The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-28
BALL GAME
IS PLAYED ON
UTILITY QUIZ
House Bats $4,000 Check
Probe Issue to Senate;
Interest on Ogden.
BUSH AGAINST INQUIRY
Legislature Not Supposed
to Be Investigating Body,
He Says.
BUSH AGAINST INQUIRY

FIOpOS6Q legislative lIlVSSClEaG1O1
of the $4,000 public service commits
sion check today became a game of
ball between the two branches of
the general assembly.
The house Democratic majority
today batted it over to senate Re-
publicans whose presiding officer
announced the senator has no time
for probes.
Interest again turned to Attorney
General James M. Ogden, who pre-
pared to lay the matter before the
proper authorities,
House Democrats met secretly
Tuesday night behind closed and
double guard doors and decided to
let the senate do the probing.
This was in line with the request
Of Calvin F. Mcintosh, Democratic
member of the public service COM
mission, who is the target of Og-
den's investigation of various stories
concerning the manner in which a
$4,000 check, drawn on the South
ern Indiana Telephone and Tele-
grarn Company for "promotional
exl l.ses'' had been spent.
Bush to Oppose Probe
When Lieutenant Governor Ed
gar D. Bush was notified of the
Democratic caucus action and the
fact that Freal Mcintosh, brother
of the commissioner had announced
that he would ask the senate to
delve into the affair, he retorted
that he would oppose the move.
81 am against all Investigations, %
Bush said, whether they be in
augurated by Republicans or
Democrats. The legislature is not
intended to be an investigating
body"
Pointing out the need for tax
legislation, the Lieutenant Cover
nor said: "If the Democrats have
so much to do that they haven't
time to investigate the Mcintosh
matter, we Republicans should have
at least sense enough to follow their
example. Now is the time to legis-
late, not investigate"
Next Move Up to Ogden
With both houses refusing to
probe the charges the next move is
up to the attorney general, who in
timated that he may place all the
information he has obtained in the
hands of the Jackson county grand
jury, but that he first awaits a visit
from Mcintosh and his attorney,
Clyde E. Jones, to discuss the situa-
ton.
Perhaps the most outstanding
feature of the caucus was The
secrecy insisted upon by Repre-
sentative Earl Crawford (Union and
Wayne), caucus chairman, who
repeatedly warned the members
against repeating to the press what
had occurred.
The caucus was opened with
short talk by Speaker Walter Myers
in which he urged that the party
platform measures, old age pen
Sions, income tax bill, voters, regis
tration. and the anti-yellow dog
contract bills be rushed through and
passed.
Gwin Presents Resolution
The Mcintosh matter came to the
fore with the presentation of
resolution by Representative Fabius
Gwin Martin and Debois), asking
the speaker to appoint a committee
of five to probe the charges and
then report back its findings and
recommendations to the house.
Gwin in speaking on his resolu-
ton expressed his belief in the hon
eSty and probity of Mcintosh and
declared that in his opinion the re-
ports circulated concerning the
commissioner are untrue.
Representatives John F. White,
w. e. Stanton, Clarence o. SchlegeI.
Nathan Combs and Floor Leader
DELPHI L. McKeeson spoke against
an investigation.
Peters Explains Labor Bill
Myers announced that he had re-
celVed a phone call late Tuesday
from Freal Mcintosh.
who had requested Gwin to intro
duce the probe resolution; asking
that the Democrats take no action,
as his brother desired that the in
vestigation come from the senate
Republicans in order that there
could be no charges of "whitewasl1-
ing" by the Democrats.
Representative Edward E. Eiken-
barry of Wabash suggested the eau
Gus appoint committee of three to
delve into the charges and then re-
port back, but he later withdrew the
motion.
The state committees attitude Of
for tie labor "anti-injunc-
ton" bill was explained by r. Earl
Peters, state chairman, who was
and letter from Amos
Wood, party treasurer, asking for SO
contributions to make good the