Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 February 1941 — Page 13
G.0.P. HACKS AWAY AT STATE BUDGE
Proposes Reduction in Retailers’ Gross-Income Levy;|
Leaders Oppose Special Session to Help Solve State’s Financial Problems.
By WILLIAM CRABB Republican legislative and party leaders have cut more than $1,500,000 out of the State’s $105,000,000 biennial budget and are reported to have agreed: |
1. That no new taxes will
be enacted at this session of
the Legislature if it can be avoided.
2. That some reduction in the gross income tax rate for retailers would be made, but probably not as much as the 14 of 1 per cent proposed by the merchants. 3. That the budget should be cut sufficiently to avoid if possible a special session to raise revenue. ‘Another meeting of the leaders, which includes State G. O. P. Chairman Arch N. Bobbitt, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Roy Harrison and Rep. Hobart
Creighton, Budget Committee member, is scheduled for tonight. ' Sales Tax Dropped ‘The budget cuts at last night's conference were made on the budget bill providing for the State’s admin-
istrative expense. : Last Monday the G. O. P. legis-
to keep the State “out of the red.” Farm and labor groups immediately opened fire on the proposal which was dropped altogether. Under the $105,000,000 budget, the State would have a deficit of about $3,000,000 at the end of the 1941-43 biennium, but increased gross income tax receipts due to the defense “boom” is expected to absorh this.
Would Have Cut Income
However, the proposed recluction in the retailers’ rate would have reduced revenue $4,000,000 a year added to the fact that State cfficials estimate a $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 working balance in the treasury is necessary. G. O. P. leaders point out that if they can “squeeze through” for a year and a half (the biennium doesn’t start until July 1), the 1943 Legislature could “straighten things out” before the deficit would be felt on June 30, 1943.
lators voted to support a sales tax
Weight Tax May Be Kept
1 Indiana truck owners who have
license plates to repeal the Police after Friday.
Midnight Friday
By EARL RICHERT
been delaying the purchase of 1941
in hopes that the Republicans will carry out their promise tire en tax may find themselves in the toils of State
is the deadline for purchasing the new license
plates and thousands of truck owners are still without them, according
to C. W. Abraham, secretary of the Private Trucker Owners of Indiana, aoe. eved e ela Hin Y lates because they believed that the weight tax, which they usually pay at the same time they buy their license plates, would be yepealed, he explained,
; Committee Delays Repeal
‘ rday, hewever, the Senate i py Gemy9y uashed all hopes that the cononl weight tax would be lifted is year. Wiel Committee amended the House-approved tire tax repeal bill to provide that the repeal should not go into effect until Jan. 1, 1942, and increased the costs of truck license plates to make up for most of the revenue to be lost through repeal of the weight tax. The Senate Committee’s action seemed certain to bring about an intra-house battle over the bill. Rep. Herbert M. Copeland (R. Madison), chairman of the House Roads Committee, said he doubted that the lower house would concur in the bill as now drawn, if it passes the Senate, Senator Floyd I. Garrott (R. . Battle Ground) explained that the increased fees proposed in the amended bill would net the State between $1,200,000 and $1,500,000
purchasing the li-|.
annually, thus nearly making up
for the $1,600,000 which would be lost through repeal of the tire tax. The amended bill would fix the following license fees for trucks: Present Proposed License Fee License Fee ..$ 6 8 10 20
Size 12 ton (cove. 1ton cccavsoces 1-2 tons . «oc 2-31% tons esses 25 314-5 tons ..... 60 5-71% tons ...., 100 Over 71% tons... 200 The amended bill als¢ would increase the license fees on {irailers, semi-trailers ‘and truck tractors. Trailer license fees which now run from $3 for a Y:-ton trailer to $50 for one of over five tons would be raised from $3 for a trailer of six feet or under to $175 for ¢ne of more than 30 feet. &emi~trailer fees would be raised frora the present $10-$125 range to $15-$175 and the license on tractors would be raised from the present flat $25 to $55. Grants New Exemption The amended bill grants & 50 per cent exemption on licerise fees for farm trucks and school busses. Thus, under the amended bill with the tire tax repealed, the license plate of a 1%-ton farm frucz would cost only $13.50. At present a farmer owning such a truck must pay a $20 license fee and a $6 weight tax, if he uses dual balloon tires.
Backs Aviation Safety Bill
Indianapolis aviation leaders today urged passage of a bill creating a State Aviation Commission to “bring safety to Indiana skies.” 1. J. Dienhart, Municipal Airport superintendent, told a House committee yesterday that “it would stop the killing of eight or 10 persons each spring who either were not qualified to fly or were using machines which did not measure up to safety specifications.”
