The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-20
BILL TAKES
JUDGES OUT
OF POLITICS
Proposed Measure in Indiana
Assembly Provides Naming
of Candidates on Petition OF
Voters.
SPEECHES ABOLISHED
(By Associated Press)

lNDiANAPOLlS, Jan. 20.-Removal
of all judges from the influence of
politics is sought by bill, framed by
the State Bar association, and intro
duced today in the state legislature,
by Representative Benedic BY it's
terms, no nominee for Judge would be-
permitted to be identified with any
political party or organization at the
time he is candidate.
Political nominations are done away
with by the bill, the candidates being
named on petition of voters, and to
promote non-partisan voting, it is pro-
vided that the judges shall be listed
on separate BALLOT. Their election
would be at the same time as the gen.
eral elections.
House AdIourns.
Introduction of the bill was the prin-
cipal development of the forenoon ses-
sion of both house or senate Little
business came before the senate. but
it met again in the afternoon, while
the house adjourned over until to-
morrow.
The house session also was jarked
by the Introduction of another anti
rent profiteering bill, a measure to
levy poll tax on women and a meas
ure to end the annual registration of
voters by providing that the last reg
istration would become a permanent
one.'
Two Exemptions
Mr.. Benedict, who presented the
judges non partisan election bill, said
that he introduced the measure at
the request of George Bachelor. chair
man of a state bar association, which
framd the measure. Every judge, ex-
cept those of city courts and justices
of the peace, would be within its pro-
visions.
Supreme and appellate court judges.
by a petition signed by not less than
500 voters in the state at large; but
circuit, superior, criminal, probate,
Juvenile and domestic relations court
judges would be named on the petit
tion signed by so voters of the county
or judicial district.
Make No Speeches
'No candidate shall make any
speech in support of any political par
ty," said a section of the bill, 'or in
any way advocate the election of any
political ticket when a candidate"
Representative Grayson introduced
the bill to make the 1921 registration
books the permanent vote of persons
entitled to vote. The mea sure was
regarded generally as carrying out
the recommendation of Governor Nc
Cray for the establishment of a per-
manent registration roll. but it is not
known that it is approved by the gov
ernor.
The object of Representative Gray
sons measure is to do away with the
expense of making new registration
records for each election.
Primary Fight.
Proponents and opponents OF the
state administration plan for abolish
ing the primary election law in Indiana
were lining up today for the opening
skirmish in the contest which will
finally be fought out in the General
assembly.
The two factions will establish con-
tact tonight when the Senate elections
committee will hold its first public
hearing on two bills-one favorable to
she primary election plan and the
other proposing it's elimination.
Toner Favors.
Retention of primary elections is
proposed in a bill presented by Sen
ator Alldredge, of Anderson, and
favored by E. G. Toner. defeated can
didate for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination.
Adjustment of the primary system
is proposed in a bill introduced by
Senator Beardsley, of Elkhart- Sen
ator Beardsley bill is reported to have
the approval of Governor McCray,
who has recommended to the assembly
that the primary law be stricken from
the statutes, at least in part.
Beveridae Speaks.
41I b.
champion of the primary law at TO-
nights committee hearing. Former L.
S. Senator Albert J. Beveridge, anoth-
er supporter of the primary system,
may be another speaker.
The administration forces are not
yet certain how much oratory they
will unloose at the committee hearing
in behalf of their stand. Some sena-
tors have indicated that the primary
proponents may be permitted to have
their field day while the opponents OF
the primary bide their time and de-
vote their energy to alignment of their
strength in the legislative chambers
Bill Survives .
The senate late yesterday refused to
kill Senator Steele's resolution call
ing for an investigation in Indiana OF
the so-called building trust The re-
solution had not yet been finally adopt
ed by the upper house. but 1t was
saved from early interment yester-
day when an attempt was made to kill
it as it came from the appropriations
committee without recommendation by
that committee as to it's disposition.
The house advanced toward final
enactment mortgage tax bill which it
lis estimated would add from $4,000,
OOO, 900 to $4,000, ,000, 900 to the taxable
~ CT 70