The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-21
BUS BILL PLOT
IS CHARGED TO
4LEGISLATORS
Senators, Representatives
and House Clerk Are
Named in Suit.
FAL SIFICATI0N ALLEGED
Fraud Practiced to WreSt
Utility Control From
Cities, Says Action.

-Four members of Indiana's 1881
legislature and the clerk of the
house of representatives today were
charged with conspiracy and fraud
in connection with passage OF
House Bill 6, regulating bus and
truck jurisdiction.
The charges were contained in an
additional paragraph filed in the
suits in circuit court, brought by
Indianapolis and Muncie, seeking an
injunction to prevent publication of
the bill by Frank Mayr Jr., secre-
tary of state.
Filing of the charges followed re-
writing of much of the former COM
plants by James E. Deery, Indian
apolis city attorney, and George
Rooms, Muncie.
Officials Are Named
Those named as alleged conspira-
tors Ito place control of bus trans
portation in the public service COM
mission" are: Dick Heller of Deca-
tur, clerk of the house; Senators
John G. Sherwood (Rep., Law
renee, Martin and Orange) and j.
Francis Lochard (Rep., Dearborn
Jennings and Ripley and Repre-
sentatives William D. Conner Dem.,
Marion) and James M. Knapp
Rep., Wayne).
It is alleged in the additions to
the complaints that certain per-
sons" were interested in removing
the clause that gave the cities and
towns authority over bus and truck
transportation and would vest it
entirely with the public service
commission.
Agreement" Is Charged
The complaint set out that the
alleged conspiratorS agreed the
attempt to pass the bill without
the municipality clause, which had
been stricken out by the senate,
should be made in the closing
hours of the legislature in the con-
fusion and rush of business
The bill was sent to the house
by the senate and originally the
house sent word to the senate that
the house would not concur in the
amendments that struck out the
cities Jurisdiction.
However, after this, it is alleged
Sherwood obtained his appointment
to the conference committee on the
bill and that he, Lochard, Knapp
and Conner conspired to "have the
senate bill authenticated without
permitting the senate to vote on the
house bill"
False Message Charged
"Said conspirators procured a
message to said senate, purporting
to come from the house of repre-
sentatives and procured Heller,
clerk of said house, to deliver this
message to the senate" the COM
plant alleges.
The message, which the COM
plant charges was written by the
alleged conspirators and which is
set out in the complaint, follows !:
''Mr. PRESIDENT am directed by
the house to inform the senate that
the house has concurred in the sem
ate amendments to engrossed house
bill g. The suit alleged this was
signed by Heller.
It also is charged that Conner,
author of the bill, signed the amend
ed bill after Sherwood had been
named to the committee, of which
Conner also was member.
Leslie Is Named
That Governor Harry G. Leslie
refused to return the bill to the
house after Representative Russell
j. Dean (Dem., Marion) offered a
motion that it be returned to ''cor-
rect a mistake" also is charged.
In connection with this, plaintiffs
aver that Leslie told Heller he
would not return the bill, and in
Structed Heller to have Dean with
draw the motion.
Judge Harry o. Chamberlin d.
rected Attorney General James M.
Ogden to answer the complaints on
or before next Tuesday.