The bill, drafted by the Governor’'s Commission on Aviation, would set up standards similar to Federal Government regulations. Rep. H. H. Evans (R. New Castle) criticized the sponsors for having the bill introduced so late in the session, stating “it would cost $1000 to print this 62-page bill and we have very little time in which to act upon it.” Mr. Dienhart replied that *you will act upon it if you are interested in saving lives.” Walker W. Winslow, secretary of the Governor's Commission, . explained that the bill was formed after 2000 fliers and persons interested in aviation had expressed themselves on all phases of the subject at 15 meetings.
. While the House committee took
no action on this measure, it decided to report out for passege another which would finance the setting up and operation of the Aviation Commission. [This bill revises . the gasoline tax refund procedure, permitting the State to retain one of the 4 cents per gallon ‘collected on gasoline, refuncling the other 3 cents to the puichasers. Reid Landis, Eastern Airlines official, said that while he helieved regulations, such as the proposed Aviation Commission were needed, he thought its effect would be to “discourage aviation in the State.” He explained that the gasoline tax would discourage airlines from: purchasing their fuel whilé in Indiana and that the tax they would have to pay “would not benefit us in any way.”
Recalls Furniture Tax Bill
The Senate today voted to recall a measure it approved yssterday exempting from taxation householders owning only meager home furnishings. The bill provides for a $150 tax exemption on the assessed valua-
tion. . to recall the bill said:
Senator Thurman A. Biddinger (R. Marion) who made the motion “I have been informed that this bil] would take
$50,000,000 off the personal property valuation totals of the State and
* I think it should be killed.” The motion was carried by a voice vote. : Senator Lucius R:. Somers (R. Hoagland), author of the measure, declared, however, that it would not cost the State a cent in revenue. ‘He said that if his bill becomes a law, the assessors would simply have to increase the value of home furnishings, thus making the man with comfortable home furnishings pay a little more while the man with only the most meager furnishings would not have to pay any-
resolution for a Constitutional amendment which would have enabled the Legislature to enact laws to exempt the homesteads oi persons over 65 from taxation. The Senate yesterday also passed a bill creating a Cour; of Claims to handle all claims for damages against the State. The Cours would be composed of three judges. named by the Governor, who would meet in Indianapolis semi-arinuglly. The claims allowed by the judges would be paid by acts of the Icllowing
thing. Earlier, the Senate defeated a
Seek to Aid City’s Growth:
Legislature.
A bill designed to insure that Indianapolis will not be confined to its present city limits by small incorporated towns on the outskirts, the Senate by a vote of 46 to 1 today. - ‘ The bill, which already has passed the House, imposed stringent regulations on communities desiring to incorporate, making it virtually
impossible for them to do so. ‘It provides that in Marion County, a community desiring to incorporate must have a population of at least 250 and at least half the "voters residing in the territory and half of the real estate owners must « petition the County Commissioners
for incorporation. William H. Book, Saber of Commerce vice president, who spon- , sored the measure, said it would in-
‘sure Indianapolis. unhampered
‘The measure is a companion bill to another in the Senate s4tting up a Metropolitan Plan Commission for Marion County. The Senate sent to tle House another measure designed to ¢ncourage Indianapolis Railways, Inc. to run busses to suburbs. The bill, which passed 45 to 1, would reduce the registration fee on each bus operating from inside the city limits to a point immediately
(outside, from $6 to 60 cent: a seat.
KNAPP IS ROUGH WITH HOUSE GOP.
| Attempt to Vote $5 Daily?
For Expenses Brings Slap; Motion Loses.
one yesterday. They had signed a petition asking
rules and let them vote on passage of a bill appropriating $40,000 to
all legislators. several days ago, signed by 52 House members. . ~ QGripping the bill in Speaker Knapp stepped down from the rostrum and started speaking from the floor. “I've been holding this in my.
be able to leave it there.” : Only for Republicans Turning to the Democratic minority, he told them that “my remarks do not concern you and you needn’t listen.” “What I have to say is to the Republicans. When I ran for this office the last time, I knew how .much it cost to live here. I knew what the per diem was. But I ran anyhow. And so did you.” Stating that he did not think it. was “the proper thing to do,” he urged that the House vote down the motion. “If you do this,” he said, “I promise ‘you this bill will never leave my desk again.” Reads Names of Signers Then the roll call started. Several Representatives complained that they had been “put on the spot.” Others, voting for the motion, said it was the only way to get higher-type men, put an end to shakedown bills and thwart highpressure lobbyists. When the count was tallied, it showed 62 voting against the mo-
for it. As a final thrust, Mr." Knapp ordered the names of all 40 signers of the motion read. : There wasn’t any doubt about the winner after that. =
8TH BILL VETOED BY SCHRICKER
Conservation Board Plan Is Passed Despite His Action.
