The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-20
GOODRICH
MEETS WITH
HIS ADVISORS
Coal Regulations and Home
Defense Are Real important
Subjects for Legislators
TINES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.

INDIANAPOLIS. IND, Aug. 20
Governor Goodrich says he will an
nounce Tuesday his decision as to
whether he will call a special session
OF the legislature 1t is quite general
" understood thar the call will be IS
sued. and that the session Will propaolS
begin some day next week
The Governor will hold conferences
today with some Of his close friends and
he will obtain their Views on the ques-
ton of what should be done.
If the session is called 1t is unoer-
stood that everything will be IN reeol-
ness. The important bills to be intro
duced will be ready in advance so tney
may be placed IN the hopper at once
The two really important subjects 1or
consideration will be coal regulation
and home defense. The bill for coal
regulation has been prepared by W. n
Thompson, Republican. and Charles Z
GOV Democrat, both prominent lawyers
of this city. and il is in the Governor ;
hands. The bill contains the following
provisions;
First-It provides for the creation OF
a state commission TO have supervision
Of the entire coal industry, including
second-under it small tax may be
levied on each ton of coal produced for
the purpose of providing funds TO ad-
minister the law.
Third-Each operating company must
take out a state license before II can do
business. Severe penalties are provided
for violations of the act. and the COM
mission would have authority TO revoke
the license and thereby terminate the
right Of the operating company to carry
on It's business.
Fourth-It would provide that the
operators would not be permitted 10
ship coal out of the state until the
needs of Indiana consumers were sup
Piled. In order to make this feature OF
the act effective the commission would
be authorized to levy a prohtbitive tax
on coal shipments outside the state.
LAWYERS who have examined the bill
believe IL would be constitutional, but
coal operators say 1t would be unconsti-
tuttonai because the state has no right
70 interfere with interstate business
It is believed that the legislature will
pass the bill if Governor Goodrich asks
that it be passed. There will be some
opposition from members who will IA
vor the coal operators. but they will be
few and they will not be strong enough
70 stop the progress Of the bill
Democratic leaders have warned
Democratic members Of the Legislature
that they must not stand in the way of
anv war LEGISLATION that the Governor
may ask for They reminded the Demo
cratic members that Republicans in
CONGRESS are standing by President
Wilson in all that he asks for, and that
the Democrats should take the same
course in Indiana.
The question of how to provide for
stats defense while the national guard
is in the federal service will be import
ant. Secretary Of War Baker has given
out a statement in which he says it is
UP to each state to provide for its own
protection against internal trouble. and
that the Government will keep its
hands of. except that it will give advice
and sympathetic assistance.
There there is need for some kind OF
a force TO maintain order within the
state is recognized, but under present
laws no additional military force can
be organized. Additional legislation is
REQUIRED. Plans have been made in
various parts of the state for the or
ganization of home guards, but they
One regiment CT Indiana national
guard was on duty guarding bridges,
factories and other places in the state
until il was called into federal service.
Almost Immediately after this force was
withdrawn million dollar FIRE occurred
in a munitions plant at Gary. and it is
believed to have been incendiary.
That the legislature will be asked to
arec+ a lau giving authority for the or
Sanization Of home guard force which
VIII take the place of the national
guard.
Some one has started a story to the
effect that an attempt will be made to
repeal the state wide prohibition law en-
acted BY the Legislature last winter, but
it is not believed that will be under
taken.
whether the Governor will call ex-
else tax law also remains question.