The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-26

bill on your desks" he claimed,
This bill, which every one knows
was written by Tom OMeara, con-
tains the vicious features of the law
we are now operating under"
Rep. Morris H. Coers Cd, Indian.
apohS), Public Morals Committee
chairman, rose to defend the ma.
jority committee report.
He explained that as minister
of the Gospel, he could have no
sympathy with the liquor traffic in
any form, but that he realized that
a form of control is necessary be-
cause of the public sentiment in
favor of liquor. The majority COM
mittee report represents the best
judgment Of the committee, the
Baptist clergyman said.
Broken Faith" Coers Charges
He charged that Rep. Bauer had
broken faith" by disclosing CONS
mittee discussion that it was agreed
would not be touched upon.
Here; this one man Rep. Bauery
brings in a self interested proposal
with which he proposes to supplant
the majority report" Rep. Coers de-
clared.
When Rep. Coers spoke of 'self~
interest" Rep. Bauer leaped to his
feet and demanded that he be ale
lowed to answer the intimation on
q point Of personal privilege.
He explained that his only cons
nection with the liquor industry ID
through his position as attorney for
the Federal Alcohol Code Authority
and that through that connection,
he has learned of approximately
100000 worth of tax evasions.
Displays Copies of Letters
These evasions were made by
"chiselers" in the industry, he Saids
Rep. Bauer displayed photostatic
copies of letters signed by Thomas
O'Meara, Terre Haute attorney, and
one of the authors Of the Admins
trations beer bill, alleged to tell Of
the signing of contracts with OUT
state breweries and importers.
He also displayed copies of letters
signed by Frank McHale telling Of
the transmission of brewery con-
tracts and other missives urging
that the matter of contracts with
importers be taken up with Mr..
McHale at his headquarters in the
Indianapolis Athletic Club.
II think this is all1ousy and that's
putting it mildly" declared Rep.
Bauer as he attacked the importer
system of the old bill.
'Tegalized Hijacking," He Says
He related how $500 was required
for the payment of contracts and
the right to become importers.
who got this money? Into whose
pockets did it go. I'll tell you it
went into the hands of the attor-
neys and importers. 1t is legalized
hijacking," he charged.
Rep. Bauer then related how ar
bitarily cents a barrel tax had
been set by the importers on beer.
And they said that cents was
for code and the rest for state
organization and association pur-
poses" he charged.
Lets cut out this cancerous
growth and this monopoly. Their bill
will cover $50 pags and it's three
times as long as it should be-" de-
clared Rep. Bauer.
Rep. Herbert H. Evans then re-
ceived permission to debate the COM
mittee report and charged that In
diana had reached a stage Of
absolute deoauchery"
1--WE Repubsicans-the House had
nine at the last session-knew when
they passed the beer bill that it
would be a legalization Of the Al
Capone system and we told the
General Assembly that it would.
Our words have come true.
''Mr. O'Meara is an attorney, but
/ or any attorney could take a good
stenographer and write beer bill
in three hours and yet he's been
since last December writing the adj
minisUation BILL" charged Mr..
Evans.
"Monopolies" Under Fire
Rep. Bauer bitterly attacked the
"n1onopolistic" provisions of the
original bill.
Powers given the commission to
limit the number Of persons en-
gagged in the importation Of liquor
and to restrict the number Of whole-
salers are obviously vicious and de-
structive," he charged.
Establishment of local boards to
pass upon the fitness of applicants
for licenses would have the ten
dency to throw the issuance of Ii
censes back into politics" Rep.
Bauer continued.
All provisions of the original bill
placing restrictions upon out-state
brewers and distillers from engaging
in business in Indiana fell under
~ Ave