Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-31
WAR MEMORIAL
, FOR STATE FAR
AWAY AS EVER
Refusal of House to Act on
Two Bills Leaves Senate
Measure Unfinished.
APPEALS MADE IN VAIN

The failure Of the house of representa-
tives to carry out the "genuemen's agree
ment" to pass county and city memorial
bills enabling indianapolis and Marion
county to definitely assume their part
Of the responsibilities in the erection Of
the Indiana world war memorial in In
dianapolis, today results in the probable
failure Of the erection Of war memorial
as desired by the American legion and
other organizations.
The senate. acting through committees,
attempted to ascertain, shortly before tina
final adjournment Of the special session
Of the legislature, If the house would
suspend constitutional rules and advance
the bills for passage.
The senate committee was informed
that the house had failed to suspend
rules to advance the bills to third read
ing.
The senator's then informed Lieut.. Gov.
Bush that it would be impossible to pass
the county and city memorial bills at
the special session OF the legislature.
The senate, blocked by the antagonistic
action of the lower house, then was forced
to abandon its announced plan Of pass
ing the two bills prior to adjournment
special session would not and could not
be satisfactorily completed unless these
two measures should pass
AS the situation stands today there arc
no acts under which Marion county and
the city Of indianapolis can provide for
bond issues to raise approximately
So, 600, 600 as their proposed shares of the
expense Of the war memorial.
9he only legislation enacted by the
special session is a so-called Inolana
world war memorial bill, which provides
for a tax levy sufficient to yield at least
Sc. OO0, 900 to be used for building the me
mortal. in addition 10 setting aside OF
the present sites Of the Indiana School
for the Blind and st. Clair park as the
location for this memorial.
WHAT SENATE BILL
MAKES POSSIBLE
This bill makes it possible for the
city of Indianapolis, if 1t should ever
acquire lands adjoining the memorial
site, to improve them to conform with
general architectural plans adopted by
the board OF trustees Of the Indiana
world war memorial
AS the world war memorial bill now
stands there ia not a single clause which
cOmpeIs Marion county and the city OF
Indianapolis to provide any funds, except
the levy which is required of all counties
and cities alike.
Although the bill as passed requires
the governor to appoint a board Of trus-
tees within limited time, there is moth
ing which compeIs the trustees to begin
the actual erection of the memorial at
a specified time. nor does it make any
provisions for supplying funds for the
removal and re-establishing Of the state
school for the blind
1t is feared that no positive steps will
be taken in the near future for the actual
carrying out Of the provisions Of the act
as applied to the state.
The unsatisfactory status OF the me-
mortal project was called TO the atten-
ton of Lieut.. Gov Bush after a com
mittee from the house waited upon the
senate and informed that body that the
house was ready to adjourn sine die II
the senate had no further business to
transact.
tt was then that Senator Elsner ia
quired as 10 what had become Of the
county and city memorial bills.
senator English demanded that com
mittes be appointed to investigate the
cause Of the failure Of the house to
bring the bills up for consideration.
Lieut. Gov. Bush appointed Senators
Mckinney ana DeckeE 10 CONFER Win
Speaker Eschbach.
1t was generally understood in the
senate that the county and city memorial
measures were to be introduced and
PASSED as compromise bills following the
passage Of the state memorial bill.
Are indianapolis and Marion county
trying to dodge the responsibility Of pay
ing taxes to erect this memorial?" queried
one Of the senators, TO which Senator
Elsner replied:
THAT might have some meaning now"
MOTION FAILS ON
SECOND ATTEMPT.
Shortly after the conference Of the two
senator's with Spea ker Eschbach a motion
was made by Representative Giyan that
the constitutional rules be suspended, In
order that the city bill, No. $40. could
lie brought TO A passage vote before ad-
jOurnment
Representative Glvan made a short
speech in defense Of the bill. asking the
question, "Wnl you permit Indianapolis
to honor the men who fought In the re-
cent war?
The roll was taken and the constitu-
tiOnal rules failed to be suspended at
the second attempt to bring it to a point
where passage could be voted on.
The vote WIS GO ayes to noes.