The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-02
Legislative Program for Con-
sideration This Session,
Beginning Thursday, Is a
Most Vital One.
A DIRECT PRIMARY
LAW NOW PROBABLE
Commission Form of Govern
ment for Cities Over 10000
Township Option and
Labor Bills Due.

scope and problematical depth the
matters which the general assembly
of Indiana will face in the session
which commences Thursday will prob
ably outmeasure those which any past
Legislature has attempted to solve.
Most of the big proposals for enact
ment. including the party platform
measures. will be presented within the
first two weeks Of the session. For
convenience some of the most i'm
portant problems are herewith sum-
married. in pill form and may be di-
ges.ed without pain:
Election of a United States senator:
act to repeal the county local option
bill: reform measure, providing $500
high license. one saloon to 500 popula-
ton. rigid law enforcement. abolish
ment of brewery-owned saloons.
Commission form of government for
| cities of 10000 or over; five directors.
one to be chosen by the mayor to gov
| ern the city. and salaries ranging from
| 81 500 to $1,000: initiative and referen-
| dunn and recall; three civil service
| commissioners to grade routine mu-
nicipal clerks on merit plan.
A Direct Primary Law.
Direct primary bill for the nomina-
tion of all officers, from United States
senator down: the legislative candi-
dates to pledge themselves to vote for
majority choice of people for sena-
tor; no amendment to the constitu-
/ h<,n rd tod "
day of sixteen hours, the canvassers to
count ballots cast in four periods; sys-
tenn of localized recount: registration
acts. with rigid inquisition such as may
shut out aliens from the ballots: a
gerrymander act is due, restricting the
state for the election Of members Of
congress and for the election Of sem
ators and representatives in the state
legislature 1t will be an old fashion
ed gerrymander.
| Ratification or rejection of a pro-
posed amendment to the constitution
of the United States, to permit a fed
eral tax to be levied on incomes: a
township bill, abolishing the advisory
boards. trustees to fix the tax levy and
appoint road supervisors. 1.0l6 town
ships in seven classes as salary basis,
tice of the peace to constitute the
township board of finance; town
ship assessors bill. increasing salaries
to $3.50 a day for assessors and 81
for deputies.
Public utilities bills. probably sew
eral: readjustment of rates; supervis-
ion over stocks and bonds; adjust
ment of differences between corpo.
rations and patrons.
be aimed at.
A child labor law-no boy under IA
or no girl under Is to sell on the
streets: no child under 16 to be allow
I'd TO work more than eight hours in
one day except as domestic or on
farm: ban on many injurious and
risky occupations: weekday wage bill
applying to mining. manufacturing
wholesale and retail corporations. but
not to railroad or agricultural employ.
es, compulsory payment in cash.
Three workmens compensation acts
recompense for accidents on a fixed
scale, measured on wages lost; fellow
servant rule; assumption of risk and
cortributory negligence, legal provis
ions abolished and the losses divided
between employers and employees
employers liability bills: bill tc
combine the state labor commission
and the state factory inspectors of
flee. putting the two in one depart
ment to be called the department OF
labor; plumbing and barber license
bills: Indiana departments of labor
and agriculture: industrial education
support of the Winona technical in.
stitute: ten hour work-day for women
laborers: legislation of trade unions
miners qualification bill. providing
county examining boards: miners shot
firing bill. making expert handling OF
explosives compulsory.
| To Gust Ineompetents.
Ventilation and escape shaft bill
providing a special emergency shaft
a governors power of removal. the
right TO oust public officials elected
/! and his own appointees. is asked; al
SO IA recall by voters of incompe.
tent officials; good roads bill, creating
a state highway commission. with the
state and county to divide the cos,
equally: a bill to cut the number OF
road supervisors; trustees to appoin,
the supervisors; county auditors act
to legalize all previous acts in office
and to start a clean slate under the
state accounting boards new uniform
duties of auditors and commissioners
also TO give auditors the appointment
of board of review: reform in gravel
Continued on Page Six.)