The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-12
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
RESPONSIBLE, He SAYS
Insists That He Will Not At
tempt to Make House DEM
ocrats Do Their Duty II
They Can't See 1t.
Palladium Bureau,
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. !:


he wrote to friend a few days ago
and which just leaked out yesterday
relating to the work of the legislature
caused considerable stir among the
democratic members of the legisla-
ture. 1t was the talk of the crowds
in the hotel Hobbies last night. A
man whose name is not made public
wrote the governor the other day and
asked him why he did not undertake
to influence the legislature to enact
laws that would redeem the platform
pledges Of the party. Governor Marsh
all has said all along that he did not
intend to butt in" on the legislature
and that he would not try to influence
it in any manner. But his answer to
the letter makes his position clear.
He says:
MarshaIl's Letter.
you ask me why l do not call the
legislature into my office and insist
on the democratic house carving out
the pledges of the democratic, plat
form, such as economy in public ex-
along the line of abolition of useless
offices. the investigation of public af-
fairs to determine whether the expen-
ditures made were perfectly Ngiti-
mate, the quarantine of bank depos-
its. the passage of primary law,
uniform accounting and and examin-
alton of public records. and why l do
not endeavor to prevent the legisla-
ture from going directly against the
will of the people in making extrava-
CANT allowances of claims which have
been dead and buried for many years,
and of still further catering to the
vicious fee system by giving the sher-
lifts their in and out fees and to
clerks the transcript fees, and by
eeemingly being DESTROYS of raising
the salary of every man who wants
his salary raised.
Gives His Answer
Il think must answer you when
you make an inquiry OF this kind, be-
cause the people of Indiana know
am opposed to legislation which does
not attempt to better the condition of
public affairs in Indiana. reduce ex-
penditures. make of the state govern
ment and of every county government
business proposition and work
wherever 1t can work for the good OF
the people. For these things stood
during the recent campaign, for these
things now stand. but I warned the
people OF Indiana that my theory of
government was that it was not the
right of the executive to interfere with
the legislative department. Such be-
ing my view of my constitutional
duty. shall not interfere with the
legislature In the discharge of its
duties.
What he Desires.
II have been hoping from day to
day that the really important meas
ures In the interests of the people
would be taken uD by the house of
representatives, passed by democrat
tic majority and put up to republi-
can senate. giving it an opportunity to
play politics or serve the public. I
still hope that these things will be
done, but they will never be done il
1t Is necessary for me to threaten,
bulldoze. bribe or plead with any
member of the legislature to do his
duty. When this session Of the legis-
lature shall have adjourned, II the
democratic party a. represented in
the legislature shall not have kept its
pledges to the people. Il must be un-
derstood that the breach Of fidelity
has been breach OF the legislative
and not a breach of the executive de-
partment OF the state
II He Disguised?
This letter Is generally accepted as
m expression on the part Of Governor
Marshall Of disgust at the miserable
showing made thus far by the demo
Gratis Of the legislature. and that he
has about given up hope OF their do
ing anything that they promised the
people they would do. Some believe
It will make the democrats spruce up
and get busy. while others are lot the
opipion that the democrats In the
legislature will 30 right ahead AS they
have been going, doing nothing for
the people. The letter Is considered
about the sharpest rebuke to the dem
<1srAf1fe m inritv In tho h<>,scl that ho