The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-08
SOCIAL REFORM
HEADS PROGRAM
FOR ASSEMBLY
Age Pensions, Relief, Taxa
ton, Liquor ard PenoIOgy
Measures Studied.
JAN. 8, 1895.
Continued From Page One)

tlOn- however, the liquor tax IS so
indissolUbly linked to the liquor
problem as a whole that it better
can be discussed in relation TO
liquor reform.
The Governor has a group of adj
visOrs at work on liquor recon-
mendatiOns He has refused to name
them, with the explanation that it is
better that they not be known, thus
making it harder for them to be
approached"
He did not actually make the lat
ter part of the statement, but he
cOuched his statement in such a
phrasing that no other interpreta-
ton was possible.
Liquor housekeeping Urged
Consequently, on liquor as on
other contemplated legislation, there
is a great deal of secrecy. The adj
ministratio1 realizes that is is open
to. and las been the target of, all
sorts ri accusations because of the
present beer and spirituous liquor
Setup.
There is a genuine public demand
for a housekeeping, and the pos
abilities include:
l. Reducing the whisky tax TO
around 7 cents a pint to give the
retailer a better break" in the fight
for business with the bootlegger.
?. Separation of beer-and-wine
sales and spirituous liquor sales. In
other words, by-the-drink sales
would not be legal in restaurants
and other reputable resorts selling
beer and wine.
3. Creation of a three-man or a
fve-man liquor commission, answer
able to the Governor, along the lines
OF the public service commission.
Such a liquor commission would
have absolute authority over hcens-
irg and profiteerlng. 1t could make
whisky sales in bulk legal and
thereby, along with ending profit
eering. make it possible for cheaper
blythe drink sales.
Importer System Threatened
q. Taking the present package
sale monopoly away from the drug
stores and making it possible for
other reputable establishments to
handle spirituous liquor.
5. Elimination of the importer
system of beer handling, which, it IS
charged, has been used as politi-
cal patronage sop and has reflected
in some cases to the discredit OF
the administration.
6. Prohibition control of whole
sale outlets by out-of-state diStil-
leries, one Of the evils Of the old
saloon system which brought the
Industry to disrepute and prohi-
bitiOn.
The general trend in the forth
coming liquor legislation, it is in
dictated. will be toward eImina-
ton of monopoly and consumer price
reruction, rather than emphasis on
revenue raising.
Police Reorganization Looms
The administration policy toward
the State Police. it is reported, is in
a fairly well rounded form now and
is an ambitious undertaking.
A complete reorganization of the
department is in prospect and is
reported to contain the following
possibilities.
l. Enforcement of appointments,
promotion and tenure from political
influence.
?. Establishment of an adequate
pension system.
3. Increased appropriations to
provide an adequate force which
would guarantee the continual
presence of at least 100 electives at
all times. CThe present force is ap-
proXimately half that large) Such
a force would mean roughly an av-
erage of one enlisted man in each
county. plus the necessary officers.
4. Establishment of a school for
state troopers which also would
house State Police headquarters.
(PlanS Started)
Self-SuppOrt Outlined
S. An adequate radio alarm sys-
tenn. (Already under way)
s. Authority to the Governor to
treat with neighboring states with
a view to setting up teletype or
other adequate interstate alarm
system.
7. Provision whereby the state
police could be self-supporting. Two
suggested ways in which this could
be accompanied are:
ca A special tax on burglary in
surance companies. This idea has
worked well in New York, where fire
insurance companies pay a special
tax for maintenance of the fire.
mems pension fund and other
extraordinary expenses of the fire
department.
(b) Mandatory diversion of all or
part of traffic fines collected by
the state police. Massachusetts,,
New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
police on an actual profit making
basis when return OF stolen goods is
counted.
Penal Reform Studied
recommendations of the Gov
ernor'S Commission on Govern
mental Economy are expected to
cover such a wide field as state
finance administration, tranSporta-
ton Il. E.. the states responsibility
in road building and maintenance
and not to be confused with the
Observation-Disclosures competition prob
lem), public welfare. education, aG-
ministration Of justice. and local
and state governmental structure.
Thus the Governor will have two
sets Of concrete recommendations
on penal reform. When the Afichi-
gan City prison breaks made Indi-
ana'S name a byword in other
states, the Governor called in the
most accredited prison experts he
could obtain. They made a search
ing investigation and submitted
their report. This, in turn. was
shown the governmental economy
group. which will submit its own
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