The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-02
MAJOR BILLS
NOW GRINDING
IN LAW MILL
Drafts introduced Echo
Program Outlined by
Governor Leslie.
MANAGER FIGHT LOOMS
Primary Change Plank in
G. O. P. Platform FretS
Legislators.
MANAGER FIGHT LOOMS
BY ROBERT BEARD

One-third of the session past,
journals of Indiana's seventy sixth
general assembly show that virtually
all contemplated important meas
ures have been introduced.
Attention consequently is turning
to bills progress, step by step,
through the two houses, toward
Governor Harry G. Leslie's desk and
the print shop where the Acts of
1929 will be turned out in a few
months.
All recommendations In the
Governors address to the legislature
have brought answers in the legis-
1ature.
These included measures to in
crease state highway revenues, to
follow the state tax boards sug-
gestions for revision of tax laws and
appeal procedure, to provide more
drastic penalties for criminals, to
repeal the statewide features Of
the primary, rewrite the workmen'S
compensation law and extend the
statute of limitations as deterrent
to crime and particularly malfeas-
ance in public Office.
Manager Fight Looms
Friends and foes of the city man
ager form of government are mar
shaling their forces as the fourth
week approaches for a pitched bat
tie on bills which would strengthen
the law and include proportional
representation, on the one hand, and
restrict or repeal the 1921 city man
ager act on the other.
The opinion persists that friends
OF the city manager form far OUT
weight its enemies in the present
legislature. But sponsors of the In
dianapolis City Manager Leagues
bill to strengthen the law and give
this city the proportional represen-
tation system of voting, which is
blow to the political Bosses are pro-
ceeding cautiously.
Rather than risk their measure
first in the senate, where a repeal
bill also rests in the hands OF the
cities and towns committee, back
ers of the pro-manager bill Will
send their measure first to the floor
of the house where the Marion
county delegation will form a nu-
cleus for manager supporters.
LEGISLATION to facilitate the city's
taking over the Citizens Gas Com
pany encountered no difficulties in
its early stages and wss awaiting
second reading in the house at the
close of the week.
Now that a primary modification
bill. as pledged by the Republican
state platform. has been introduced
in the senate, not few Republican
legislators are sorry the pledge
found found a place in the plat
form.
They find themselves in an en-
barrassing position and undecided
as to what their attitude will be
when roll calls are sounded.
Talk of reapportionnent almost
invariably follows speculation on
the primary measure. For t'-2 story
is circulated that majority leaders
may use reapportionment as a club
to force party solidarity on primary
revision.
Marion, Lake, Allen, st. Joseph
and possibly Vigo and Vanderburg
county legislators are confident re-
apportionment would increase their
representation in the legislature.
But the fate of the reapportionment
bill two years ago proved beyond
dispute that the farm group, stand
ing to lose representation, has a
great deal to say about it.
The Republican state committee
has declared hands-of policy with
respect to reapportionment. but it
may be held out as the bait TO win
support for the enactment of pri-
mary modification.
375 Bills introduced
Proposals to increase revenues of
tn estate highway department. by
some S5.000,000 or S6.000O00 an
nually sprang into the legislative
spotlight at the close of the week
when the house demanded and re-
ceived a mass of data from John
D. Williams. highway director. in
tended to show that the 3.71 per
cent OF last years S16.000,000 high
way expenditures was not an un-
reasonable amount for supervision
and overhead.
All-day sessions are in prospect
for both houses when they recon-
vene Monday at 10 a. m. Commit
tees have had time to catch up with
introductions of the first twenty
days.
Approximately 375 measures have
been submitted to the legislature
thus far-ahout half the total num-
ber introduced two years ago.
OF this number five had found
their way to the Governors office
and three were given his signature
while two we're vetoed.
First signed were the legislative
appropriation measure and the
resolution indoTsing passage by con-
gress Of the cruiser bill The Gov
ernor's signature next was affixed to
the resolution urging congress to
establish Veterans Bureau hospital
in Indiana
CHARLEY'S RESTAURANT open
for Sunday dinners. 5 to 9 p. NJ