Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1920 — SENATE TAX BILL GOES TO HOUSE [ARTICLE]

SENATE TAX BILL GOES TO HOUSE

ACTION OF UPPER BRANCH ' DOES MUCH TO RELIEVE TENSION. Indianapolis, July 26—Republican members of the Indiana senate at a caucus late today agreed that they would stand firm for the passage of the home rule tax bill at the special session of the Indiana general assembly, but also decided that they would no longer withhold from the house the tax bill written by Senator Roscoe Kiper, of Boonville, and passed by the senate as a substitute for the measure prepared by Representative Harry B. Tuthill, of Michigan City. The Kiper bill was passed in the senate last week following receipt of the Tuthill bill, which was passed bjr the house, It has not been sent back to the house, the republican majority at caucuses having decided to hold it until final action was taken on the home rule bill which is now in the hands of a conference committee. At the republican caucus this afternoon it was decided, however, to send the Kiper bill to the house and it will be released to the lower body at the session tomorrow morning. Both houses held short sessions this afternoon and will meet again tomorrow morning. Little business was transacted today, the interest of the legislators being centered in the tax bills.

Home Rule Bill. The home’ rille tax bill is in the hands of a conference committee composed of Senators Aldredge, Brown and Hogston and Representatives Mendenhall, Rothrock and Givan. They held no conference today, but were expected to get together before the two houses meet tomorrow. . The bill passed % the house provides for authority of local taxing units over bond issues and tax levies, but names the state ta» boai*d as the body to which appeals should be taken. The senate amended the house bill so as to make the circuit court the appeal body. Bush Explain*. Lieutenant Governor Edgar D. Bush explained this afternoon that senate republicans would stand firm for their , amendments to the home rule bill. He declared there is strong sentiment for the- bill and that it “is bound to pass and be-, come a law.” • , The lieutenant governor explained that in holding the Kiper bill during the last few days instead of returning it immediately to the house he was “acting in accordance with the majority’s desire.” Hold Kiper Bill. Previous to this afternoon’s meeting republican senate leaders have indicated that they would hold the Kiper bill in the senate until the home rule tax bill was passed and had been signed by the governor. When the Kiper bill is returned to the house tomorrow that body is expected to refuse to accept it as a substitute for the Tuthill bill and both bills will be put in the hands of a conference committee. The bills are both designed to meet the situation created by the supreme court decision which declared invalid the act of the state tax board in making horizontal increases in 1919 assessments. Conference Committee*. The conference committees which have 1 other important measures made little progress today, but all hoped to be able to make reports tomorrow. 'Nie committee to which was referred th? coal commission bill has decided upon a report which names the state board of accounts as the commission which would receive the power to investigate and regulate fuel prices. The house bill would have named a new commission to deal with the coal problem while the senate proposed* the matter be placed under .control of the public service commission. There was no session today of the war memorial conference committee to which the house and senate bills on this subject have been referred. Senator Clarence Munton of Kendallville, one of the conferrees, was not in the city and Lieutenant Governor Bush named Senator Edward B. James of Dana to fill the place. The county unit foad law conference committee also failed to hold a session but expected to meet tonight for an informal conference. Practically no business was transacted at the afternoon session of the house. Two Now Bill*. The senate received two new bills, one was introduced by Senator George L. Laney, of Rockville, to permit Indiana and Purdue universities and Indiana State normal schbol to borrow money when they are short of funds. The other was introduced, by Senator Harry Negley, of Indianapolis, and would permit the cite to increase to six per cent! the interest on Indianapolis park bonds. The house bill introduced by RepI resentative Clark McKinley, of Mun- । cie, to compel wholesale firms tp I sell to co-operative associations was I killed sh the senate, the vote being ' 1.7 ayes and 18 noes. The bill was < called up by Senator. Arthur D. I McKinley, of Muncie, who spoke ’in its behalf. Its passage was opposed in speeches by Senators Wil-

liam E. Bowers, of Allen county, J. F. Masters, of Indianapolis, and Charles A. Hagerty, of South Bend, The senate also passed by a vote of 26 to 8 the house bill which prorides that cities that have passed from one class to a higher class can pay officials the minimum saL laries specified "for that higher class. It will also permit cities of the fifth class that have passed into the fourth class to’abolish boards of works and safety not required by law and to devolve their duties upon the city council.