South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-15
FIRST SK|RM|SH
COMES TONIGHT
Prohibition Bill to Come Up
For Hearing Before Public
Morals Committee.

INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. 15.--Public
hearings on the more important
subjects before the general assembly
will begin this week. The public
morals committee Of the house of
representatives. TO which was re
ferred the statewide prohibition
bill introduced Friday by Rep
Frank +. Wright of Randolph cOun
" will pass upon the question
without having a public hearing on
the BILL as has been petitioned at
an open meeting of the committee
Monday night The Indiana Dry
federation and others interested for
and against statutory prohibition
are expected 10 be present in force.
They will be the first 10 open dis
cussiOns of the measure and its de-
velopments are expected to be sig
nificant Of the strength each side
will manifest in reference to the
bill.
other committees will arrange
for the consideration Of important
measures in open session during the
week These laws which have been
advocated during several sessions
past will come up again when Sen.
BeaTdsley arranges to hear the
merits and objections on the hoUs-
ing bill. advocated before his COM
mittee on public health. The land
lords and many sociological workers
of the state are taking an interest
in this measure and it's effect upon
the homes of the poor.
To Probe Elections.
Sen. Spaan expected 20 make an
investigation into the proposed
measure TO permit absent voters to
take part in primary elections.
This measure was suggested by the
experience of the Indiana militia.
which was on the Mexican border
at the time of the 1919 general cleo
ton, and as a consequence the
members were deprived of their
rights Of suffrage. The likelihood
Of fraud will be inquired into, Sen.
Spaan said. and the elections COM
mittee will endeavor TO make sure
that the integrity Of all the state
and local elections is secured before
a recommendation can be intro
duced. The fact that state author
ity would stop at the border makes
il imperative, the senator said, that
the elections be not thrown open to
the possibility OF corruption by
floaters from adjoining states, which
might be subject to prosecution only
in case the federal government was
concerned in the election.
Suffrage Bill Awaited.
Probably the most important
measure of general interest that is
still i'm the process of incubation is
that to enfranchise the women OF
the state. This document, which
has the support of the Federated
Women's clubs of the state. is said
TO call for "nine-tenths full suff-
rage" II is expected 10 be brief.
convey federal, state and local
rights and privilege with male
voters except as to constitutional
amendments but including the
right to pass upon the question OF
the ratification of the proposed new
constitution for Indiana.
The administration bills that are
Yet 10 make their appearance in
clude those designed 10 vest great
er responsibility in the chief execu-
tive in the expenditure of public
moneys: the consolidation of the
state offices. the creation of con-
servation commission. the separa-
ton of the banking department
from the Office of auditor of state;
imposition Of excise and special
taxes 10 the relief Of the general
levy: the budget system and tax re-
form.