The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-15
STATE NEEDS
DISCUSSED BY
LEGISLATORS
G. O. P. Members of General
Assembly and Governor
Elect Hold Conference in
Indianapolis.
WILL HASTEN ACTION
(By Associated Pre..l

tby associated PresSD
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec 15.-Problems
that the state legislature will have to
face at its session opening next month
were discussed here today at a meet
ing of Republican legislators with
Governor-elect McCray. The meeting,
called by the Republican state commit
tee, was expected to promote harmoni-
Gus action at the legislative session.
Members OF the legislature were
called upon by Governor-elect McCray
and others to carry out the partys
platform pledges at the session of the
legislature that opens next month.
Il want to see our party platform
pledges carried out" declared the
governor-elect. He urged the legislat-
ors to discard personal desires for
party harmony.
Let us go through the session as
one big family with the view of doing
what is best for Indiana" he said.
Need of Appropriations
Mr.. McCray said among the other
problems to come before the legisla-
ture would be the need of increased
appropriations for state institutions,
including the schools and state uni
versities. Building prgrams at some
institutions. he added, might not long
he urged that in granting some in
creased appropria tions that efforts be
made to curtail other expenditures.
I'VE must remember the Taxpayers
interests" he said. Let us chop and
reduce expenses wherever possible, so
a to increase where disaster may re-
suit if we do not grant some in
creases."
Wasmuth Speaks
Charm Wasmuth of the Republi-
can state committee also urged party
harmony during the session, declaring
that as soon as the house and the SEN
ate organization fights are settled.
with the election of speaker and presi-
dent pro TEN. that personal prefer
ence be cast aside "for party gain"
asserting "the people want few laws,
carefully and thoughtfully worked
out
Mrs. Julia Nelson, of Muncie, the
only woman member of the legisla-
ture, attended the conference. and
when she answered the roll call she
was applauded.
Gossip in hotel lobbies that came as
a forerunner to the conference was
devoted largely TO organization talk.
with several persons being named as
candidates for the House speakership
and for presidency protein of the
senate.
Favor Later Action.
Some party leaders were inclined TO
believe that the conference would not
attempt settlement at this time of the
elective officers. .rf either branch, leav-
irg this for the b : Il party conference
on the eve of the legislative session.
Practically all of the Republican
members were present when the con-
ference began, many having arrived
last night as an advance guard of to-
days gathering. Many of them said
they had no new bills to introduce,
but the general informal discussion
of the majority seemed to indicate the
expectation that taxation, the budget,
change in the state primary law, and
adoption of the city manager or COM
mission form of municipal government
would be amoEg the leading measures.
Appropriation Bills.
Considerable talk also was heard re-
garding early enactment of appro-
priation bills to care for state institu-
tions, leaving the general apppropria-
ton bills for later consideration. Mem
bers of the legislative visiting commit
tee, now considering the needs of the
institutions, were expected to discuss
this question at the conference.
Changes in the rules of both house
and senate also were likely to come
before the conference, but so many
subjects were mentioned in the pre-
conference gossip that it seems likely
that all could not be considered at a
one-day gathering.