The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-07
DEEDLESS INDIANA
ASSEMBLY TO END
SESSION TONIGHT
Success Has Met Efforts of
Lobbyists, Registered
and Unregistered.
BY Frank j. Prince

Dy CIduh ~ AAhOO
Shortcomings on the part of des-
ignated leaders of both parties and
minimum of accomplishment stand
out as the high lights of the sew
enty- Fifth biennial session of the In
diana General Assembly which comes
to close tonight.
Neither Republicans nor Demo
Gratis have much to be proud of in
either House-disintegrat having
set in early in the session.
Were one inclined to mick names
this session could readily be termed
'log-rolling," back scratching"
pet measure" session of all time.
Committee assignments had hard
ly been announced when there was
seen the complete submerging of
Representative Lemuel A. Pittenger
and Addison B. Drake, floor leaders
of the Republican and Democratic
groups.
Harris Active
Neither has been very popular, and
were not often consulted. For weeks
the minority leader seemed to fioun-
der-got together on the Saunders
resolution asking for an investiga-
ton into alleged corruption in State
departments-and then turned to
Representatives DELPHI L. McKesson
. of Plymouth and Edward B. Bender
of louisville Relationship. But the
move came a little too late, too late
at least to stop the humiliation of
ECONOMY"
With years of legislative expert
ence to his credit, Representative j.,
Glenn Harris, Lake County, took the
reins at the start. A tireless worker
and snappy parliamentarian, Harris
surrounded himself with a small
group of "go-getters," and left to
Pittinger the duty of seeing that
the reading of the journal was dis
pensed with and adjournment taken
at mealtime.
Ably seconded by Oscar Ahlgren
and John w. Scott, the Lake County
boys took the fort by storm, and the
only things they did not succeed in
getting were those they did not
want.
Leslie in Limelight
Marion and Vanderburg Counties
helped the group from the northern
end of the State and were rewarded
by cooperative aid when needed.
While there are many who dis
agree, the opinion seems to prevail
that Speaker Harry G.. Leslie comes
out of the session with flying colors.
lie has without question made. some
enemies who even now are discuss
ing plans of adopting the Senate
rules forsthe next biennial session.
Under such rules the speaker would
be shorn of his power and members
given the right to call for bills they
want handed down.
While designation of the most out
standing piece of legislation is a
moot question, the Harlan bill, spon-
sored by Senator Denver c.. Harlan,
Richmond, giving the public service
commission the right to inquire into
the operating expenses of public
utilities, is perhaps the most con-
structive.
Under it's terms the commission
can inquire into contracts with hold
ing or parent companies and pass
on fees and salaries allowed operat-
ing and executive heads as well as
fees paid for lobbying purposes.
The Nejdl bill permitting appeals
to the Superior or Circuit Courts
from rulings of the commission is a
reiteration of part of the present
3 Spencer-Shively utilities act which
has not been used often.
Repeal OF the absent voters bal
lot law was promised by both parties
recommended by the Governor, and
passed.
AS it has been freely predicted, po-
litical expediency prevented tamper'
ing with the primary law. Strength
ening of the act was halted by Sen
ator James j. Nejdl, Republican
leader in the Senate, when he
pocheted the Bender-Hughes bill
which had passed the House: The
latter measure would have put
teeth" into the law and worked a
hardship on the control Of the Marion
County organization by Boss George
v. Coffin. j.
Passage of the Hpffman medical