The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-12
Amendment
TO INDIANA
DRY" BILL
MODERATED
More Severe Penalty for Vio-
lation of Present Prohibi-
ton Only Phase Of Proposed
Amendment.
GERMAN BILL THURSDAY
(By Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 12-Changes
to the proposed amendment to the
statewide prohibition law decided
upon in the house of the Indiana gen.
eral assembly today include permis-
sion for persons to make their own
of whiskey and right of bail given
persons arrested under the law.
About the only changes in the pres
ent law the amendments will make
penalties more severe for violation of
its provision, and providing that drug
gists may sell only pure grain alcohol.
| The bill proposing the amendment
to the prohibition law was passed to
engrossment before the changes to
permit home making of wine were
agreed on. An effort to kill the bill
by indefinite postponement failed.
| Among the 33 members voting
against further consideration of the
bill was Representative LaFuze of
Wayne and Union counties.
| Wright is Active
| Representative Wright was very
active in the interests of his bill and
soliciting support of members caused
Representative Kimmel to ask rul-
ing by Speaker Eschbach whether a
member cannot vote his sentiment on
any measure without the author of
any measure soliciting him. The
speaker said the members had such a
privilege.
The minimum penalty provided in
the bill is fine of $100 and SEN
tence of 30 days to the state penal
farm. The emergency clause of the
measure remains intact, and if the
bill is passed by the legislature and
signed by the governor it will become
a law at once.
The session Of the house of the In
diana general assembly today was
punctuated by dramatic incidents. was
featured by the answer which Repre-
sentative Charles A. Johnson Of Gas
City, made to the attack on him last
night by representatives including
men and women, of organized labor;
declaration by Speaker Echbach that
he alone is responsible for blocking
progress on anti-German legislation;
passage after bitter fight of the
Phelps measure, provided for interur-
ban stations and cars to be kept in a
sanitary and clean condition; the call
ing of a conference for 2 o'clock of
Republican members of the house, and
the introduction of three new bills,
one of which provides for increasing
the per diem pay of members of the
| legislature from SIS to $40.
Discuss Labor Measure.
| Representative Mckinley, of Mum
Gle, author of the bill providing for
| the eight-hour day for women workers
when the session was opened at 8
o'clock this morning, addressed the
house in regard to the fairness Of
Representative Johnson, chairman of
the house committee on rights and
privileges toward organized labor. He
said that he believed the chairman
had been fair in the task and had
acted wisely last night in adjourning
the hearing of the eight hour bill at
the expiration of the time limit set
for the hearing. In doing so Mr..
Johnson denied Charles Fox, presi-
dent of the state federation Of labor
the right to be heard on the bill,
which is one of four desired by the
federation to be enacted into law. Mr..
Fox and other labor leaders, including
a large delegation of women, sur
rounded the chairman and denounced
his action
/ After Representative Abrams, a
member of the committee, had de-
clared he believed Mr.. Johnson to be
"the fairest and squarest chairman of
house committees of the house." and
that he should be absolved of all
responsibilities for the unfortunate
occurrence last night" Mr. Johnson
said that it was an unfortunate affair,
due to misunderstanding.
Speaker Eschbach, announcing that
he desired that every one interested
| in the proposed anti-German language
legislation understood the situation
with regard to the measures pending
in the house and senate, said that he
assumed all responsibility for the de-
lay in passage of any of the bills.
Speaking on the question of his own
loyalty, the speaker declared that he
wanted German bill that will not
be inconsistent with other statutes
and you can tell whomever you like"
He said that the Negley measure pass
ed by the senate providing for the re-
peal of the law of 1869 whereby upon
sufficient petition patrons could cause
German language to be used in any
school, would be presented in the
house tomorrow by the committee on
education. He said he will ask to in
spect this bill and others to see that
there is no conflict which later might
defeat the purpose of the proposed leg
islation. Amendments likely will be
made to incorporate in the bill pro-
visions that no foreign languages be
taught in the elementary schools
public. private or parochial
y1,;1
admit that the purpose of the confer
ence this afternoon is to consider the
German bill, Representative johnson,
caucus chairman, said the subject
might be discussed. He said the tax
and the road measure might also be
considered. The purpose of the con-
ference leaders said, is to have a gen.
eral understanding on legislation
pending consideration.
[Continued On Page EIeven.1