The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-02-17

Tax Law Revision, Road Law,
Registration and Primary
Changes Yet to be Accom-
pished by Assembly.
NO APPROPRIATIONS
nv Associated Press.1

(3y Associated Press.D
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 17.-Three
weeks-nineteen working days-re-
main for the seventy-first Indiana gen.
eral assembly to thrash out a new tax
law, create a new highway commits
sion, revise the law for the registra-
ton of voters, rearrange the primary
election system, II any of those things
are to be done, approve or disapprove
much other pending legislation and at
tend to the innumerable details OF
routine work
Majority leaders of the upper house
expressed DOUBT as to whether this
work can be completed in the pre-
ecribed time. Adjournment will be
taken on the night of Monday. March
10, and the appropriation bill to care
for the state institutions and state Of
hces has not yet ben introduced.
1t Is the plan, expressed today. to
clear the slate of as many important
matters as possible during the coming
week, leaving the less important legts-
lation in the background for the time.
Much legislation was approved and
transmitted to the house last week.
One bill disposed of was the admins
tration measure for placing the inspec-
.tion OF oil under the food and drug
commissioner after Sept, 80 next.
A joint resolution, advocated by
Governor Goodrich, also disposed OF,
would amend the constitution to make
the once OF state superintendent OF
public instruction appointive instead
OF elective. Two bills eliminating the
teaching Of German from the curr1cu-
NJ (0t
passed the senate, which now awaits
receipt Of the lower house bill apply
ing the same conditions to private and
parochial schools.
Registration Law.
With the tax reform bill and the
highway commission measure still In
the house, the most importAuk bills
pending in the senate probably are
those relating to the registration OF
voters. the primary elections, the sun
day motion picture bin ana the KIM
mel house bill designed to place the
inspection Of oil in the hands OF repub-
lican workers until Sept. 30.
The. Kimmel bill is ready for fnal
action, and although It has been de-
nounced by its opponents as meas
ure for political plunder." Senator
Negley says the Republicans will in
sist on passage.
Senator McCray. sponsor Of the bill
legalizing Sunday motion picture
shows, said he intends to call it for
second reading tomorrow. AS amend
ed by the committee the bill provides
that motion picture shows cannot be
operated on Sundays where they now
do not open on that day, unless the
city governing body and the mayor
should give consent. Senator Neg
ley has another amendment to pro-
pose placing censorship under con-
troll OF city school superintendents.
Considers Three Bills.
The committee on elections Is con-
sidering three bills repeating the pres
ent registration law, and another re-
pealing the primary election law. The
Masters bill repeating the registra-
tion law without submitting a substi-
tute has ben reported favorably. Sen
stor Dobyns, chairman. favors the
Rats proposal to conduct registra-
tion through township assessors. rath-
er than the Alldredge of the Furnas
bills. The Alldredge bill provides for
a system Of registration to be con-
Quoted along the lines Of the selective
service, and the Furnas bill proposes
to register voters through township
trustees.
Senators Beardsley and VanAuken
are sponsors for the primary election
bill, which provides for primary cleo
tions Of delegates to city, county, dis
trict and state conventions, at which
party candidates would be selected for
Offices. The committee has not yet
considered this measure, but members
generally have expressed the opinion
that some change must be made in the
present system.
House Delays Action.
Thus far the disposition manifest
ed by the house has been to consider
the matters Of lesser importance at
great length and to spend less time
On questions involved in the more M
portant measures pending. The time
spent in debate Of some measures Of
no wide interest has caused older
members in experience to voice disap-
proval at what they say is time and
money wasted.
Because so much work remains to
be done on the program, members are
expecting the leaders to take the bit
in their teeth" and press consideration
of the more vital questions when the
house reconvenes at Q o'clock Monday
theafternoon. Shortly after conven-
ing the house will dispose of the meas
ure providing for the creation of a
state department of banking. The
building and loan associations through
out the state are opposed to the bill
because 1t would brin these insti-
tutions under the management Of a
director, whom they expect will be
q banker.
Tax Bill 10 Up.
The tax bill still remains the big
question at issue. The printed bill
contains 200 pages and 1t has been on
he desks Of members for week with
Z out being considered on second read