The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-09
PLUMBER CHARGES HURLED BY
SENATOR'S AS LIQUOR BILL PASSES
Bitter Statements Flung at
Rivals by Foes of
Control Measure.
WEISS PUT UNDER FIRE
But Leader Denies ACCuSa-
ton He Is Interested in
Gary Firm.

j
With most of the dissenters
charging a private profits
grab, the Indiana Senate to-
day passed the amended state
liquor control bill by d vote of
81 to 19.
Final passage was expected this
afternoon since the measure has
passed the House and the lower
body was expected to concur i'm
mediately in the Senate amend
ments.
Resentment has smouldered since
last night, when the administra-
ton forces succeeded in advancing
the bill to passage, flared anew on
the floor almost as soon as the Sem
ate convened.
The fireworks started when Sem
ator Thomas Hendricks 3D., Indi-
anapolis) introduced a concurrent
resolution for appointment of a
legislative committee of nine to
draw up a new liquor bill for pres
entation at the special session this
summer.
Beaten After Bitter Debate
This skirmiSh was defeated 32-18
after bitter debate in which pro-
ponentS of the Hendricks resolution
charged that the administration bill
had been introduced in the Assem-
bly, too late for the legislators to
have any accurate knowledge of the
bills contents.
The Hendricks resolution would
have provided for the appointment
of three Senators, three members
of the House of Representatives and
three representatives of the Gov
ernor for the study committee.
Almost one hour of debate fol-
lowed in which acrimonious charges
we're hurled by both sides, but the
real bitterness in the upper house
erupted when Senators began ex-
planning their votes on passage.
Filings Charges at Weiss
The direct charge that Senator
Jacob Weiss, Indianapolis, the ma
jority floor leader, is interested in
passage of the bill because of
liquor connection, was made when
Senator William Jenner (R., PaolD
voted no"
Senator Weiss is the agent for a
Gary liquor concern, and you can
prove it by going down to the Sec
rotary of States office and looking
it up" Senator Jenner charged.
Incorporation papers for the
Royal Wine and Liquor Corp, Gary,
were filed in the Office of the Sec
rotary of State March 8, 1885.
Senator Weiss is shown in the
papers to be the resident agent of
the corporation. His brother, Ezra
Weiss, an attorney also is shown as
one Of the incorporators and
member of the first board of di-
rectors.
ANY statement that I have any
kind of interest, financial or other
wise, in any concern handling wine,
liquor or beer is absolutely unfound-
ed, and vicious and malicious lie"
Senator Weiss asserted in a state
ment.
Common Practice, Is Report
my office continues in the law
practice" he said, although have
not been there for the five weeks
last past, while I was devoting my
time exclusively to my duties as
Senator"
An inquiry at Office of the secre-
tary of state resulted in the state
ment that it is the usual practice
for attorneys to act as resident
agents for corporations, and, in fact,
one attorney is resident agent for
more than 300 corporations. Resi-
dent agent means only the person
upon whom summons might be
served.
The vitriolic accusation that the
Senate public policy committee
meetings on consideration of the bill
were more concerned with discussion
of private profits than public
morals" was made by Senator Albert
Ferris (R., Milton.
Senator Ferris, a member of the
committee, declared that he had a
great deal of respect for the minor
ity" of the committee which at
tempted to get Hpe bill into shape.
However" he declared, "11l have
to say that some members of the
committee are connected with the
liquor industry and that they had
part of their product under their
belts"
Branded "PIunder Measure"
The discussion of the Hendricks
resolution brought forth bitter de-
of the bill as a plum
der measure" and the charge that If
God Almighty Himself had written
a bill, it would not have received the
consideration it deserved in the
Senate"
THE truth is" shouted Senator
Jenner, that we are torn between
factions and I mean the McHale-
O'Mara- Wernecke gang. 1t seems
to me there must be lot Of bridge
players in this Senate, because
never saw so much f1nessing in my
life"
Senator Jenner and Senator Ralph
Jernegan (R., Mishawaka) stated
the case for the minority, the men,
bers of which joined with the DEM
ocratic insurgents in the futile at
tempt to delay passage until the
special session this summer.
Senator Jernegan declared the bill
has been "crammed down the
threats of this Senate" and that Of