The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-18
VETS WEAKEN
ON BONE DRY
LAW REPEAL
Talk of Amendments Leads
to Fear of Split in
Liberals Ranks.
CALL LESLIE TO LEAD
Action by Governor Deemed
Necessary for Relief at
Special Session.

Proposed attempt to amend bills
| for repeal of the Wright bone dry
/ law, now on second reading in the
! house of representatives, by wet
leaders eager to conciliate the drys,
may result in diSSenSion among the
liberal forces, it was indicated to-
day before the general assembly re-
convened.
Democratic wet strategists de-
clare the house should pass the
repeater They suggest the senate
assume the burden of amendments
regarding public intoxication and
other offenSes.
1T would be the height of folly
for us to introduce a new bill or
amend those on their way to pass
age at this time, because it would
impede progress of the repealers. -
asserted Representative Herbert P.
/ Kenney (Dem0, New Albany.
Senate Could Amend
The senate can amend and then a
conference committee can study the
proposals, he pointed out.
We leaders almost were unanimous
in declaring they desire to remove
the obnoxious Wright bone dry law
name" from the statute books, where
it has been since 1925.
Representative John F. Ryan
Dem), Terre Haute, chairman of
the public morals committee, ana
George B. McCammon (Dem), FL
wood, avowed dry, have been dis
cussing adyisability of introducing
a new bill re-enacting some of the
provisions of the Wright law. or
amending the present repealers.
Seek Fine Reduction
They desire the law to contain
public intoxication clause which
wuold reduce the present fine of
from $40 to 500 and the maximum
sentence of six months, or both, to
a 81 to SIS fine and continue the
Imprisonment section.
Penalty for transportation would
be unchanged.
Governor Harry G. Leslie may be
called upon to assume the Moses
role and lead Indiana legislators
out of the wilderness of their own
bills.
AS the second full week of the
special legislative session was to
get under way, more and more de-
mands were being heard for the
Governor to show leadership
1t was pointed out that the stu
alton is comparable to that of the
congress just closed, with the sem
ate having a Republican majority
and the house Democratic.
Cite Hoover Policy
Whereupon Republican President
Hoover time and again took the
reins and cracked the whip in driv-
ing through administration meas
ures. His success was almost 100 per
cent, it was pointed out.
At the opening, however, the
President outlined specific pro-
gram of action.
So far Leslie has made no state
ment, pro or con, on any particular
form of tax relief legislation.
His first step toward assuming
leadership would entail drafting a
definite program, made up from APP
proximately 200 bills pending in both
houses, or by introduction of new
bills to be known as administration
measures.
Not a Candidate
The Democratic state organization
! has proposed plan for house ac-
ton which is to start today and it
was said the G. o. P. organization
soon will assume like leadership in
the senate.
Criticism of this has been brought
forth on the grounds that to make
the matter partisan merely would
result in drawing of party lines and
the danger of deadlock and in
action.
Leslie is not a candidate for Office
and his executive position places
him above partisanship, those who
advocate he assume leadership de-
clare.
Upon delivery of his message at
the opening session, it was reported
at his Office that if no concrete &C
complishment was made by the leg
islators themselves within the first
few weeks of the session, the Gov
ernor would assume control.