The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-10
LEGISLATURE MADE
VERY POOR RECORD
Only Three Important Pro-
gressive Bills Went
Through Assembly
ONE UTILITIES ACT
Others the Inheritance Tax
Measure and Vocational
Education Bill.
ONE UTILITIES ACT
tNationaI News Association


for the 1913 regular session the most
strenuous task confronted them. De-
string to leave a record which the
large democratic majority could con-
sistently stand on before the people
of the state the selection of bills most
essential to this and presented a most
delicate exercise of judgment.
The legislative day began in the
middle of the forenoon, and was limit
ed to midnight, but it was expected
that the clocks in the law-making
chambers would not be permitted to
toll the fatal hour until long after
other clocks had legitimately record
ed that fact.
Even an extra session appeared to
be among the probabilities unless the
Governor is satisfied with what has
been accomplished during the regular
session.
Those immensely important meas
ures, the specific and general appro-
priation bills figured as absolute
necessities for the maintenance and
operation of the various state depart
ments and Institutions. It was under
stood that the new conferees appoint
ed by Speaker Cook and Lieutenant
Governor O'Neill were not sufficiently
far apart to preclude an agreement if
one side or the other could be brought
to give in regarding the matter of in
creased salaries for supreme and APP
pellate judges, and a few minor
points. House conferees, Storen and
Coons, who succeeded Cravens and
Bedwell in the deadlocked situation
were apparently standing as firmly
for the original House appropriations
minus the senate amendments. There
were personal reasons why Cravens
and Bedwell could not gracefully back
down, which do not exist in the cases
Of Storen and Coons.
Upon the discretion OF His Excel
lency, the governor, will depend just
what bills damned through at the
eleventh hour will become laws. but
it is practically certain that the in
creased state tax levy measure will be
another law that his excellency will
require to be passed If an extra ses
sion. is to be averted.
The extra revenues that would be
furnished by Cravens' increased tax
levy are badly needed.
Favored BY RaIston.
Another bit of legislation that the
governor is known to favor is con-
tanned in Senator Gavits bill empow-
ering the Lake county authorities to
moke connections with the Chicago
drainage canal in order to prevent
further pollution of Lake Michigan
waters. Invitation has been extended
by the Chicago authorities for Lake
county to make use of the canal, for
sewage disposal and many other cities
in that neck of the woods are vitality
interested. In addition, the state
board of health has condemned the
pollution of the waters of lower Lake
Michigan.
There are number Of other bills
the governor desired action on. but
which have failed to come to him for
approval, but he has not seen fit to
bring his big stick into action.
Reviewing past performances of the
63rd General Assembly three new
laws stand out above all else. They
tional education bill, and the inherit
ance tax law. Other progressive legis-
1ation consisted of a few measures for
the material Improvement of high
ways. While the good roads legisla-
ton did not meet the full expectations
of many legislators there was a gen
eral disposition to be grateful for the
road laws that were passed.
Progressive members of all parties
express disappointment at the failure
OF the statewide primary law to get
on the books.
Industrial legislation has caused I'M
rest in labor circles. The failure of
the nine-hour law for women was per-
haps the hardest blow. The fate of
the workmens compensation bill
ranked as a close companion for woe
in spite of the movement for the es-
tablishment of commission to study
conditions and laws in other states
The contest over the garnishee bill
also put many lawmakers on record
before the working and salaried
classes and may cause them some
worry in the future.
Liquor Legislation.
The determination of many demo-
cratic members to stand pat on the
Proctor law as the best saloon regu-
lating measure ever adopted. and
their disposition not to tamper with
the liquor question in any of its
phases seemed likely to be carried
out The bill legalizing 169 saloons in
Gary was not introduced by demo
crat, and the chances of its receiving
executive approval were greatly in
doubt today.
The bill reducing the number of
holidays that saloons must be kept
closed was seriously jeopardized.
either Intentionally or otherwise, by
the oversight of an enacting clause.
while another measure intended to
eurtail the sale of liquor by druggists
seemed destined for the graveyard
just as the e3rd assembly was winding
up its work
The Harmon Are marshal bill, was
considered certain of passage in the
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