The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-17
palladium Specially

indianapolis, Feb. 17.-What is
there wrong about the above bill,
which will go down In Indiana legisla-
tive history as Bill No. 105, against
which there has been the most deter
mined corporation lobby ever known
In Indiana politics?
Nobody has yet volunteered on the
floor OF either house any specific OBJ
lection to IL.
What Is there right about II? No
body has yet volunteered any specific
defense OF the bill. not even Senator
Proctor--its father who frankly admit
ted before the house committee on
corporations he could not explain its
provisions. When Representative Far
ris. OF the Republican minority asked
for an explanation for the bill in the
house Thursday everyone was mute.
Right, or wrong. the house Republi-
cans ably assisted by many Demo-
Gratis amended the bin sixty differ.
ent ways Thursday and sent II back
70 the house committee on corpora
lions for convNsescence. II is probable
It's injuries will prove fatal. but II 1t
does recover II will; be returned To the
senate In such an enfeebled condition
that the coterie OF corporation sena-
tors who are hiding In wait for II will
have an easy time to dispatch Il quick
ly.
II the bill Is n good bill. then Joseph
Cravens deserves n Carnegie medal.
while Adam Wise Is the Srutus and
Jesse Eschbach the Cass.ns OF this
noble creation OF Senator Proctor's.
But II the bill IL a vicious bin then
Cravens must perforce assume the
role Of a modern Esau. while Wise
aud Eschbach are to be enrolled at
the top of long list of patriots.
The evidence on either side Is pure
~ circumstantial. but upon such many
man has been hung by the neck until
dead. ....4a.
Protection For Public.
That II liz a bill In behalf of tho
rights of the public and the state and
would prevent Indiana from becoming
the asylum of lawbreaking corpora
lions In given color by the unusual
and violent opposition to II by corpo-
ration attorneys and lobbyists who are
always exercised every time vested
rights" are In jeopardy. In other
words. the bill Is loved for the ene-
mics Is has made.
That Is n bill conceived In iniquity
and darkness and having base motives
behind II Is born out by the fact that
nobody appears who will tell why 1t
was framed or introduced. what is it's
intent or the exigency which called 1t
forth. A bill which cannot be ex-
planned. or. what Is worse. which
won't be explained Is usually bad
bill.
And so. in the language Of Bill
Flynn. Moreover on the other hand.
] think YOU are right"
The bill was reported out of COM
mittee Thursday In the house and
trouble began with It's appearance.
That much. at least, Is definite. The
bill spells trouble. A minority of the
committee composed of the Republi-
can members reported I'm favor Of It's
Indefinite postponemcnt. This did not
suit the majority of the house. for
even Its enemies wanted to get u
whack at II. So the minority report
was tabled b. a vote OF 81 to Al.
Was No Response
Then Representative Far,s arose
and wanted some Of the corporation
committee who reported favorably up
on the bill to explain its whence and
where. No response. He then ex-
tended his invitation so as to include
any one In the house. but the silence
was just as great. He then declared
that so far as he was concerned he
would not vote for any bill that no.
body could explain, but everybody
wanted. He would die first.
This was the cue for Representa-
tive Wise. who understood the bill.
but wouldn't tell. He thought the
hill was not comprehensive enough in
Its provisions. II applied only to for