The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-12-31
TINES BUREAU
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
Indianapolis. Ind. Dec. 30.-A bill TO
re-establish the metropolitan police
system In Indiana will be introduced in
the legislature this winter by repr--
sentative George Billnan of Shelby
Vile. He will make it apply to cities
OF 5000 or more population, but he has
not yet decided on the maximum popu-
lation to be included.
The bill will provide that the police
department in such cities shall be I'M
der the control of a board of police
commissioners appointed by the gov
ernor. The board would consist of three
members not more than two OF whom
should be of the same political party,
thus making 1t a nom partisan board.
This board would appoint all of the
members of the police force for the city
and would be entirely independent OF
the mayor or the city administration.
The bill will provide that the police
force shall be divided between the two
1t non-partisan.
Indiana had a metropolitan police
system some years ago, and 1t was re-
pealed, except that 1t is left in such
shape that cities with a population be-
metropolitan police forces if they wish
to have them. There are none in this
state now. The full details of Mr..
BiIlman's bill are not yet known, but
he says he will have one ready for in
PRODUCTION whenAt the legislature meets.
A question has arisen as to who shall
appoint the senate committees when
the legislature opens. Ordinarily this
duty falls to the lot OF the lieutenant
governor, who is the presiding officer
of the senate. This year. however,
Lieutenant Governor Hall will preside
only from opening day. Jan. 9. until
Monday. Jan. 13, the day which
William P. ONein of Msshawaka will
be inaugurated as lieutenant governor.
1t is seldom that a lieutenant gov
ernor has his list of committee ap-
pointments ready to be announced at
the opening of the session. This gen.
orally is done a few days later. But If
this custom was followed this year II
might mean that Lieutenant Governor
Halls term would expire before he
| could make the appointments. Thus I,
would be left for ONeill to appoint the
| committees
| 1t is believed that Hall would like to
make the appointments of committees
but 1t is a question whether the pow
| ers that will control the senate viii
/ care to have him do this. Not that hi
| is not square and fair for he is that
! but some of them appear to believ,
that appointments by O'Neill might be,
more satisfactory than IL they wer.
| made by Hall.
Two years ago Hall made the ap
pointments. -Four years ago he did no
| make the appointments, because TIL,
/, senate had a republican majority tina
: year and Hall is a democrat. There
| fore, the republican senators got to
! gether and decided to appoint a con
| mittee on committees. to make all com
| mitteee assignments for the senate tina
| year. This was carried out, and Hal
| was shorn of his power to appoint tn.
| committees. or course, Hall, being
! democrat. would have given the demo
| Gratis a majority on the committees
| while the republicans made the com
mittees republican.
This year. however, the committee.
will be appointed by either Hall o.
O'Neill. but the qeustion is which one
1t is understood that a number o
senators are jockeying for places o.