The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-14
Among Measures Passed
Are Many Without
Friends.
BY BEN STERN


the outlying districts and the seven
ty-seventh general assembly a
memory, Hoosiers can compare its
accomplishments with the expec-
tations-and find themselves woe
fully disappointed.
With but one minor exception,
the tax relief promised has not
been realized; an old age pension
system is still a dream; no great
political figure energies and one
fact is borne home-nothing con-
structive can be accomplished in
legislation when one branch Of the
general assembly differs in political
hue. from the other.
It is true that many local en-
aiding acts, which are not Of i'm
portance to the people of the state
as whole, will be on the statute
books.
In the closing hours of a session
which lasted fourteen hours beyond
it's legal limit, a congressional re-
apportionment act was passed.
Fathered by Henry Marshall, La
fayette publisher and mentor of
Governor Harry G. Leslie, and die
tated by political expediency, it will
be 1884 when the full effect of this
gerrymandering can be realized.
Bill Without Friends
Leslie, naturally did not mant
a special session.. for the executive
must call such a session and there
by be the recipient of the odium
resulting. So Marshall forced the
joint conference committee on re-
apportionment to bring in a report
mhich provided a bill is unsatis-
factorf to all.
The alignment of the new dis
tricts is said to be five Republican,
four Democratic and three doubt
full
The 1882 election will be too earlf
to judge the result of the new divi-
sion, because the national condi-
tionS will overshadow those purely
state, but two fears later, in 1884,
when the issues are more local,
added information will become
available.
One thing is certain and that is
Vigo COUNT Democrats are in
cenSed because Warren county is
included in the new Sixth district.
This, they claim, will make for a
Republican majority of 5000.
Purnen Scores Victory
They have just grounds for their
anger. Protests of Richard Wer-
neke, Terre Haute Democratic
leader, were ignored and Repre-
sentative Fred Purnell of Attica had
his way in the conference room.
The next Sixth district was made
safe for Purnell.
A victory was won by R. Earl
Peters, TT. Wayne, Democratic
state chairman, who hopes to change
the political hue of his district to
what he regards as more favorable
inclusion in the new Fourth. of the
Democratic counties of Wells and
Adams, thus paving the way for
the possible election to congress of
his fervent adherent, Virgil Sim
mons, Bluffton, present Eighth
district chairman.
The promised income tax measures
were not forthcoming.
1t is true that the Democratic
house passed both the personal and
the corporate income tax bills. The
Republican senate jockeyed about
until the corporate tax bill was killed
and then, at almost the tenth hour
after the close of the session, passed
the personal bill
In connection with this, Speaker
Walter Myers, Indianapolis, whose
eyes are fixed longingly on the
Democratic senatorial nomination,
made the prize blunder Of the Ses-
sion. 1t was the pride winner, not
even discounting the manpner in
which DELPHI McKesSon of Ply
mouth, Democratic house floor lead
er, killed the anti-lynching bill one
day and on the next suspended the
rults to obtain its passage.
Some technicality in parliament
tary procedure were not followed by
the senate in passing the personal
income tax bill.
Dated After Legal Close
Myers, fro mall indications. had
his fingers crossed on this Demo-
cratic platform pledge, as we'll as
all others, prepared a long state
ment setting out the details, and
wrote it upon the enrolled act it
self. He then signed his name as
of March 10 one day after the le-
gal close of the session.
Meyrs' action invalidated the bill,
Attorney James NJ. Ogden ruled,
thus giving leslie an ont m, tba