Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1919 — TAX REFORM MEASURE EXPLAINED TO PUBLIC [ARTICLE]

TAX REFORM MEASURE EXPLAINED TO PUBLIC

DEMAND ON PART OF TAXPAYTO HEAR IT DISCUSSED. BENEFITS ARE POINTED OUT tit Members of Tax Board Explain Bill Indianapolis. —The state is being educated in the provisions of the tax reform bill and while there is distinct opposition to the bill from tax ferrets, from political bankers, some farmers and others selfishly interested in the maintenance ot the old system, the advantages of the bill as they are unfolded seem to be plain. There are, of course, persons who are honestly opposed to the provisions of the bill and there are many people who do not thoroughly understand the bill. To reach these people, the -members of the state tax board are being called to Indiana cities to speak before bodies of men, explaining the. provisions of the bill and answering the objections to the bill. Many such meetings, legislative and public, are being held in Indianapolis, at which one or all the members of the tax board explain the bill. Fred A. Sims, of thq tax board, is the leader of these discussions, but he is ably assisted by Philip Zoercher and Major Cragun, other members of the board. To Equalize Taxation. “With the experiences of other states and with the Indiana constitutional limitations, the proposed bill represents the best that could be prepared,” said Fred Sims. “This act is the codification of the existing laws of Indiana, plus the suggested changes. There has been no to direct it toward any class of persons or class of property. Its sole purpose "is to try to place on the tax duplicates property at its fair taxing value in order that all classes of property shall be placed on the tax duplicate to equalise taxation.

“There are no new theories of taxation Introduced. It is not a revenueraising measure, with the idea of collecting more revenue. The idea is to equalize the taxes and not to raise more revenue than is raised now. “The changes may be summed up under the following heads: (1) Organization of the tax machinery; (2) revaluation of property; (8) inclusion in original jurisdiction on the part ojf state board of banks, trust companies and public utilities; (4) control of tax rate; (5) borrowing moneys; (6) referendum vote, on loans; (7) change of assessment time from March 1 to January 1; (8) taxation of bonds and other intangibles. Assessors May Be Removed. “The power asked over the county and township assessors by th< tax board is the main thing in the organization of the tax machinery. This power gives the board the right to remove assessors . for failure of duty. This power is essential to the working of the law and there need be no fear that the board would use this power unjustly.” In reference to assessment by the board of banks, trust companies and public utilities, Mr. Sims pointed out that information on which to base these assessments was in the bands of state officials and easier of access by the tax commissioners than by

The provision to place the control of the tax rate in the hands of the state board was important for the protection of the taxpayer, Mr. Sims said. He referred to how the tax board had asked taxing units in Indiana to reduce their rates when >115,000,000 was added to the tax duplicate, but in all but a few cases this request was met with an increase Instead of a decrease. “Need 1 call your attention to the fact that the increasing tax rates may be viewed with alarm,” said Mr. Sims In pointing out the necessity for some control to be put on the tax rate. “In most cities in Indiana, the rate is about 4 per cent,” he sala. Yo Keep Tax Rate Down. Mr. Sims discussed the provision that no more revenue could be raised in 1920 and thereafter than in 1919 without the approval of the state tax board. This was made to prevent aa increase in the tax rate and '* to make the tax rate go down automatically with the increase of the amount on the tax duplicate. The proposition of making taxing units submit plans for borrowing moneys to the state board for review was based on the idea of giving the fullest publicity to every such proposal, Mr. Sims said.