The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-03
NEJDL BERATES
G, O.P. IN FIERY
PENSION DEBATE.
Veteran Declares Col
leagues Ignored Him in
PoStponement.

Nursing wounds from "the battle
Of the session." G. o. P. senatorial
leaders returned to the arena today
confident that their colleague, Sen
ator James J. Nejdl (Rep., Whiting)
can not again become rampant over
old age pensions before 3 D. m.
Feb. 10.
In this fact lay the Republican
leaders victory. But they still
smarted under the wounds of
Nejdl's charges that they are not
men Of their word" and have re-
sorted to trickery to keep the old
age pension bill from passing.
Since the ma jority senate caucus
last week, where Nejdl was neither
present nor invited, but where it
was decided to postpone old age
pensions to Feb. 10, the veteran
Lake county salon ranked. He was
the author of the bill, but it had
been disposed of by his own party
without consulting him.
Nejdl Rises to Battle
So when third reading came
around to the letter M Monday
afternoon, Nejdl had Senator
Charles R. Morris Dem., Jackson,
Scott and Washington call the bill
down for passage.
Like lion, Senator Nejdl came
forward to fight and gazed down
on the majority members as though
they were mice. Later he termed
their so-called leaders" much worse
than that.
IT know what's coming from the
majority side," he challenged, shak-
ing his huge head with its heavy
black and gray hair. "You would
make this bill special order of
business March Is, after We adjourn,
if you had the nerve"
Revenue Raising Involved
Senator French Clements CRep.,
Vanderburg) accepted the chal-
lenge. He arose and introduced
motion making the bill q special
order of business for p. m, Feb.
10. This, he explained, was done
by the caucus agreement and to
give time to find means of raising
revenues.
Then Nejdl became thoroughly
aroused and the senate halls heard
the most scathing denunciation in
years. Some members, whom the
veteran termed ROCKIES" arose on
points of order only to get their
fingers burned, for Nejdl is chair
man of the committee on rules and
knows how the business is run. He
has been in the senate since 1917.
"You can't play horse with me"
he shouted. "It may be damaging
to many of you for me to tell the
truth about your secret conference
to kill this bill without my presence
or even extending me an invitation.
I don't play that sort of game and
I'm against it.
''Talk about expense. Some Of
you were here in 1917 and passed
that prohibition law without word
regarding the expense of its enforce
ment. All agreed to its passage but
old jim and I'm here today to say
I'm still against prohibition despite
the 'Lickersham report
Silences Niblack
Senator John L. Niblack (Rep.,
Marion) arose on a point of order,
but took his seat quickly when
Nejd1 pointed out that Niblack had
tried to inject old age pensions into
every speech last week.
"This motion to delay is not sin
cere," he charged. "It is made to
strange this bill Vote it up or
down and you will not hurt my feel
ings, but love to deal with men
who keep their word"
He then told Of a conference the
Monday before attended by Lieu
tenant Governor Edgar D. Bush,
Senators Lee J. Hartzell, president
pro tenn; Roy M. Friedley, G. o. P.
caucus chairman, and Alonzo H.
Lindley, Republican farm bloc lead
er, at which it was agreed to pass
the bill in the senate and send it to
the house without delay.
Invited to Attend
II did not ask for that conference,
but was invited to attend" he con-
tinued. "Then these would-be lead
erS permitted the minority side to
delay the passage by making it a
special order Wednesday. Now I'm
tired of this jockeying. Vote down
this motion to delay and kill the bill
and then vote the bill up or down
or from now on you can count me
on the minority side"
Bush took time to defend him
self somewhat by saying that Sem
ator Nejdl had always been treated
with unusual and perhaps I'M
necessary courtesy"
IT object" the senator shouted.
st ask no quarter from you and am
ready to fight for my rights"
He lost by five votes. The special
order motion prevailed by a vote of
Is to 20. drawn on almost strict
party lines. Senator George w.
Sims (Rep., Vigo), joined Nejdl in
voting with the Democrats and
Senator Addison Drake dem, Sui
Ivan and Vigo), joined the majority
side.
After five minute recess,
Clements moved to reconsider and
table the motion SO that there will