Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1917 — EXCISE TAX BILL KILLED BY SENATE [ARTICLE]

EXCISE TAX BILL KILLED BY SENATE

Measure Proposed by Governor Is Defeated. FINAL VOTE WAS 18 TO 29 / :rr: i .' :-. Six Republicans Voted With the Democrats—s2,ooo,ooo Carried in Specific Appropriation Measure Which Passed House. Indianapolis, March 2.---The senate, killed life excise lax bill proposed by Governor Goodrich, the vote being 18 ayes to 29 noes. Six Republicans, Senators Manton. Reser, McConaha, McCray. Ned.jl ami Wolfson voted with the 25 Democrats’ against the bill. Approximately $2,000,l)00- is carried in the specific appropriation bill which has'been passed bv the house and will be considered today in the senate. These appropriations are repairs, Extensions aiid improvements of the various state institutions, ami the money will be available during the next two years. The house put in the,bill, as an amendment, an item of $132,060 for remodeling ami repairing the interior of the statehouse so as to provide more room for the state offices ami for the installation of a now and effective system of. artificial ventilation. The regular appropriation bill, carrying approximately $4,000,000 a year for the next two years for the maintenance of the state institutions, offices, departments, bureaus, commissions ami boards, has been passed by both branches of the legislature and fs ready for the signature of the governor.

A bdl has been passed by the house making township trustees eligible to re-election but limiting them to eight years in toy twelve years. Now that the big fight over the excise tax bill has ended, there is but one more important subject before the legislature, and that is the highway commission bill. Indications are that this measure will fail to get through, because the senate and house are at odds on the amendments which the house made in the bill. The fight on the excise bill was the most interesting of the entire session, for those engaged in it were among the most powerful state officials and business interests in the state. They were, lined .up on both 'sides of the proposition. Governor Goodrielrand bis supporters sought to establish'the excise tax system of producing a large amount of revenue through a special tax on corporations, and to follow this with a reduction in the state general fund tax levy. The opposition insisted that this was unfair, an,d that the governor- was seeking to make political capital out of the matter. Intense bitterness marked the entire excise tax fight.

The bill to provide for the creation of a municipal storage house for the Indianapolis city market, as a means of fighting the middleman, was killed in the house. , - The senate has passed the following bills: To authorize consolidation of schools in certain school districts, intended to permit construction of high schools in Putnam county. * Authorizing school townships and corresponding civil townships to borrow money and issue bonds to purchase school grounds and erect schoolhouses in certain cases. To amend primary election law eliminating second-choice feature and pres-idential-preferential vote, changing date of primary from March to May and making state political committees governing body of smaller committees. Providing for an additional superior court for Vigo county. Providing for a state flag. » Providing that receivers for companies doing business under supervision of the auditor of the state may be appointed only on application ot the attorney general acting on direction of the auditor. Tile house passed the following bills: Giving voluntary associations in certain eajses'jbe power to condemn and purchase lands for park purposes. Conferring the right of eminent domain to park commissioners. ’ Limiting apportionment of justice of the peace, to One to a township in townships containing' cities of the second class and giving such justices the power to appoint constables.

the sale by cities of the class of parß lands. Regulating the orgariization. man’ a gement arid discipline of, the Indiana National Guard. Amending the act relating to the selection of trustees of the state teachers’ pension fund. Reducing recording fee for chattel mortgages to 25 cents an instrument. Providing that in specifications for public improvements materials shall be designated by common names, and not by. trade names or arbitrary titles. Providing for establishment of township high schools in townships with an assessed valuation of more than $600,000. ’ • . - _ Establishing, trout hatcheries in rivers and streams of the state. Fixing, the pay of sheriffs for the return of escaped prisoners* Amending, the aef defining method of paying fees’of sheriffs for service ,of writs'in other counties. "Compelling witnesses to attend civil proceedings in courts in adjoining counties. ' *