South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-14
INDIANAPOLIS RULE TIE
ENTIRE STATE2

Il
democratic organization because he
+ failed 10 vote for the Bell bill 10
4 create a finance board for the capital
s city. and thus convert the mayor into
o king. he spoke for every democrat
Z in the state Of Indiana, outside OF In
4 dianapolis, who believes the state is
4 bigger than the metropolis.
The senator in explaining his vote
On the Bell kingship bill. had de-
4 nounced it as being undemocratic and
un-American, and announced himself
as too old in his devotion to the prin-
. ciples OF democracy to lend any in
dorsement 10 such government Be
cause OF this, Sen. Al Gearing. of
Marion county, a mere organization
tool, backed by others of his ilk in the
upper house. began a campaign of Op-
position TO everything that the La
grange man might want. whether of
merit or not, including especially a
bill codifying the ditch and drain
laws OF the state, in which the capital
city is about as much interested as it
is in maintaining public decency-and
that is not promising much.
IL is unnecessary to go farther into
. the merits or dement's of the law that
will. if passed by the house. virtually
confer upon Mayor Bell Of the capital
city, a kingly crown. It is enough
that in free government it is the right
and privilege of every man TO believe
in or not 10 believe ih, and 20 vote for
or not 20 vote for such government.
and the constitutional freedom OF
speech conferred upon him, carries
with il the right TO give his reasons
for his belief and for his voting. The
same principle applies 10 members Of
the assembly. 1t is also the privilege
Of every man, and OF every legislator,
to oppose the codihcatiOn of the state
drain and ditch laws If they wish to,
but when a virtual conspiracy is en-
tered into 10 defeat the latter, not
from any principle. but as dlsciplin
airy 10 those who oppose the former,
that is a different matter
Sen. Ballou was chairman of a
commission Of three. all hold-Over
pointed by Gov. Ralston, 10 codify the
ditch and drain laws. For two years
they had worked upon the measures.
They were at least entitled 20 go be
fore the assembly upon their merits,
but Sen. Gearing. enraged because
Ballou had opposed his pet Indian
apolis bills. determined that merit
should not count. He would lay the
Ballou measures on the table indef-
nitely, and, whisperings were heard
that these would not be the only
BallOu bills TO go onto the sidetrack.
What Indiana democracy has a
right 20 know is. whether or not f. is
necessary for its representatives in the
/ assembly TO bow one and all TO the
whims of the Indianapolis machine
even though il have the backing of
the state organization. in order to get
q few things that are needed outside
Of the capital city? That is what
Sen Ballou wanted 10 know He
! asked the question i'm behalf of the
lis rule? Have the people outside of
Marion county any rights that the
party machine inside that county
should be bound TO respect?
If they have not. senators and rep
resentatives from the other counties
might as we'll resign and go home.
Before doing SO il might be well TO
SO amend the Bell bill as TO make the
mayor of Indianapolis king OF the
state. rather than OF the capital city
alone. and thus let the metropolis rule
free from disguise There is more to
| these Bell measures than the average
individual at this distance will find it
| convenient 10 comprehend. owing TO
their extreme audacity A legalized
misrepresentation of the finance con
trolling powers of the common coun-
Gil is only one of the audacious
schemes Another is 20 enable the
mayor-or king-to name a second
police Judge which can he for no
ether purpose than To have one who
will be the Keeper OF the king
conscience" Next. in disguised order.
there comes bill knocking out the
$4,000 limit OF taxation against the
city for a particular sewer or drain
assessment. where the expense exceeds
the benefits 20 the assessable prop
erty-msking an unlimited amount
payable from the general fund with
out the formality of an appropriation.
Never in the history OF the munich
pal legislation or the state has so
much nerve been exhibited on the
part OF any one man. 20 enlarge his
grasp upon power. and because a few
| senators have seen III To- oppose such
usurpation of power. they are 60 be
disciplined; the whole state, If you
please. is 20 be disciplined.
This is done. we assume. 10 apprise
the members OF the lower house as
20 what viii happen 10 them at the
hands Of the state organization, II
\ the Bell bills passed by the senate. do
not go through down there Maybe