South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-04
GOVERNOR TAKES
IMPORTANT STAND
ON LEGISLATION
Jones Out in Speech for Adj
viSory Commission, Uniform
Laws and no Recall of
JuGgeS on Decisions.

/ Itf"titAl t' -Ntff - p Alitf~-
INDIANAPOLIS. sept 49, Gov.
Samuel 81 Ealston. in q speech deIiv-
cred at the dedication OF the Clay
|county court house at Brazil. Ind.
THURSDAY took a stand on several
Questions pertaining to the life of the
democratic party i'm the state. which
were the subjects of much comment
/ here today
Among other advocations Of the
Ichief executive We're the following:
| J. The appointment or a legisla-
tive commission. OF broad gagged pub
lic-spirited citizens, whose duties
should be 20 guide the legislature to-
ward better laws.
2. system OF uniform laws for All
states
Besides these stands the governor
came out unqualihedly against the re-
|caH. specifically as applied GO Judges.
but apparently as applying 20 other
Officers
lie said. ''Intimidate "A judge SO that
|neither his power TO discriminate nor
| his conscience can he given effect in
/ his opinion and YOU viii strike fatal
blow at the stability Of the nation I
am opposed therefore 20 what is term
/ ed the recall. / 90 not believe i'm 1T
/ as applied either 20 judges OF their
decisions. II such a policy should
become universal in this country. this
nation would soon become "a rope of
sand"
Pertinent paragraphs from his ad-
dress. relating 10 the proposed legIs-
|lative commission III is known
the governor believes he will appu mt
To guide the 1915 leEislature-were as
Follows:
Il am one who believes our govern
ment is commission ridden and tnat
often the scheme OF appointing adj
resOrted 10 10 avoid official response
hility and furnish an excuse for "a
failure To carry out the mandate OF
the people. Commissions. however.
have their place i'm our plan OF gov
eminent. Their functions should be
suggestive and revisiOnary. but never
binding upon the official they are adj
1unctive to.
L have long been of the opinion
that legislative commission, whose
duty would be limited 10 suggestions
ar recommendations touching the
phraseOlogy. constitutional phrases
and revision OF an proposed legisla-
tion by a state legislature. would be of
great pubic service Such "a commits
sion should he appointed by the gov
ernOr upon the convepiDg of the legis-
lature Not more than two of its
members should belong 20 the same
political party. One should be learn
have a grasp OF commercial and labor
problems and all be known for their
broad citiZCnly qualifications
such n commission. working in the
sphere assigned IT, would expedite the
work Of the legislature. minimize. if
not eliminate the influence of lobby
lists and be almost a certain guaranty
of better laws. AS soon as "a bill is
introduced IL would be the duty of
this commission 20 proceed TO study IL
and without delay file any objections
Co IL discovered, with the body before
which the hill is pending. This would
not dispense with the work of the
regular committees of the legislature
but would doubtless tighten it. Be
sides. a commission of the character
indicated would naturally constitute
p consulting body on the merits OF
proposed legislation TO which the leg
slator who has not had the OppOrtu-
lity To become familiar with cOnStitu-
ions. statutes and law-making meth
DDS or with public questions in gen
eral, could 20 for information regard
ng pending legislation. with the as
surance he would not purpoSely be
mislead.
The public is interested i'm having
very helpful influence brought to the
support Of our law-making bodies
The appeal is first made 10 them for
special privileges, and when the bene-
iciaries Of class legislation once gain
heir point il is hard To dlslodge them.
Nothing short OF protracted litigation
an do II, and we know from sore eN-
)erience that this fails as often as il
succeeds and this too. when there is
40 fault on the part of the courts
The governors ideas on the legisla-
i've commission. IL has been known. are
he results Of long COgitatons on plans
% better the system of the Indiana
- m in
iivers troubles have occurred to the
ietriment Of all parties. The success
n such scheme as is about TO be
proposed IS, of course. predetermined
sut leaders here in the democratic
9arty say they believe il viii succeed.