Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1920 — INDIANA FEDERATION OF FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION [ARTICLE]

INDIANA FEDERATION OF FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION

- Indianapolis, Ind., April s—(Special)—Acting upon orders received from J. R. Howard, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the national organization to which the Indiana Federation of Farmers’ Associations is affiliated, Lewis Taylor, general secretaiy, has prepared to take a state wide referendum among the agriculturists on the Nolan excise tax bill pending in Congress. A similar referendum is to be taken in the twenty-eight states which go .to make up the national federation, and the result of the vote will be presented to the proper authorities at Washington. The bill in question was introduced into the House of Representatives recently and provides for the raising of public revenues by a tax upon the privilege* of the use and enjoyment of land of large value, lands being defined in the measure as “the surface of the ground with all easements in, on, or over same.” This includes forest, water rights, and minerals, but does not include improvements the result in whole or part of the application of labor to land. AH persons, coiporations or firms owning land in the value in excess of $lO,000, whether in possession or leased to others, would 'be subject to an excise tax upon the privilege of the use and enjoyment of such excess at the rate of one per cent. Concerning the referendum Mr. Howard said: “In considering this Act you should not allow the fact that the revenues will come in principal part from the farmers, to prejudice your judgment, ’but should consider it in relation to fairness to other interests, and whether or not it would be of sufficient burden to affect land values, rentals or incomes and thus affect production. There is no provision made for the deductions for liens or mortgages. The provisions merely rail for one per cent per annum on actual valuations of all holdings over SIO,OOO. Since the farmers of the nation are most vitally concerned in this proposal we ask that you give this careful consideration. Secretaries of the various state organizations of farmers l»ve been invited to attend a Middle West meeting for the purpose of forming an organization of secretaries in this city for April 14. President Howard, Vice-President Strivings, and National Secretary Coverdale teve been invited as special guests. The ter-organization is expected to be of mutual benefit to the secretaries in conducting their various activities.