The interior journal., 1910-03-15
LEGISLATIVE DOINGs.

FRANKFORT, March IL. Retrench- |
ment and reform are proving the watch
words of many jealous members of the
Lower House during the closing days
Of the legislative session, now that all
the salaries desired raised have been
raised, and other measures backed by
certain interests put through. The de-
feat of the bill providing for uniform
system of inspection and accounting of
the public offices of the State. is one of
the steps toward retrenchment which
will hardly be appreciated by the peo-
pie of the State when it is properly un-
derstood. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars are being saved in the State of
Indiana every year under this law which
was recently enacted there as one OF
the pet measures of Gov. Marshall 1t
places all of the county officials upon a
common system of record keeping so
that their business may be readily
checked up by the State Examiner and
inspector, and tab be constantly kept
on their settlements with the State
treasury An extra clerk or two would
be necessary in the State examiner and
Inspectors office to do this work, and
the watch dogs of the treasury barked
at this, and did not take into consider
alton the immense saving which is made
to the taxpayers wherever the law Is in
operation. Will Shanks stood sponsor
for the bill in the House, but could not
get it through. 1t was defeated by so
to 80 after passing the Senate.
In an effort to elevate the bar of the
State, the State Bar Association faith.
cred bill for State Bar Examiner.
but the House put its ban on the bill
too.
THIRD TIME A CHARM.
After two successive defeats in the
Senate. Gov. Wilson's pet bond issue
bill finally got through the Upper
House, when the executive waved the
big stick of an extra session over the
heads of the members. The bill pro-
vides for usual of $500. 900 in bonds to
help pay off the States Indebtedness.
There is said to be much doubt as to
the fate of the bill in the House. By
its passage of this bill or not, the
House may have the say as to whether
there will be special session.
HELM MAKES A HIT.
Congressman Harvey Helm, of the
Eighth district, was in Frankfort Friday
shaking hands with his many friends
in the General Assembly and greeting
politicians from over the State. Mr..
Helm says that if an appeal is made to
the State Central Committee. which he
does not believe at all probable, that
the higher tribunal will assuredly sus-
tain the call for the primary on April
3Oth. He does not believe that he will
have opposition for a denomination.
and prominent politicians from over
the State say that he has made such
splendid record that he should have
none. Some leaders here 60 so far as
to say that when the State democracy
looks about for suitable candidate for
governor next year. it might do worse
than to nominate Congressman Helm.
They declare that he has many ele-
ments Of strength which many others
who have been mentioned" do not
possess.
INDETERMINATE SENTENCE LAW.
Gov. Wilson has approved the Inde-
terminate Sentence bill. which makes it
a law. Contrary to general impression,
this law does not give the sentencing
of criminals to the circuit judge. but
leaves il with the jury, simply to con-
Wet, the law automatically sentencing
the prisoner according to the degree of
the crime Of which he is found guilty.
II man is found guilty of manslaugh-
ter. and the law provides penalty say,
from one to 20 years, the prisoner comes
to the penitentiary with the indetermin-