South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-26
PROHIBITION
Law FIGHT
NEXT WEEK
Two Subjects Only Have Been
Disposed of This Session,
House Sent Ten Bills
But Received None.
Press Service:

Associated Press Service:
- INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 25.-l
When the Indiana legislature is re-
convened Monday Afternoon, Speaker
Eschbach will have about 40 house
measures to hand down on passage.
Only few of these however, are of
wide interest. In the senate the num-
Der of bills ready for final action
by that body is much smaller.
So far during the session only two
subjects have been disposed Ora
tification of the federal prohibition
amendment and appropriation of
100000 TO defray the expenses of
the session. The house has passed
on to the senate 10 other measures
but has not received any from that
body. Most important of these are
the Johnson measure giving presi-
Dental suffrage 10 women citizens
and the Lowe bill to repeal the law
whereby any foreign language could
be used in giving instruction in
schools of the state.
Awaiting the action Of the house
are the measures providing for crea-
ton OF state department OF oil in
spection: changing the qualifications
for becoming registered pharma-
cists; licensing public weighing and
vending machines; making the office
of attorney general appointive. and
two pertaining to policemen's pen
sions, one of which doubles the pres
ent tax levy TO two-tenths Of a mill
on the 500 assessed valuation ard
the other making the law apply TO
third and fourth class cities as we'll
as to the second class cities.
Viewing the work Of the last two
weeks from the standpoint of the
measures postponed indefinitely
leaders predict nothing but conser-
vative legislation. They point TO
some of the bills. which have been
indefinitely postponed, in support Of
/ this conclusion. Among these are
those which provided for non~par-
tisan election OF judges; for requir-
/ ing German and other foreign made
goods to be stamped TO show the
source of its manufacture or pro-
duction; for establishing the cumu-
I lative method of electing directors
by stockholders of all excepting mu-
nicipal corporations, and for burial
/ OF dead By persons other than I'M
dertakers, who are licensed en-
/ balmers
Prohibition Law Next.
/ Next week the fight is expected TO
I be renewed 10 strengthen the prohi-
bition law. The public morals COM
mittee of the house probably will
again report the Wright amend
ments. changed materially from
I their provisions as introduced Mem
/ bers of the committee said today
that it virtually has been decided
not TO ask the house to pass a bill
which would define liquors. contain
\ ing one-half percent or less OF al
cohol as intoxicating. The commit
/ tee also will strike out Of the bill.
/ members said, provisions whereby
\ possession of empty bottles which
\ once contained whisky. wine or beer,
would be prima facie evidence of a
violation
The committee will recommend.
/ however. thEt the law be amended
70 include the more severe penalties.
as proposed by the Wright measure
by which IL is hoped 10 make viola
ton Of the present law less general
than il is said 10 be now in different
cities Of the state. No fight Will be
made against strengthening the law
In this particular. said representa-
tives who are avowedly wet"
Every violator who is convicted
would have 10 serve so days or
longer at the state penal farm. and
in event OF a third conviction would
have 10 spend from six months 10
two years in the state prison by the
proposed amendment. The present
law provides for sentencing viola
tors upon conviction TO county iails.
Opposition 10 strengthening the law
as concerns sales OF intoxicants by
druggists has not been openly made.
Drive Near Beer Out
The bin as introduced had no
/