The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-07
HIGHWAY BOARD
SCRAMBLED BY
REDISTRICTING
Wedeking Reappointment Is
Slated as Leslie Debates
New Law.
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY
Indiana's new reapportionment

Indiana's new reapportionment
law has scrambled the congressional
districts so that it leaves the status
Of members Of the state highway
commission in the shape Of an
omelet.
Just what has happened is being
studied at the statehouse now in
the hope Of finding way for Gov
ernor Harry G. Leslie to reappoint
Albert j. Wedeking (Rep., Dale)
to the state highway commission.
Wedeking has represented the
first highway district, under the
law creating the commission. He is
commission chairman and his term
expires April II.
Under the highway law the first
highway district is TO be composed
OF the first, second and third con-
gressional districts. The old con-
gressional reapportionment placed
these three districts in southern In
diana, but under the new law the
first district is in Lake county and
the second and third districts are
composed Of the counties surround
ing Lake in the northern part of
the state.
Ogden Studies Law
Backers Of Wedeking point out
that the appointment can be made
before the 1881 laws are proclaimed
in effect by the Governor. But the
term Is for four years and status
Of such an appointment might be
questioned, it is asserted by those
who have raised the question OF
legality.
The district setup of the highway
law can only be changed by an act
Of the legislature, it is pointed out.
Attorney General James M. Og-
den is giving the matter some study,
it was learned. He has pointed out |
that, in his opinion, the old dis
tricts will hold their status until
after the 1882 congressional cleo
tons, which will be based on the
new districting.
To back up this viewpoint, Ogden
cites hypothetical case growing
out Of possible death of one of the
present Indiana congressman. He
should be succeeded under the old |
district plan, or some new district |
would have two or three congress-
men and leave whole counties I'M
represented, the encouragement
declares.
Subcommission Status in Doubt
Status of all members Of the
highway commission will be in
doubt when the new reapportion-
ment goes into effect.
Commissioner Jess Murden Rep.,
Peru, so-called commission "boss,"
now represents the third highway
district because he lives in the Elev-
enth congressional district. The
third highway district is comprised
of Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh con-
gressional districts. Under the new
law Murden will be in the Fifth
congressional district.
Commissioner Arthur p. Melton |
(Dem., Gary now represents the
Fourth highway district, because he
lives in the Tenth congressional |
district. But under the new law
he will reside in the First congress
sional district. Fourth highway dis /
trict is composed, by law, of the
Tenth, Twelfth and Thirteenth con-
gressional districts.
Wedeking Appointment On Time
Commissioner Robert B. Boren
Dem., Fountain City, has been he
second highway district representa-
tive on the commission, living in
the Sixth congressional district. The
Second highway district is composed
of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and
Seventh congressional districts. Now, |
when the new law is effective, Boren
will be a resident of the Tenth con-
gressional district.
In the past it has been a policy
of the Governor to let appointments
ride, sometimes for as much as two
years, without making any decision.
This would permit him to avoid any
legal complications, it is pointed out |
But Wedeking's appointment may
be made on time, particularly if
Murden so desires, it is said.