The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-07
LEGISLATORS
TUNE Up FOR
8-WEEK GRIND
GaveIs VIII Bang in House
and Senate Thursday
Morning at 10.
CAUCUSES WEDNESDAY
Speaker Job Is in Doubt;
Many PIums Will Be
Handed Out.
BY ROBERT BEARD

Fifty senator's and 100 representa-
tiyes were preparing today to move
on the legislative halls of the state
house. where, for Sixty-one days.
beginning next Thursday, they will
weigh, reject and enact new laws
for the government of more than
100000 HoosierS.
Gavels will bang in the senate
and house Of representatives at 10
a. m. Thursday. The grist will be
represented next spring in an un-
imposing cloth bound volume, la
beled Acts of 1929, passed at the
seventy-sixth regular session of the
general assembly"
But formalitieS of organization
must precede the feeding of fodder
into the legislative hopper. Intro
duction OF bills will not begin until
next week.
Caucuses on Wednesday
OverShadowing the importance of
Thursdays formalities are the party
caucuSeS scheduled for Wednesday
night Republican and Democratic
senator's and representatives will
meet in four separate caucuses. Re
publicans, holding an 80 to 20 ma
jority in the house, and a 38 to -
advantage in the senate, will choose
their leaders, the Speaker of the
house and the president pro tenn of
the senate.
Ia FrNv-71 l.N n
publican representatives are con-
testing: James M Knapp, Hagers-
town; J. Glenn Harris, Gary; Frank
E. Wright, Indianapolis; George W.
Freeman. Kokomo; John w. Cham
berlain, Terre Haute, and Truman
@. Murden, Cass county.
For president pro TEN. of the sem
ate, James j. Nejdl, Whiting, and
Denver G. Harlan, Richmond, are in
a close race. Nejdl won the post
two years ago by one vote in caucus.
Democrats Make Gestures
Democrats meanwhile. will be GO
ing through the motions OF non1i-
mating candidates for the two posts,
the senator and representative re-
ceiving the respective nominations
automatically becoming minority
leader in the two houses ,-o
Joseph M. Cravens, Madison. sen
ate leader in 1927. probably will be
named again unless last-minute
favor swings to Andrew E. Durham.
Greencastle, or possibly Thurman A.
Gottschalk, Berne.
At the party caucuses, likewise,
will be selected principal secretary,
assistant secretary and principal
doorkeeper of the senate, and prin-
cipai clerk, assistant clerk and chief
doorkeeper of the house
About twenty-five subordinate
positions in both houses will be
chosen by "plunder committees" TO
be named by the retiring Lieuten-
ant Governor, f. Harold Van
Orman. in the senate, and by the
Speaker in the house,
Fifield Temporary Boss
Van Orman will call the senate to
order, or in event of his absence re-
linquish the honor TO Nejdl, presi-
dent pro tenn. in 1927. Secretary of
State Otto G. Fifield will rule the
house until the Speaker is formally
elected. Caucus selections of
Wednesday night are not valid un-
til voted on perfunctorily Thursday
morning.
New lawmakers must be sworn in,
rules of the preceding session
adopted for 1929 and the vote in the
last election given perfunctory cam
wasting. Then both houses will go
into joint session to hear Governor
Ed JackSon's farewell address.
Following precedent, adjournment
will be taken until Monday. JAN II,
when Governor Elect Harry G.. Les
lie will be inaugurated, and, after a.
brief inaugural address. deliver his
formal message.
Bush to Take Office
Inaugurated at the same time,
Lieutenant-G Governor Ed Bush will
take over the senate gayel, while
wheels of the legislative machinery
gather momentum.
Tuesday the Lieutenant Governor
viii announce the makeup of the
forty-nine senate committees and
three Joint committees.
If precedent is followed, the
Speaker will announce house COM
naittees Monday
With the rapid passage under sus-
pension of the rules Of bill ap-
propriating probably 100000 to de-
fray expenses of the assembly,
grease will be provided for the gears
and the lawmaking machinery will
start on its eight-weeks run.