South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-19
THE GOVERNORS OIL INSPECTION
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II may not have tasted so very sweet, but it was
good wholesome food that Democratic Leader gilbert
son served the republicans i'm the senate Wednesday in
discussion OF the administration oil inspection misap-
preparation BILL Gov. Goodrich during his campaign,
had great deal to say ne would abolish the
oil inspection department the state and s25.OOO
year TO the taxpayers this along with the failure
of the democrats expose his have had
considerable do with his election 1t is good Of the
governor attempted through the legislature to
carry out his promise is just well too that
the democrats finally awoke to the desirabity of
forcing "Hizzexzelenzy" absorb some Of his own
hypocrisy.
To begin with the oil inspection department is re-
publican creation session sod democratic
as the republicans pretended besides it has
the taxpayers of the state cent unless it
be indirectly by small inspection fee
paid by the Standard oil Co. to the price of oil-an
average about haf-cent per gallon. Onehalf this
fee goes to the inspector the other half the
state states share aggregatng approximately $780,
last year has therefore. been burden TO
taxpayers generally but these latter days almost
exclusively. if indirect be considered. a
small burden only to automobile owners and users Of
gasoiine-the demand having considerably
diminished
But this is not the all the hypocrisy the repub
Iican contention bill before the republican leg
slature of 1905 to repeal inspection law. and
James p Goodrich. now governor backed by the whole
brace OF present republican leaders. right
there on the floor lighting the repeal No. it would
never do. The department hIled with republican
inspectors Gov. Goodrich merely wants to trans
fer its operations another department-the state
chemist Of the board of heaIth.so that he Gust
the present Iegislating their jobs
out Of existence, and creating others for of his
political faith.
But the real Joker" in the undertaking is yet to
come. There a suit pending the federal court at
indianapolis brought by the independent oil men of
state which bids fair result in the whole law
being out inspection. inspectors and all be-
OF the inspection fee being held inter
state commerce. from the that the aggregate
Of such fees become profit the state which they
are under this bill Gov. Goodrich wants to some
thing his henchmen by repeating the law,
setting up another pretense pre-
serving the public health safety reducing the
inspection fees to such will approximate
81 eliminate the proht in them. This would give him
several appointments which, under the present law,
he cannot have for couple years.
Now the governors idea isn't so bad and we we
are pattng the democrats heavily the back
defeating it, he nor
his floor leader possess the white sand
cor unaduterated nerve to step out in the open and
admit what they up For political and partisan
purposes they pretend the people OF Indi-
that they doing for economys sake; that
part Of some taX-reducing program; that they
lifting a wonderful burden from the shoulders OF
the masses-and putting IL the the state
chemist. etc--while matter OF fact they mere
~ anxious 20 their necks and increase 'Eizzex
zellenzy's" centralized powers.
The democrats in the senate handns Gov. Good
rich just about what he deserves Sometimes perhaps
end justihes the means this is not thos
times, especially when stop consider both ends
the one most emphasized by the governor being 81
lily meritorous.