The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-02-21


luently developments disclosed that
the hope was i'll founded. Represen-
taticve Wells and a coterie of the
jority went over to the majority on the
accounting law fight and almost de-
prived the measure of all its real value.
while Representative Wise joined with
the minority in the handling of Senate
Bill No. los, and practically disrupted
the majority organization for the time
being.
A number OF the democratic workers.
in the house, said at the
close of the week that they realized
that the minority was spending most
of their time laughing in their sleeves
over the manner in which they have
been leading a considerable number Of
the majority away from the considera-
ton of party measures and party
duties. and acknowledged that only
complete and absolute breaking away
from the sway of the minority would
enable them to put through the plat
form pledges in the time yet remaining.
The most important legislative hap
pening of the week has been the an
nouncement of the caucus decision OF
Monday evening to support a bill en-
bodying a changed constitution, pre-
scented by the governor in the caucus
after eighteen months of painstakins
preparation. The plan is to enact the
changed constitution into law to be
submitted to the people for ratifca-
ton rejection in 1912. The an
noureemcnt of the caucus result fell
among the minority like bomb she'll.
as the governor had carefully guarded
the fact that he was about to propose
1.-THE changes made. although large
number of leading attorneys OF me
state had been taken into consultation
with him in the preparation. The an
nouncement was followed by a bill In
the senate, by Senator Wood. provid-
ing for the calling of a constitutional
convention, and by a resolution in each
house, providing for an amendment to
the constitution for state wide prohibit
tion- Bills providing for woman suff-
rage. which, with state wide prohibit
ton. had been left out of the COVER
nor's draft had previously been intro
duced
1t became at once apparent that the
proposed changed constitution would
become an issue in 1912 and the COVER
nor has prepared to take steps for its
defense.
Following the caucus Of Monday.
when the governor. by invitation. took
tivity among the leaders was displayed
concerning the platform and adminis-
trations measures. Steering commit.
I tees have been appointed in both the
house and senate to see that these bills
are pushed forward properly at the
! proper time. Virtually all these bills
have been made caucus measures. ex-
cept the Clark registration bill from
the senate, which the house democrats
declined to line up behind until they
had had time to examine more closely
its contents.
Senate Bill No. 105, after a stormy
period in the senate. preceding its final
passage, was emasculated in the house
by combination of few of the
jority votes with the minority. which
stood solidly against 1t. 1t was rescued
in time to send it back to the commit
tee on corporations, and slight hope
was entertained that 1t would be
brough out and passed as it came from
the senate. Failing in this. an effort
is to be made to have it adopted as it
passed the senate when it gets to con-
ference committee.
The consideration OF the measure at
tracted such a gang of lobbyists. big
and little, and their activities became
so pernicious that they were made the
subject OF special senate action on Fri
day afternoon. when the presiding off,
Ger was invoked to enforce the rule
against lobbyists on the floor
J It seems as IL the uniform accounting
law is to survive the session and emerge
in rather good form, after one of the
bitteret attacks ever made on an Indi-
| ana law that did rot go down before
the attack. AS the Yarling senate
11l -
} house and the amendments adopted
without dissent. the bill provides for
) two boards.-one the state board of ac-
counts. composed OF the governor. audi
| tr state and the chief examiner and
the two officials who are now known
z as deputies. The salary OF the chief
! examiner is to be reduced from $1,000
to $500. but the salaries of the depu-
ties are to remain as they area, 900
4 year. The members of the board of
examiners are to have equal power in
9 matters coming before them. with the
board of accounts rescrving the right
= OF final action. They pay of the field
E exainers Is to be reduced from $40 a
q day to IS day. The reports OF the
I examiners are no longer to be consid-
e cred or accepted prima facile evil
e dence of charges made by the examine
a RS, but are to be filled and treated as
exhibits, are filed and treated in other
0 :ivil cases. The bill will also provide
j S)r prosecution of cases by prosecuting
attorneys, under the direction of the
: GOVERNOR and attorney general, who
e shall reserve the right to step in a:
$ any time and assume fun charge
: Sixty days are given the officials charg-
h ed with delinquencies to AXE nnal set
:. Element before action is taken to re-
cover In the courts.
e The senate passed 121 bills during
y the week and introduced SO new ones
e The house passed ~ and introduced IS
e new ones. The governor signed bills
5, The total number of introduced in both
), houses is now 1887, OF which SO are
It in the house and 427 are in the sonata