Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-16
lotion thereof shah beNnned in any sum


introduced calls for the appointment of
a commission to investigate coal prices,
conditions and the like.
That commission would be appointed
by the governor
The Goodrich administration re-
lies on Attorney General Ele STAINS
bury to establish successfully the va
lidity of the Goodrich administration
plan, calling for the purchase Of a coal
mine as well as a commission plan to
regulate the price and distribution of all
coal in the state, either for domestic,
commercial or state use.
That the administration forces are des-
perate and totally unorganized to COM
bat the apparently organized opposi-
ton of a majority of the legislature to
a state owned coal mine Is obvious be-
cause Of a resolution introduced by
Representative John W. Winesburg OF
Wabash county, calling for the appear
ance of the attorney general before the
house or a committee of the house.
The Winesburg resolution reads as fol-
lows:
81 offer the following resolution and
move its adoption:
BE it resolved by the house Of req
resentatives, that the attorney general
is requested to appear before this
house, or any committee to be desig-
mated or appointed by the house, at such
time as may be arranged by the
speaker, to present such facts and in
formation as may be necessary to en-
able the general assembly TO determine
intelligently what legislation is neces-
sary to relieve the people of this state
of the intolerable coal situation"
The motion was adopted.
lznr fOll d.
iournment Of the house yesterday after
noon, said that he had not decided def
initely as to the appointment OF the
committee or the time Of the conference.
While Attorney General Stsnsbury did
not make any statement as to the pos
sibIe legislation which may follow. 1t is
understood that he has been giving con-
siderable thought to the subject since
the converting of the special session.
He has been working, in connection
with members Of his staff, on several
alternative measures which may be pre-
scented in case opposition to the bin for
the state-owned mine prove too strong
to permit its passage.
One scheme which may be pursued by
the Goodrich administration in case the
state ownership of mines project fails
is the establishment of a commission to
be operated much the same as the pub
lie service commission.
The duties OF such commission would
be TO fix the prices OF coal and issue
licenses and orders for its sale.
Efforts viii be made to discover a prec-
edent for such a movement.
Facing a coal situation which is more
acute than ever before in the history OF
the state, such action would be Justified,
it was pointed out by Assistant Attorney
General c. s. Lesh.
He said that he did not know what
plans or recommendations the attorney
general would make.
Sentiment in the lower house Is strong
~ against the passage of a bill establish
Ing a mine or mines owned and oper-
ated by the state, and other tactics prob
ably will be employed to relieve the state
Institutions Of the coal shortage.
one difficulty which probably win
arise in the discussion of q commission
to govern coal operations will be that
such commission would be practically
parallel to the public service commits
sion in its scope and power. and bills
have been introduced in both the house
and the senate for the adjustment of
that commission.
II the legislature authorizes the abol.
ashment Of the public service commission
q bill for the establishing OF a similar
body will likely meet as strong oppo-
SitiOn as the state ownership plan.
Members OF the house unanimously
passed the bill authorizing the county
Unit road law, with the original amend
ments, Immediately after the opening OF
the afternoon session at 2:25 o'clock yes
terday.
Two amendments proposed after the
second reading were thrown out
On motion TO suspend constitutional
rules to pass the bill, Representative
James A Craig Of johnson county cast
the only dissenting vote.
The vote on the passage Of the bin
stood 81 to O.
IN a sharp fight which preceded the
ousting OF the two amendments Repre-
sentative Smith Of Gibson county ac-
cused representative Benz Of Washing
ton and Crawford counties OF trying to
defeat the bill by introducing amend
ments which would kill the entire pro-
gram.
The bill as passed is practically iden-
teal with the amendments to the county
unit road law which were lost In the
enrolling room at the general session
Of the legislature.
LAW PROVIDES
FOR STREET WORK.
The new law provides for the amend
ment of ten sections of an act approved
March ID, 1919, which provides for the
establishment Of opening, widening. re-
pair. construction and maintenance of
highways, culverts and bridges through
out the county and upon county lines,
and the location, manner Of construction,
supervision and control.
Provisions are also made in the bill
for the Issuance Of county bonds for
payment Of all such improvements, and
the taking over of township roads by
the county.
Representative Noll of Marion county
submitted an amendment that no bonds
sold would be taxable.
Another amendment by Representative
Benz of Washington and Crawford
counties, provided that in addition to
being nom xable the bonds would bear
6 per cent interest.
Representative Smith declared that
Representative Benz's amendment to
Representative NolIs amendment would
defeat the bill entirely.
Representative Mendenhau of Hen
bricks county declared himself in favor
Of the county unit road law without
amendments.
He argued that amendments would
"muddle the BILL
MOTION TO SUSPEND
RULES DEFEATED.
Motions to suspend constitutional rules
were defeated in the discussion OF Bill
No. 545, following its reading when the
measure was returned to the house with
amendments by the committee on drain
age and dykes.
The bill provides for an additional tax
levy for the construction of the Burns
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