The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-07
By Frank j. Prince

Complete absence OF gubernatorial
domination and accomplishment
have marked the first half of the
seventy-fifth biennial session of the
Indiana Legislature, which began
Jans--7, and will run to March Z.
What little legislation has been
worked on has been accomplished by
log rolling" and back patting"
methods-the trading OF votes of
blocs and groups.
At the halfway mark today only
three bills have reached the Gov
ernor, the most important being the
creation of two new courts in Lake
County.
In the hotel and club lobbies.
where the great and near great are
wont to gather. the absence of DOM
ination from the Office of the Gov
ernor is the absorbing topic.
Governor Quiet
Legislators of previous biennials
comment freely on how the word
used to come to the leaders as to
what must and must not be done.
and wonder why Governor jackson
is keeping his hands off the situa.
ton.
With but two exceptions. most bf
the Democratic members of the
House have voted along with the
help me and I'll help you" gang
In their ranks, too, there has been
certain lack of coordination. ex-
cept on the Saunders investigating
resolution, which was handled in a
clean-cut manner, free from personal
venom and on the vote to increase
the council membership in Indian.
apolis to fifteen.
7 constructive legislation has been
talked of in the halls, but SO far has
not been discussed on the floor of
either house.
Passage of the Huffman n,edica1
bill by bare constitutional ma ioritv
has given foes Of the measure some
degree of hope for killing action in
the Senate. The bill will undoubt.
ediy be fought by the chiropractors.
although some Senators have been
exhibiting letters showing a, change
OF heart on the part of some of the
drugless heaIers.
Teachers Pleased
The teachers tenure bill. which
prevents politics from entering into
the dismissal Of a school teacher sf.
ter five years service, was passed
in the lower house and is being
hailed with glee by teachers through.
out the State.
Trading of votes--'Iog rollinys'-
has been most prevalent in both
Houses and has called for remarks
from the Lieutenant Governor and
the speaker on several occasions.
The first real evidence of it was
seen in the bill to create a Gfimira al
Court in Vanderburg County. Bit
terly opposed by all the judges of the
county, sweeping vote was re-
corded for its passage in the House.
The first skirmish with the Senators
killed 1t.
As retaliatory measure came
bills to weaken the present city
manager plan law now on the books.
The first move was to get Senator
Perry johnson. who hasn't a second
class city in his district, to father
bill which would have made it i'm
possible for Evansville to vote ON the
plan. 1t was the initial step to get
even"
Failing in this move, Senator
George w. Sims, Terre Haute, who
once wanted to be secretary of State
and still has such ambitions, came to
the rescue with a bill which pre-.
cludes the city manager form of gov
ernment in cities from becoming
operative until the expiration of the
term of office to which the mayor
has been elected
Budget Up
The bill is pending for second read
ing in the Senate. Its passage would
insure Mayor Duvall of Indianapolis
and Mayor Males of Evansville an
other three years in office, although
there is strong sentiment for the city
manager plan in both cities.
Anti-public service commission
legislation viii be introduced in the
House this week. 1t will run all the
way from absolute abolition of the
commission to leaving the situation
alone and providing for a survey to
be considered two years hence.
Committee consideration of the
$4S,000,00 budget begins today at
4 p. m. and will continue each aft
ernoon at that hour.
Heads Of the various State insti-
tutions will plead for more funds
with members Of the committee won-
dering how a levy cut to 23 cents for
political purposes viii produce what