The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-12
EDITORIAL VIEWS.
THE sIxTY-EIGHTH ASSEMBLY.
(South Bend Tribune


The 68th Indiana assembly which
closed last night was one Of the worst
farces ever enacted in the state. With
magnificent start toward good,
wholesome legislation, order and re-
Election seemed all at once to disap-
pear The lord of misrule was invited
into both houses and representatives
and senators plunged into disgusting
carousal of insane legislation At the
eleventh hour signs of repentance be-
gan to show and before adjournment
some of the wicked legislation imposed
upon the people was recalled. The
disastrous effect upon business and
state affairs of some of the legislation
during this regency of misrule, how
ever, can only be told when the full
effects become known through the at
tempt to enforce new laws.
Seldom has a state legislature been
involved in such a frightful confusion.
Bill after bill was brought up, failed
for a constitutional majority, then
finally wriggled through. Measures
were passed by both houses, then re-
called from the governor or the other
house for amendments in the closing
hours. Scores of measures were
brought up and passed without the
assemblymen even knowing what the
measure contained or what they
meant Those who introduced them
even did not know. An appropriations
bill was sent through and then a Sec
ond sent after it removing a number
of the salary grabs which the first had
permitted. A muzzle was put on the
press, but in the closing hours it was
reconsidered and partially removed.
Hogs were voted $4,000, but babies
We're denied $4,000. The uproar raised
over the state by this action caused
the legislature to again reneg. -Four
times bill to legalize licenses of 169
Gary saloonkeepers was brought up;
finally it passed. Then the charge was
made the roll was falsely recorded and
a resolution passed the house to recall
the bill from the senate. Juggled roll
calls finally became such a scandal
one clerk was removed and another
resigned.
" TIC SICuit III TIC AinS
be placed the public utilities and the
blue sky laws; the centennial and con
stitutional referendums; the vocation
al education, anti-cocaine and anti
cigaret bills; the housing and loan
shark bills and the penal farm and in
heritance tax laws. Against it must be
charged a whole grist of worthless
bills, such as numerous salaries in
creased without cause, terms extended
fishermen's licenses rendered neces
sary, the throttling of workman's
compensation and garnishee bills, the
foisting on the people of a half-baked
primary law and the killing of the
Hughes good roads bill. Neither will
the people forget the increase in the
tax levy of 1926 cents. Hundreds Of
other items both to the credit and
debit will appear as the effort is made
to enforce the laws.
The eleventh hour repentance of the
legislature may serve to soften the
Judgment passed upon it by the PEG
pie and on the contrary development
of some acts will make more stern the
demand for reckoning. Notwithstand
ing some very excellent measures were
enacted, the general opinion. We think
is that the legislature was a disgust
ing, miserable and deplorable farce.