The Indianapolis times., 1929-01-30
Bills in Both Houses Are
Designed to Help
Present Law.
COMMITTEES CONFER
Repeal Sought in Measure
introduced by Sims Of
Terre Haute.


ager form of government today were
mapping the legislative strategy by
which they hope to strengthen or
repeal the law under which Indian
apolis is committed to adopt the
manager form in January, 1880.
Bills, sponsored by the Indianap-
oils City Manager, League and city
manager advocates from throughout
the state, are in both houses OF the
Indiana general assembly. under
consideration by committees on
cities and towns.
The senate committee, at the
same time, has the repeal measure,
introduced by Senator George w.
Sims, of Terre Haute, before it.
That one of the strengthening
bills will be withheld in committee
while the one in the opposite house
is sent to the floor with a recon-
mendation for passage, appeared
the likely procedure after the cities
and towns committees OF both
houses had considered the manager
league bill in joint session Tuesday.
Committees Friendly
Decision as to which house shall
take the initiative awaits further
conferences between the two com
mittees, which are regarded as gen.
orally friendly to the strengthening
bills.
A dozen members of the two COM
nittees heard explanation of the
proposed city Manager League
measure Tuesday while Claude A.
Anderson, the leagues legislative
chairman; w. H. Insley, stanch
manager form advocate, and Ed
mund L. Craig, attorney for the
Evansville City Manager League,
contributed comment.
Senator Sims, author of the re-
peal bill and member of the senate
committee, was on hand, putting q
black stogie, the Acts of 1921 on his
lap, as he traced the changes out
lined by Representative Frank j.
Noll of Indianapolis, chairman Of
the house committee.
Except for a casual question now
and then, Sims gave no indication
of the nature of attack he will di-
rect against the bill.
"P. R." to Be Fought
The joint hearing gave indication,
however, that attack against the
proportional representation system
of voting in Indianapolis, may be
expected from Senator Sumner
Clancy, Indianapolis, "holdover"
Coffin man from the 1927 session.
Proportional representation has
been connected with city manager
government since the election that
adopted the manager FORM" Clancy
told the committees. when it is
said here that other cities want
proportional representation, it's a
matter for these committees to look
into. We should find who is de-
manding it,"
Senator Clancy told The Times he
had not studied the proportional
representation system Of voting euf-
flciently to say whether he would
oppose it or not.
'But when I vote for q man, /
like to know that man got the vote"
he said.
The proportional representation
of voting is designed to insure rep
resentation for the minority and to
prevent control Of elections by po-
litical machines" 1t permits the
voter to name first, second, and sub
sequent choices for city commissions
ers, the votes going to first choice
only until the quota required for his
election is passed-then to second
and subsequent choices.
Amendments Considered
Representative Noll said the most
important changes sought included
the "P. r." system Of voting, for
Indianapolis alone, and revision Of
Section 8 of the 1921 act to insure
transfer OF powers held by various
boards under the present form of
government to the proper agencies
under the manager form.
The committees took under con-
sheraton amendments proposed by
Craig to force acceptance of city
manager petitions by city clerks
The clerk Of Evansville went beyond
intent of the 1921 act in determin-
ing the qualifications of petitioners,
Craig said.
Proponents Of the city manager
plan were considering asking
amendment of the bill, either in
committee or on second reading, TO
extend the proportional representa-
ton voting plan to all cities adopt
ing the manager form.
Such move, it is thought, would
open the measure to the opposition
OF many legislators outside Marion
county, who now feel that If Indian
apolis wants the "P. r." system, it
should have it, but should not seek
TO make it 2 statewide requirement.
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