked or
questionable in the manipulation and
passage of the Linton court bill he
will veto it with a stinging message
on the ground that if bill is a good
bill 1t can be passed by fair and hon
orable means and that questionable
methods are not necessary to pass it.
May Make Investigation.
There is also belief that if the
governor finds it necessary to veto
the Linton bill he will so farther and
make searching investigation of the
methods that were used in the pas
sage Of the Hammond and Gary bills.
and If he finds anything to substanti-
ate the rumors that there was whole
sale trading and dealing and manip.
Nlation to secure their passage he may
use the AK on them also. So it looks
like the next day or two are going to
be pretty lively around the governor S
office and that the court bills passed
at this session are to be given big
scare II they are not killed absolutely
by the governors veto
So far as is known Governor Mar.
shall has not consulted with anyone
rs to what should be done with any
OF the court bills. He is merely TAX.
ing his own way to find out all about
them and to make up his mind from
what he learns.