The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-07
BOTH HOUSES
OF ASSEMBLY
BUSY TODAY
Solons Settle Down to Routine
Work Canvas Vote on
State Officers at Joint
Session.
HARMONY PREVAILS

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. z. - Both
houses of the general assembly settled
down to routine work today, meeting
at 10 O'Clock and Immediately going
into joint session at which they can
vassed the vote on state officers At
the close OF the canvass, the legisla-
ture declared Warren T. McCray the
governor elect and Emmett Branch the
lieutenant governor elect. There was
no contest made on any officials.
Very little discussion entered into
the deliberations of the legislature
The repeated sentiment for doing
away with useless legislation and de-
voting the entire time of the session
to necessary measures was evident.
In both bodies harmony prevailed, and
the speed with whi ch resolutions were
disposed of indicated that the loss of
action on measures due to insufficient
time may be done away with at this
session.
Senate Meets Monday.
Following the joint session, which
was held in the house chamber, the
senate adjourned to its chamber and
then adjourned until 10 a. N. Monday.
at which time the new governor ami
lieutenant governor will be inaugur-
ated.
Outside of the chambers, work is
being speeded up to enable the bodies
to get down to real work next week
The committees on employees and
purchases of both houses met during
the day, and it was indicated that re-
ports will be made early next week
The visiting committee, named several
weeks ago. which has been making a
study of the needs of the various state
institutions, is working on its report,
which. it is hoped, will soon be
made.
Patronage is Cut.
Senate patronage in the state legis-
lature was cut almost two-thirds when
the committee selecting employees de-
cided to limit its helf to 1S instead of
the customary 45 persons. One office
usually employing six or seven per-
sons was abolished. Only perfunctory
sessions of the house and senate were
| held during the forenoon and after
laying plans for the Inauguration on
Monday of Warren T.McCray, ad-
journment was taken until that day.
In joint session lasting four minutes
the legislature canvassed the vote
electing Mr.. McCray as the chief exe,
cutive and Emmett Branch as Eeus
tenant Governor.
4No duuOuuCcmcuI Vi tue wOTh OF
the house patronage committee was
made today and indications were that
the number and personnel would go
over until next week. House leaders,
however, asserted that efforts were be-
ing made to reduce the patronage roll,
declaring that such action, with that
of the senate would form the first ex-
preston of adoption of an economy
policy.
Positions Abolished.
Committee decisions and selections
of courses are subject to a vote of
either branch of the legislature, but
leaders were confident that committee
actions would not be set aside
The positions abolished by the SEN
ate committee was that of assistant
journal clerk who formerly was to
transcribe the journal in long hand,
it later being copied into type. This
year the journal will be dictated d.
rectly to the stenographers. Few bills
We're being discussed in the corridors,
indicating that bizarre legislation will
be lacking. The majority of the men,
bers seem anxious to abide by the
request of the governor-elect, that ac-
ton be held to necessary matters.