Governor Henry F. Schricker today declared another G. O. P. “decentralization” bill unconstitutional in his eighth veto message to the General Assembly and signed eight more bills, : He vetoed the bill that . would make him the minority member of a Republican-dominated board to appoint four members of the State Conservation Commission, The bill was passed over the veto in the House by a vote of 62 to 31, and in the Senate, 30 to 16, on strict party lines. Cites ‘Fatal Provision’ “The fatal provision in this bill, as I have pointed out in my other messages disapproving certain bills, is the association of two elective officers of the State Government with the Governor to discharge purely executive - functions,” the message stated. The eight bills signed by the Governor will: 1. Authorize County Election Boards to order pay increases for precinct election workers. 2. Establish Good Friday as legal holiday in Indiana. 3. Protect newspapermen from being forced to reveal the source of information in court or before a Grand Jury. 4. Provide for disposition of property where there is no evidence that owners died otherwise than simultaneously. Saves Firemen’s Jobs
5. Provide for reinstatement of city firemen after discharge from military service. 6. Provide that livestock killed by dogs be appraised for damages by freeholders instead of householders 7. Provide that the St. Joseph County Treasurer may continue to collect Barrett law assessments in South Bend. 8. Change the name of the State Feeble Minded School to the Ft. Wayne State School. This brings to 37 the bills signed by the Governor since the session opened. .
EX-JUDGE WILLIAMS HEARS BUTSCH PLEA
Former Superior Court Judge Joseph R. Williams today qualified as special judge in Criminal Court to hear arguments some time next week on a petition by William Ray Butsch, alleged slayer, seeking release on bond from county jail. Butsch is under indictment in connection with the hammer slaying almost two years ago of Mrs. Carrie Lelah Romig. The defendant twice has been adjudged insane and later declared sane. He was declared insane in Criminal Court in May, 1939, and confined to the Indiana State Prison hospital for the criminally insane. On his Criminal Court petition for a. rehearing he was again declared .insane in November last year. Recently ‘in Probate Court a jury feund Butsch sane on a petition for appointment of a guardian. ‘The habeas corpus petition to be let to bail was filed in Criminal Court a few weeks ago.
ASSAULT COMPLAINT READY.
HOLLYWOOD, Feb, 25 (U. P.).~— Deputy District Attorney Roy Ham-= mon was ready today to issue:Ac~ tress Lillian Roth an assault complaint, if she still wants to prosecute Eugene Weiner, her estranged husband, for hitting her with a telephone. Mr. Hammond said, how=ever, that he doubted Miss Roth would prefer charges.
APPROVE ASSESSMENT : The Senate today passed unanimously a bill permitting the voluntary reassessment of property in counties and townishsp. It provides that assessors must ase a uniform manual to be drawn up by the State Tax Board.
Forty Representatives blushed as Speaker James Knapp -to suspend |j#
provide $5 daily expense money for It was introduced |;
his hand, |:
desk,” he said, “and hoping I would |:
Ny
pain Is Not Str
This might be a symbolic picture of Nazi troops goose-stepping backwards into Spain. It shows German “volunteers” leaving Gijo, Spain, in 1939 after service in the Civil War. Now five detachments of German troops are reported to have marched right back where they came from “fo aid Spanish reconstruction” of hurricane-hammered Santander.
Ae 3 aL
LUDLOW SUPPORTS
|AMERICA FIRST HERE
Support for the newly formed local chapter of the America First Committee was offered by Rep. Louis Ludlow (D. Ind.) today in a letter to Merle H. Miller, executive committee chairman, Rep. Ludlow, who hag fought
through several sessions of Congress for passage of his War Referendum
Ml | Bill, told the committee:
“I think the best prayer we could send up to the throne of the Almighty is that America will become an arsenal for world peace instead of an arsenal for war.” Besides Mr. Miller, other executive committee members announced today include John A. Bruhn, vice psesident; H. Bruce.Palmer, secretary: Ralph L. Swingley, treasurer; William L. Fortune, H. Burch Nunley, Gordon Cutler, Harry T. Ice, Edward J. Green, Doyle Zaring, Stanley Lawton and Edward E. McLaren. Mr, Miller named Dan W. Flickinger chairman of the organization committee; Mr. Fortune, head of the publicity committee; Mr. Ice, research committee; Mr. McLaren, speakers bureau, and Mr, Palmer, office committee.
Defies Threat fo Pass Sentence
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (U. P.).— Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard defied a threat of the concentra= tion camp yesterday and centenced a young conscientious objector to two years in prison for refusing to register for the draft. Stanley Rappeport, 25-year-old executive secretary of the Young Peoples’ Socialist League, acting as his own attorney, said the Selective Service Act was both unconstitutional and undemocratic. Addressing the judge, he said: “This law will lead to a dicta~ torship. I'm afraid that some time you yourself, Your Honor, and I will meet in the same concentration camp. And when we do, I'll know that I tried to do something about it in advance.” “Well,” the judge replied, “I'll have to take my chances on that.”
WALLACE TO VISIT CHILE
SANTIAGO, Chile, Feb. 25 (U. P.).—Vice President Henry A. Wal+ lace plans to attend the Inter= American Congress and the fourth centenary of the founding of Santiago in Chile in September it was
tion and only 14 brave souls voting |-
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