Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-06
ASSEMBLY GAG
PLAN ILLEGAL,
BUSH ASSERTS
Says No One Can Limit Acts
of Legislature Under In
diana Constitution.
FAVORs EXTRA SESSION

special session of the Indiana legisla-
ture to consideration of the ratification
Of woman suffrage is in direct violation
of the constitution of Indiana and for
that reason there can be no gentle
mems agreement" to that eject in the
opinion of Lieut.. Gov. Edgar D. Bush.
who win preside over the senate in event
the call is issued.
In a formal statement concerning the
proposal Of Gov. Goodrich that the Fran
chise league gag the legislature pre-
yiously to the issuance of a call for Q
special session, Mr.. Bush points out what
he terms the plain intent of the makers
of the constitution to define the power Of
the legislature over its own sessions.
He concludes his statement with the as
sertion that he is in favor of special
session, but says:
1--WE must hold sacred the constitution
of our state if we expect our Legislative
acts to inspire obedience"
FAvORS CALLING
SPECIAL SESSION.
The statement by M. Bush is as fol-
lows:
81 am heartily in favor Of calling
special session of the general assembly
for the purpose Of ratifying the federal
suffrage amendment and for the purpose
of passing other much needed legislation
-noticeably the reconstruction Of the
I
tax law.
81 am in favor Of proceeding in this
matter in strict compliance with the
! organic law Of the state, the constitution,
and in strict compliance with our oath Of
| office and with the spirit OF our insti-
buttons. The legislative branch OF our
government is the creature Of the sover-
! eign viii of the people expressed
/ through the constitution. It owes
\ olIoo,ia moo IN 3ha manila and rnuef Tnena-
/ sariIy conform to the rules laid down
4 In the constitution on which It derives
I it's right to exist. No external power
/ has the right under the constitution 20
| substitute its will for the Will Of the
| people expressed in the constitution
which expressly describes and limits
! powers Of the three departments Of the
| government-the Legislative, the sIec0s
1 tive and the Judicial.
/ CAN NOT LIMIT
/ ASSEMBLY ACTS.
7 ARTICLE 4. Section 9 of the constitution.
says;
- If in the opinion of the governor tha
public welfare should require It he may
7 at any time by proclamation call q
special session
"In my opinion, according to the cons
stitution, executive authority ceases IS
/ this point and legislative authority be-
/ gins. And no authority exists under the
constitution, not even by the individual
I members OF the legislature themselves,
/ to say until the legislature has assem-
/ bled that the legislature shall meet and
consider one question and then adjourn.
/ "a gentlemen's agreement TO do so
/ could hardly be considered a gentlemen's
/ agreement If It expressly violates the
! letter and spirit Of the constitution, and
/ if such agreement nullifes the oath Of
/ every member of the assembly who has
sworn to support the constitution.
! "Article 4, Section 10 Of the constitu-
4 ton says: sDach house when assembled
! mote the words. when assernbled) shall
determine It's rules Of procedure and set
I upon its own adjournment
BILLS VETOED
TO BE RETURNED.
article 5, Section IA, expressly pro-
vides that all bills left over from the
previous session not signed by the gov
ernor shall be fled with his objections
( with the secretary Of state. who shah
lay the same before the general assem-
bly, at the next session in like manner
as If it had been returned by the gov
ernor.'
1.-THE makers Of our constitution surely
meant that this and the foregoing pro-
visions should be enforced. I think the
members of the general assembly and
the secretary of state and myself as
presiding officer Of the senate. meant to
carry out the 2irit and letter OF the
constitution -en we took the oath to
support it,
"0hile I am heartily in favor OF 4
special session and the ratification of
the federal amendment insist that we
proceed according to the rule laid down
in the fundamental organic law Of this
great commonwealth-the constitution Of
the state Of Indiana.
I'VE must hold sacred the constitution
OF our state If we expect our Legislative
acts to inspire obedience"