South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-29
CAN LEGISLATORS
BE DELEGATES?
Interesting Point is Raised as
Convention Bill NearS
Final Action.

News Times Special Service:
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 29. - With
the approach of final action on the
bill providing for a constitutional
convention in Indiana, which has
been passed by the house of rep
resentatives and is now in the hands
of the senate committee on judiciary
Z. an interesting and important
question has arisen among the mem
bers of the general assembly. 1t is,
have the members of this assembly
the right TO sit as delegates in such
convention?
At the request of several mem bers
of the senate, Sen. Abram Simmons
of Adams. Wells and BlackfOrd
counties, recognized as one of the
leading constitutional lawyers in the
upper chamber. is making an ex-
animation of the law and will sub
nit finding next week. II is said
that his finding may have import
ant bearing on the attitude of the
senators. several inclining toward
support of the bill fer cOnVen-
ton. providing they themselves are
not to be debarred from a chance
70 participate in its deliberations.
Denying that this is altogether a sell
fish attitude toward the measure,
the senators concerned with the
question point out that there can be
no question of the desirability Of
having members Of the present ses-
sion included in the task Of pre-
pairing a new basic law for the state.
They assert that experience in a leg
islative body would be OF inestima-
bic value in a constitutional con-
VentiOn.
Believe They Have Right.
off hand opinions given by sew
eral senators are 70 the effect that
the eligibility of assemolymen should
be guaranteed in the bin making
the convention call. They believe
that their present lack Of right 10
places as delegates 10 a constitution
al convention if such is the case. Is
merely a statutory inhibition that
can be corrected by inserting a sec
ton in the law expressly fixing their
eligibility. However. should Sen.
Simmons finding 10 the effect that
the constitution itself prohibits them
as state officers from holding any
Office Of trust or profit created. in
part. by themselves, they will like
~ accept the decision.
I'm connection with the biH 10 en-
franchise women there have been
, many INQUIRIES. particularly in the
! house Of representatives. because OF
the delayed action by the commit
/ tees
Dry Bill First. say Women.
The senate. too. is awaiting a re-
port from its committee, but sen.
Dobyns. chairman Of the committee
on rights and privileges, having the
! bill under consideration, said he has
been acting in accordance with the
| expressed wishes Of the steering
committee from the Indiana FEEDER
/ ated Women's clubs He said hs
| had arranged a date for a public
| hearing. at their request which wa,
postponed when they asked such ace
ton. He said that later they agree,
10 notify him when they wished q
appear before the committee, an'
that he is still waiting word % tina
effect II is said the women ar
. willing 20 sacrifice. ln measure
their desires for the ballot for IN
benefit OF the sake OF the state wild
prohibition bill IL is understOO
5 that they viii stand back until ther
b has been lineup on the bin
20 time IS deemed propitious. viii er
D ( eudeavor To secure the right OF Oh
women OF the state 10 vote ou a