South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-19
GOODRICH FORCES
CONTROL SESSION
Joker in Bill Exempts Bonds
From Taxation Held
by Governor.


INDIANAPOLIS, July 1S.-The
first week of the special session Of
the Indiana legislature dispelled any
doubts that Gov. Goodrich was in
control OF the republican state ma
chine. From the time the law
makers took their seats Monday af-
ternoon, unit! the weeks work was
ended, there was no time that the
hand of Goodrichism was not evil
dent and one Of the anomalies pre-
sented was the manner in which re-
publican leaders from Sen. Watson
on down played the governors
game in stemming anything that in
dicated a revolt against the rub
er stamp" program.
Gov. Goodrich. in his message. was
forced to admit that the best legis-
lature in fifty years had made nu-
merous mistakes and he made tacit
admission that he had summoned
the extra session in order to patch
up the deficient administration rec
ORD. He admitted that the tax law,
which he and the republican organi-
zation had praised, was a failure,
and he asked the assembly TO legal
ize the horizontal increases that had
been declared in valid by the SUI
preme court.
Farmers Oppose Measurec.
Probably no other feature of the
war tax law had been as unpopular
as the arbitrary elevation of assess
ments by the state board OF tax COM
missioners and II looked for a time
as If the governor would have
trouble in pushing through his
measure. The Indiana Federation
of Farmers took a decided stand
against il. and things loked dark,
for many IF The legislators hailed
from the agricultural districts.
Powerful aid, however, came at
the beckOn of Goodrich in the per
son of Warren T. McCray, republi-
can nominee for governor. McCray
coincided with the governors views
and was Instrumental in lining up
the lawmakers for the measure. Two
Of his campaign managers. Lawrence
Lyons of Brook and Fred ID. Robin
son of indianapolis, worked openly
about the state house in behalf of
the legaliZation measure and many
important conferences are said 10
haV been held in the candidates
headquarters in tire ClaypoOl hotel.
AS a result the oill went through
the house with a republican majori-
". the democrats refusing TO sane
tion the all too apparent attempt 10
override the high court.
Is $4,000 900 Session.
GOodrichs economy plea. which
he uttered over the state during his
introduction Of administration bills
campaign was badly shattered by the
calling for appropriations OF nearly
s. 900. 600. In fact the session is be-
inC referred 10 as the two-million
assem- bly, and il had become evident
that the finances demanded will all
but deplete the treasury before the
year is out.
The democrats came 10 the rescue
OF ,hC session when IL was struggling
with eight different administration
bills designed 10 amend the election
and registration laws in order 10 pro-
vide for women voting and more
simplihed form OF registration. Evan
r. Stotsenburg. formerly democratic
state attorney general revised the
various bills into one comprehensive
measure, and IL was adopted.
Joint bills introduced by Sen. EG-
ward p. Elsner and J. L. ANby. dem
ocrats designed to make women
voters eligible 10 public Office and
jury service were killed without mer-
cy by the republicans because they
lacked merit at this time.
ENcmpts His own Bonds
An innocent looking clause in the
administration tax bill provides that
bonds held on sewage disposal plants
shall be nOu-taNab bic. It is now re-
called that the governor and some
OF his trusted lieutenants were in
strumental IN saddling a disposal
plant on the city OF Indianapolis
for $4,000 shortly after one OF the
stockholders had testified that II was
not worth more than $4,000.
Persons familiar with that deal.
which has been the subject Of much
adverse comment here ever since
I it was Consummated. are wondering
now IL the proviso eNempting those
\ bonds from taxation was not inserted
! for the benedt OF the administration
/ clique who are holding the securities.
/ session convened. IL - thought that
printed by the governor before the
| inasmuch as the bill was one of those
/ il was carefully planned and was in
( serted among number OF other