South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-21
Monkey Wrench in the
Machinery Stops Plan
to Call Special Session

OF politicians may yet control the
governor and avoid a special ses-
sion.
Undoubtedly there would be plen-
y OF opportunity for the democrats
10 make the republicans sorry they
ever called a special session. but
there is no assurance that the demo-
Gratis would take advantage OF these
opportunities. 1t would all depend
on the character Of legislation pro
posed by the republicans. The dem
ocrats would go into the session
without a legislative program OF
their own. They are not asking any
thing This would leave il I'D TO
the republicans 10 initiate all OF the
legislation Of the session. But the
republicans could not reasona bly, ex-
pect the democratic members to lie
still and say nothing if the republi-
cans should try TO shoot something
through the legislature that did not
look right and which might not be
entirely satisfactory to the demo-
Gratis. Republicans might undertake
70 play just a little politics They
have been known to do such things
in the past
For instance, the republicans
would. of course. propose a bill TO
iegalize all OF the expenditures that
have been made by the state council
Of defense. That body has spent
something like 10000 and has
done great amount OF good work
But the republicans could not hope
TO see the democrats agree to such
a legalizing act with their eyes
closed and without making inquiry
TO ascertain what the 100000 was
spent for. They probably would ask
Tor an accounting, to see whether
there is any foundation for the sto-
ries that have been heard to the eff
feet that a certain amount OF poll
tics has been played under the
cover of the state council OF de-
Tense. OF course. if everything is all
right there and il a clear account
ing would show that all Of these
stories about politics are wholly un-
founded. then the republicans would
have nothing TO lose for the demo-
Gratis could not make any political
capital out of it.
But il is extremely probable that
the democratic members would in
sist on a show down so they might
judge for themselves whether they
wished to vote to legalize the $780,
COO of expenditure.
If no special session is called. il
is believed that it will be more on
that account than any other one
thing. Some OF the republican lead
ers realize that there Is danger of
the development of a political scrap
over the state council Of defense
and they do not want it.
1t has been proposed also that
the legislature legalize the creation
of county councils Of defense. au-
thorize county councils to make ap-
preparations to pay :heir expenses
and legalize expenditures already
made by them. II is not likely that
there would be any opposition to
such a bill. But Atty. Gen. STAINS
bury has given an opinion to Gilbert
II. Hendren. chief Of the state board
OF accounts. in which he holds that
county councils already have power
10 appropriate money for the ex-
penses OF county councils OF de-
Tense. and Hendren has pre-
pared a schedule showing the
approximate amount OF money
that could legally be spent bv
the county council Of defense In each
county OF the state. based on the
population and wealth Of each in
dividual county. Thus. one Of the
reasons advanced for the calling OF
the special session has been elimi-
mated. The opinion OF the attorney
general is law until IT is upset by
the courts.
Il Is known that some Of the re-