Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 257, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 March 1931 — Page 5

MARCH 6,1931.

GOV LESLIE GIVES REASONS FOR OLD AGE PENSION VETO

Full text of Governor Leslie's message, vetoing the oldage pension bill, follows: ' '

Mr. President and members of the Senate—l am returning herewith without my approval. Senate Enrolled Act, No. 3,—the old age pension act. The sincere and warm-hearted advocates of this experimental legislation are entitled to every consideration. It is impossible to approach the problems involved in this measure without feeling and expressing that profound sympathy which is awakened in every breast by any movement, which, even theoretically or tentatively, seeks to put into practice society’s most praiseworthy attribute, human charity. The members of the general assembly who have tried in all good faith to provide for the adoption of such a revolutionary innovation as that involved in old age pensions should be commended for their sympathetic attitude toward the abstract problem of old age indigence and its amelioration.

4,000 VETERANS ASK AID DAILY local Bureau Has 20,000 Requests on File. Indiana veterans are applying for loans on adjusted compensation certificates at the rate of about 4,000 a day, John H. Ale, regional manager of the United States veterans’ bureau said today. Ale has applied for further funds to make loans. The $400,000 first alloted probably will not last through this week, he said. Applications now total about 20,000, with loans being made at the rate of 1,000 each day. Fifty thousand of the 92,C00 Indiana veterans are expected to seek the 50 per cent loans. Kokomo Woman Dies KOKOMO, Ind., March 6.—Funeral services were held for Mrs. Emma McGrail, 61, who died a few hours after suffering a ruptured blood vessel at a store where she was employed as a saleswoman. Her husband, John McGrail, died eight years ago. Rail Executive Kills Self PHILADELPHIA, March 6.—Nicholas C. Brooks, 50, an executive of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad, shot himself to death in his room in a downtown hotel here.

JUST * Jk UNPACKED 30 Mew j Styles in / q C Footwear f .93 mm We Bought These —LJ!! 1 "” 1 11,111 - Shoes to Sell for $4. 25 * But We Have DeNewest Creations in Blonde Kid, cided to Sell Them Season Kid, Reptile, Pastel Kid, r_„ qc Black Kid and Other Styles. * Choicest Cl Ch sar UIARLEo jsz $1.77 4 West Washington Street $1.77

TONOBMWONIX Ladies * or Gents* Modern Guaranteed Wrist Watches > $9-95 /^JSjss Complete with metal ~s&Mr curate and depend- ■*- 45c Down! £££ \ Jna* a Faw Door* North of Washington Street. i..—-Open Until 9:30 o’Clock Saturday Night ———

We have here, however, not only an abstract and sentimental appeal, but a situation and a condition demanding practical, workable, and adequate solutions. In my judgment, Senate Enrolled Act ‘ No. 3, fails to meet the conditions it is intended to meet. It carries provisions decidedly disturbing to those who must pay the costs. It is said by some that this act has been enacted at this time primarily “to establish the principle involved;” the principle of doles to the indigent and aged who are without support or means of livelihood. This means but one thing: That this legislation is an “opening wedge” into the public treasury, and that later sessions of the Indiana general assembly will be urged by lobbyists and propagandists to enlarge the doles and increase the tax burden progressively as the doles

Society Peril By United Press BEVERLY HILLS, Cal., March 6.—Will Rogers, the actor, admitted today society is interfering with his plans to organize a family polo team. Reminded that twenty years ago the polo team composed entirely of members of the E. J. Roeske family, became famous, Rogers was asked why he did not make up a team composed of himself, his sons, Bill and Jimmy, and his daughter, Mary, all expert players. “I’d hope to do that,” Rogers answered, “but Mary’s gone social on us. She hasn’t time for polo; she’s catching up with her dancing.”

STREET CONTRACTS LET Plans for Resurfacing Pennsylvania Street Ordered Drawn. Three contracts for street improvements were awarded today by the works board and plans for resurfacing Pennsylvania street, from Thirty-fourth to Thirty-eighth streets were ordered drawn. Contracts let were: Paving and grading of Twelfth street from Oregon to Brooks streets, Abel Brothers, $2,387.82; improving and curbing Twelfth, from West to Oregon streets, Robert M. Bowen Company, $4,114.62; improving California street, from Washington to Maryland, William D. Vogel, $2,607.20.

principle becomes engrafted upon our government. The unceasing effort will be to add to the army of pensioners by lowering the age limit, and to double the monthly pension allowance set forth in this act. Nobody seems to know how much the old age pension plan outlined in this legislation will draw from the public treasury. There have been various estimates. Delaware Case Cited A few days ago the small state of Delaware enacted a similar law and its pension law carried an appropriation of $250,000 to pay the state’s half of the old age pension provided for. The “principle” recognized in Delaware was the well-established principle that doles ckn not be paid without money; that public pensions can not be met without increasing taxes. In Delaware it was recognized that re is bad policy to sign a blank note without knowing where the cash is to be raised with which to meet the note on pay day, and without providing in a business-like, fair, and open fashion the funds

