The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-06
Debate on Bill to Increase Salary Of
Tax Commissioners Produces
Sensational Incident.
FOR NEW DEAF INSTITUTE
BILL BY MR.. GOODWINE TO SELL
PROPERTY NOW IN USE.
Hendee's Plan to Curb Power of
Trusts Considered at Morning
SessiOn-ROutine Business.

William A. Kittinger of Anderson. who
represents Madison county in the upper
house. in leading the fight at yesterday
afternoons session of the Senate for the
engrossment of his bill to increase the
salary of members of the State Board of
Tax Commissioners to $1,000, precipitated
the most exciting scene of which the State
Senate has been the theater for MANY a
day. Taking exception to the attitude Of
certain senator's who saw fit to advocate
economy in the consideration of the bill.
Senator Kittinger poured forth wrath in
words that were STEPPED in vitriol. Upon
the head of one member in particular the
weight of the denunciation of the senator
from Anderson fell most heavily. With
scathing sarcasm and biting irony Mr. Kit
finger fell upon Mr.. Parks, of Plymouth,
and used him as the scapegoat for the Of
fenses of all the rest. The Senate was
crowded with visitors, many of them
women, the wives or friends of the sena-
tors, and the dramatic intensity of the
situation affected them so that there were
occasional outbursts of purely emotional
applause.
DEBATE BEGAN TAMELY.
The debate was inaugurated tamely
enough. Senator Kittinger called up the
bill and took the floor to argue why it
should be advanced to engrossment.
This is BILL" said Senator Kittinger,
(which proposes to allow the tax commits
sioners of the State $1,000 year instead of
5000 which they are now receiving. The
bill provides that the members of the
board must devote their entire time to the
service of the State. and l believe the
measure of economy rather than an at
tempt to put another finger into the public
treasury.
1--WE all know there is no such important
officer the tax commissioner. Some of
probably have not familiarized ourselves
with the exact nature and onerousness of
his duties. They are such that man of
necessary for the place. Conditions have
arisen in Indiana that make necessary the
devotion of the entire time of the members
of the Board of State Tax Commissioners
TO the work they have in hand. l believe
that an additional $1,000 a year is fair and
just. / hope the senator's will see fit to
support this BILL.
GOCHENOUR STARTED TROUBLE.
Senator Gochenour, OF Wabash county.
Immediately sent up an amendment chang
ing the salary from 5000 a year to se.oCo.
and moved its adoption. II see no reason -
he observed. 'for giving these men more
money. The law provides now that they
shall give their services to the State all the
time and / think this is the most thinly
yelled attempt TO legislate more money into
the pockets of officers already getting
enough that L saw. Why should we
pay these men more salary? Admitting thar
they work hard and that their work is i'm
portant. there are plenty of men in the
State that would be glad to take the lob at
81 900 a year. The woods are full of them.
| think 1t Is time TO put stop to the whole
sale Introduction OF measures which have
for their object no other purpose in the
world than getting a hand In the public
purse
Senator Kittinger sat tight and made no
attempt at that time to answer the senator
from Wabash. Those familiar with the
senator's characteristics scented the coming
storm however. and were not SURPRISED ~
the developments little later on The
Democratic members. realizing that some
thing was entirely out Of the cut-and- dried
programme. began 10 take renewed in
tcrest in life- Many of them were for the
bill: some were against II.
Senator Albert ID. Ogborn. Of New Castle
replied to Senator Gochenour. and entered