South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-02
SENATE PASSES
HIGHWAY BILL
House Measure Creates New
Commission and Senate
Bill Changes Unit.
Associated Press Service.

Associated Press Service:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March L.
The state senate today passed the
house bill creating new highway
commission and the senate bill max
ing counties instead Of townships
units Of taxation for road construc-
ton and Improvement within the
counties These measures were rush
ed through under suspension Of rules
TO get them out OF the way before
they could be crushed between the
tax reform and appropriations meas
ures next week.
After long and heated arguments
on amendments proposed 10 the
highway commission bill on second
reading, the measure was advanced
10 engrossment, the rules were sus-
pended and it was approved AZ TO 3.
Those voting against il were Sens
Brown, Decker, Humphreys and Ar
mold.
Shortly following this action, Sen
Nedjl moved that the county unit
bill be placed on passage and by a
vote Of 80 10 I the rules were sus-
pended and this measure also was
passed 30 to 4.
Bills Go To House.
Both bills now go TO the house
the highway bill for concurrence in
senate amendments and the county
unit bin for house approval. Al
tto,,-b 4t,o t,frbu.a., XIII yuoc nor
amended materially on the floor Of
the senate today, it was changed in
the committee on roads TO provide
that all auto taxes be turned into
the state fund, that the tax be 10
instead of . cents, that the commits
sion lay out a highway plan to be
approved by the governor before
April ], 1920, and that the commits
sion approve decisions Of the direc-
tor in purchase Of materials and
supplies and in other actions regu-
lating big expenditures of money. If
the house does not concur in these
amendments, the bill will be referr ID
to a conference committee of repre-
sentatives and senators.
Just before adjournment the Strod
bill placing prosecuting attorneys in
circuits having a population OF from
%. 900 to 1000 on a salary basis,
was passed by a vote of % 10 IL.
The salaries would range from 80 900
10 $4,000 OF which the state would
pay $1,000. Sen. Kline opposed the
bill because he said il was added to
the taxation of farmers.
Reconsider Vote.
Reconsidering the vote on Sen.
Beardsley's bill doubling the license
fee tax on passenger automobiles
and TRIPPING it on motor trucks, the
senate passed this measure by vote
of 26 TO 16, after IL had been amend
ed to exempt trailers weighing less
than 1000 pounds. The previous
vote on this was "a 70 90.
Other bills passed this afternoon
included:
BY Munton. providing for methods
of absent voters casting their ballots
in city elections; by Negley. author
izing the construction of a dam
across the Wabash river in Cass
county; by English, admitting sol
diers Of the present war to the board
OF control of the soldiers and sailors
monument; by Rats, reducing the
time limit for contesting wills from
three TO one year: by Furnas, au-
thorizing street railways TO increase,
reduce or modify terms and condi-
tons of capital stock or otherwise
amend their articles Of incorpora-
ton.
The senate adopted a concurrent
resolution introduced by Sen. Eng
I lish urging congress to pass the
pending bill providing for the estab-
lishment of discharged soldiers and
sailors on reclaimed swamp lands.