4 ‘Where fashion and SconomuMeet Charles 4 West Washington Street EASTER FASHIONS AT THE LOWEST PRICES IN YEARS 500 BRAND NEW g) dressesaß AND GOWN SALE TOMORROW NEW I I NEW EASTER EASTER suits Mmk coats Sporty and Dressy Models ' V jUm ßr c . T , t,.., . c Is 11/ I J mmm. Sports Tweeds With in Soft Woolens and n . _ . il :mmmiSSSr Scarfs and Dressy Novelty Tweeds " Morfes WUh Fm 10 m 1615 A 25 Clever new models, with finger tip jackets. Many are trimmed The first of the new Easter with furs and fur fabrics that coat as ' l^ons arrive. And make them so stunning in what beautiful coats they are. appearance. The new colors, Daring in design and so diftoo, and they look so youthful ferent from the usual coats at and novelty weaves are smart, these prices. New scarfs, ties, and charming in every detail. \ \ belts and novelty sleeves You must have a suit for \ \ make them irresistible. All spring, and- you can’t get a A \ the new tweed weaves and better value than these. 1\ \ • - plain colors are included.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

required to take up the paper when it is due. It is possible to estimate the probable cost of an. old age pension system in Indiana if the case of Delaware is studied. Delaware, with three counties, and only 238.380 population, evidently estimates that a law similar to this Indiana enactment would cost the state at least $125,000 a year for its share. Indiana, with ninety-two comities, and 3,225,000 population, certainly would be called upon to pay out many millions annually to match the dollars taken from the county treasuries for old age pensions. The aggregate would be staggering. Yet the old age pension act carrier no appropriation and sets up no machinery to provide the money for pension payments. Talks of Confiscation Personally I am imwilling to approve an act that calls for a large expenditure of public funds by the state and various counties, where no provision is made in the act for raising the fund to meet the obligations. In this act we are offered a plan for adoption of the old age pension plan at the option of the

county, the county to pay half of the pension and the state to pay the other half. The counties that decline to join the experiment, however, have no “option” when it comes to paying through the state treasury their respective shares of the state’s portion of the pensions paid in counties operating as dole-dispensers. There may arise in this connection the question whether a county might be required to contribute money with which to help pay bills incurred in another county by that other county. Where does confiscation begin? No machinery is here set up as in the case of school aid, tc provide for this extraordinary experimental application of the tax money of one county to pension indigents of another county. The proposed law is neither fair nor workable. The pension allowance proposed in the act is not adequate. ‘There is no provision in the act for money with which to pay the allowance. It fails to do away with county firmaries and does not meet the continuing demand for institutional care for the indigent. It merely points the way to more

urgent demands in future for ever-increasing allowances. It makes for systematic pauperism and fails to supply adequate safeguards against abuses of the experimental dole system it proposes to set up in Indiana. No Way to Know Cost It taxes the people of nonpension paying counties to help pay pensions to inhabitants of other counties. There is no way of knowing what the operation of the proposed law will cost county or state, but experiments in other states indicate that the system is excessively costly and that it means increased taxation in a time when tax reduction is the chief demand and at a time when the overburdened taxpayer is finding it more difficult than ever to pay his share of the high cost of government. If Delaware is a criterion, the measure would cost between $4,500,000 and $6,000,000 a year in Indiana. The problem of caring for the old and indigent, first is a family matter and then a community concern. The modem movement which seeks to unload local problems and expenses upon state and nation is

a dangerous and subversive tendency which threatens to break down that self-respect, self-reliance and moral integrity that are developed by home rule and independent initiative. This act not only suggests an adventure in high finances without finance, but it calls for a dangerous groping in the dark without adequate knowledge as to the ultimate destination. It is not practical. It would not meet a need, but would impose an onerous and unjust burden on those who already '’re excessively taxed.

Tomorrow — MILLER- WOHL Offers —New Spring—s*J| .85^% Beautiful new straws in a variety of styles and colors that offer a most generous selection. Os course black is predominant, but you will find most any desired color to complete your new spring outfit. Small arid youthful. Large headsizes. BASEMENT SALE Spring Hats AO c What values! You will exclaim when you see these hats. AH new colors and materials.

STORE OPEN SATURDAY NIGHT TILL 9 SALE •&-/£ Pairs s l# oo PURE SlLK—With the wear in them for which these Indianapolis hose are widely famous. Plain colors and all manner of patterns and designs from the quiet to the limit of novelty. We shall e.dvertise these hose as sub-standards, altho our eyes fail to The hose detect flaws in most of them. “on the 11 1S a time to buy a square ” dozen pair or so! —First Floor Rear. L. Strauss & Cos. 33 to 39 West Washington Street

PAGE 5

My veto in fairness to the earnest and sincere friends of the act has been forwarded with the least possible delay consistent with a careful study of the act. The bill, as passed by both houses, was introduced in the senate by Senator James J. Nejdl (Rep., Lake 1 . Under provisions of the measure counties could give optional pensions, not to exceed $25 a month, to Indigent persons over 70. The state would finance one-half the pension costs and counties adopting it the other half.