South Bend news-times., 1918-05-29

'Nf'' AL Ht ~ Af-l ~ FANElfF AT Al@ A14l
cash value or upon the same aver
age basis. Yet no sooner had they
defeated the excise tax bin than the
same forces were brought 10 bear
a gainst the measures to give the
state board OF tax commissioner
power 20 appoint the local assessors
and 10 bring PUBLIC service corpora
tions under the Jurisdiction of the
tax board and they We're defeated in
like manner.
B on all these bills the votes were
divided or partisan lines. enough or
+ the republican senators joining with
the democrats TO defeat the meas
ures. YET none OF them were par
tisan in any sense OF that term. Two
OF them were recommended 10y a
democratic board OF state tax COM
/ m issioners. by A commission ap-
pointed by Coy. Ralston and ap-
proved by him. They are absolutely
. essential TO any fair and intelligent
administration OF our tax laws and
should be enacted into law unless
We are 10 continue our present un-
fair and grossly unjust and discrim-
inatorv tax methods.
CONFIRMATION BILL.
We have in Indiana many sepa-
rate boards. commissions and offices
that should be consolidated under
one responsible head I recommend
/ the passage or a bill creating a con-
/ servation commission made up OF
four nOn-salaried mem bers not more
than two members ~ belong 10 any
one political party. with authority 10
appOint a director Of conservation TO
take over the work Of the state
board OF forestry, state park board.
state entomOlOgist. state geoiogist.
fish and game commission and the
veterinary department All having
10 do with the conservation Of the
material and animal resources of the
state
OIL INSPECTION.
The people of Indiana were prom
ised that the office or oil Inspector
with its sixty-five deputies i'm this
state, should be abolished and that
the inspection OF oil should he trans
ferred 70 the state board Of health
and carried on by the trained ex-
perts then i'm the employ of the state.
thus abolishing these useless Offices
and taking this important service out
of politics.
The bill passed the house. The
solid democratic vote in the senate.
together With that Of one Of the
senators from Lake county, was suf-
ficient to defeat it, No claim was
made that the bill was not i'm the
public interest. 40 one questioned
but it would save the taxpayers OF
this state large sum of money. vet
for the admitted purpose Of preserv-
ing these Jobs for lot of democratic
politicians. the senate defeated the
bill.
Acting under a previous law. a
republican oil Inspector. with a full
corps Of deputies, was appointed tC
succeed him. The question Of the
governors right 10 make this ap-
pOintment is now pending before the
supreme court and il would be high
ly improper for me to make any
comment thereon IL is enough "a
say that I have seen no reason 10
Ichane my opinion as 10 what should
be done in the interest OF the state
and the recommendation will he re-
newed at the next session Of the gen
Ieral assenlbly
EXTRA SESSION.
At the beginning of this war II
was thought for a time that il would
he necessary to call a special session
OF the general assembly in order
that the state might meet the emef-
> gencies growing out of the war
Ample precedent was found for this
in the fact that Gov. Morton during
the civil war called a special ses--
sion Of the general assent bly, imme-
diately after the beginning Of hos
tilities in order that the state might
ne prepared through proper legiela-
tion to play its full part in that great
contest. In addition 20 that forty
four Of the forty-eight states Of the
union since the beginning Of the
present war, have held special ses-
sions in order 10 pass Legislation
made necessary 10y the occurrence o-
the war
Immediately after the declara tior
/ OF war conference was held with
s the leaders Of both sides OF the gen
eral assembly and after going ovel
the entire situation an agreemen
= was reached whereby We felt free tC
. proceed with the war activities o
the state without legislative author
D. .lty and depend upon the general as
! sembly 70 ratify our action
LABOR.
, The patriotic support OF the wa
by Ia Dor entities il 10 expect fau
, and timely consideration in an,
3 comprehensive plan after the return
Of peace
The trades unions leadership O.
b the country deserves the highes
, praise for its unqualified loyalty p
j this time. its clear discernment o.
d the national purposes and aims ano
its absolute refusal 20 tolerate the
propaganda which sought To inter
J fere with war production in our fac
tories and workshops. While wages
, especially fin the skilled and orga niz
p ed trades. have risen 70 a large ex
{ tent il is by no means certain the1
T have risen SO as 20 compensate TO
j the enormous increase in the cos
, OF the necessities Of life
81 There has been little or no dis