The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-03-16
REVIEW OF WORK
Of LEGISLATURE
Some Laws of Vast Importance
to People Placed on Statute
Books.
no HAVE NEW CONSTITUTION
important Changes Affecting Suffrage
Ar Proposed-voters' Registration
Law EnactedNCorrupt Practices
Act - Employers' Liability
Changes In Liquor Laws-Im-
portant Railroad Legislation.

The session OF the Indiana general
assembly just closed passed and Gov
ernor Marshall signed 2ss bills. This
does not mean that 29s new laws were
enacted, however. Some of the bills
carried entire new laws on some sub
5ects, but majority of the bills mere
ly made amendments In some of the
existing laws
But the general assembly did pass
some bills Of vast importance to the
people OF the state-proaably twenty.
hve In all. The most far-reaching act
OF the legislature ID found In the bill
tnfroduced In the senate by Senator
Stotsenburg Of New Albany, carrying
with 1T an entire new state constitu-
ton.
Some important changes are pro-
poeed In the present constitution. In
the matter of suffrage it makes 1t
necessary for . man to be citizen
OF the United States before be can be
voter at any election. Under the
present constitution a man can vote
II he has filed notice Of his intention
to become citizen of the United
the state for twelve months, in the
township sixty days and in the pre-
ctnct thirty days next preceding an
election.
A man must also have paid his poll
tax before he will be allowed to vote
h. hou
been duly registered as voter. The
present constitution does not require
registration or the payment of poll
tax as a qualification.
The new constitution would make
the general assembly consist of not
more than fifty senators and not more
than one hundred and thirty repre-
.sentatives. Each county would be
given one representative, regardless
Of the size Of the county. and the rest
Of the representatives above the
ninety-two would be distributed among
the larger counties according to popu-
lation. The present senate consists
of fifty members and the house of
one hundred.
1t is provided that the legislature
shall not remain In session longer
than one hundred days. The present
constitution fixes the limit at sixty
days, exclusive of the first day
The supreme court will consist of
not more than eleven judges. This
would mean the consolidation Of the
supreme and appellate courts.
It is provided that any political par
ty may declare In favor of the adop-
ton of the new constitution and have
the same become part Of the party
ballot at the election In 1912 Any
voter voting a straight party ticket
will thus vote for the adoption of the
constitution
Voters Registration Law.
Another important bill which affects
the voter and his right to vote Is the
Clark Harlan registration law 1t is
the first voters registration law ever
enacted In Indiana. Its main provi-
sions are that there shall be held
three registration periods. the first In
May, the second In September and the
third In October In each year In which
there is to be a general or state cleo
ltdon. The registration boards will be
In session two days at each sitting.
Unless a voter has registered he shall
not be entitled to vote at the election.
tn qualifications of voters are fixed
By the constitution
Another bill which passed and be-
came q law makes 1t q crime punish
able by q fns and Imprisonment for
any person to solicit any alien to be-
come q citizen.
paying any part Of the expense Of an
aHsn's naturalization. This bill Ia
aimed at the Wholesale naturalixing OF
foreigners in Lake county, Fort Wayne
South Bend, Brazil, Terre Haute. and
other places where there are a great
many foreigners. Both parties voted
for the bill, and 1t was not a party
measure.
Taken ~ q whole, the legislature ap
peared 20 be anxious to clean up Do
1ftical and election conditions In tas
state.
One OF the important new laws Is
the corrupt practices act. This act
defines what are corrupt practices al
elections, primaries or conventions and
provides punishment for their viola
lions. it provides that each political
organization In state, county, city
town or township shall appoint treas
urer. who shall give bond to the
state for the faithful performance OF
his duty. If the treasurer defaults he
shall be liable on his bond. He may
appoint sub-treasurers in smaller d.
visions of the territory, and shall
make complete reports Of their and
his collections and disbursements.
1t will be unlawful for any political
committee to solicit any contribution
payment or favor from any candidate
for any office or from any person de
string to become candidate But
any candidate. for Office or person de
airing To become a candidate may
make such voluntary contributions tc
such committee for purposes named
In the act Other persons shall not
be permitted to make any contrfbu-
ions to campaign fund within sir
months Of an election. No contribu-
Hons can be accepted from any Judge
of q court or any candidate for Judge
Tor any political purpose whatsvsr.
.he treasurer II the only person par
Knitted to pay any expenses q %
acal campaign. except that q cand<
2ats may pay his own expenses.
Candidates for cfdos are limited TO