The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-28
TAXLEVYLOWERfD
REPUBLICANS or SENATE VOTE TO
DECREASE THE BURDEN.
House Bill to Increase state Tuition
Tax from Eleven to sixteen
Cents killed.
LOCAL RELIEF AUTHORIZED
TOWNSHIPS. CITIES AND TOWNS MAY
HELP THEIR OWN SCHOOLS.
senator Balls Amendment Provides
for Local Option and senator Mat
sons Bill for Tax Decrease.
SAYRE GETS IN HIS WORK
TAX COMMISSIONERS WILL GET NO
INCREASE IN SALARY.
by Big Vote-Senate Accomplished
Remarkable Amount o. Work.
senator BaIPs Amendment Provides
for Local Option and senator Mat
sons Bill for Tax Decrease.
sAYRE GETS IN HIS WORK
TAX COMMISSIONERS WILL GET NO
INCREASE IN SALARY.
House Passes Hastings Gambling BIN
by Big yote-Senate Accomplished
Remarkable Amount o. Work.


The plan TO raise the state tuition levy
from IL TO 16 cents, vigorously advocated
by the Democrats of both House and SEN
ate, was defeated yesterday in the Senate
by the Republican members. who placed
themselves on record as opposed to an ad-
ditional burden upon the taxpayers. House
bill No. 10 was killed and an amendment
substituted which utterly changed the spirit
and letter Of the tax legislation proposed.
Instead of the scent increase proposed BY
the bill, an amendment was substituted
providing that townships. cities and towns
urgently in need Of financial relief for their
schools may levy annually tax of 50 cents
on each 800 OF taxable property, instead of
35 cents, as the present law provides. The
purpose of the amendment offered by SEN
ator Walter l.. Ball is to prevent burdening
the whole State by giving each locality the
right to benefit itself If necessary.
Senator Matson, of Indianapolis, intro
duced a new bill. No. $50. amending the
state tax law, which slightly reduces the
total state tax levy. The exact annual re-
duction which the new bill will bring about
is ohe-sixth OF a cent on each 800. The bill
reduces the levypfor the general fund / cent
and the levy for the sinking fund one-quar-
ter Of cent. BY bin that passed the
other day the special levy for the mainte-
nance Of Purdue University. Indiana Uni
versity and the State Normal School is in
creased 1I-l2 cents While the Republicans
of the General Assembly feel that more
money is needed for the support OF the
state institutions. they are In accord on
the proposition that the State is i'm such a
prosperous condition that a balance may
well be struck without impoverishing any
fund or injuring any department of the
government. The increase for the state
schools is. therefore. balanced by removing
from the total tax levy 3-12 cents. When
the General Assembly adjourns the people
of the State will pay taxes on a total levy
of 20 7-12 cents instead of levy Of 2sss
cents
PARTY ISSUE.
House bill No. 10 had been made the
special order of business in the Senate for
IL o'clock. The Republicans had placed
themselves on record as opposed 10 the in
crease of the tuition levy from IL to 1s
cents, and the Democrats had given notice
that they were going to support the bill. A
committee consisting OF Senators Ball, Mat
son and Kittnger had prepared an amend
ment practically a substitute bill, which re-
moved the additional levy specified and pro-
vided that townships. towns or cities re-
quiring additional taxation for the mainte-
nance of their schools might have power
TO order it after making proper presenta-
ton of facts to the state auditor. Senator
Matson had prepared a bill also the spirit
of which was the balancing OF the general
levy and its decrease by one-sixth OF
When the bill was called up at IL O'Clock
Senator Matson moved that IL be taken up
and amended. His motion was adopted by
a strict party vote, and Senator Balls
amendment was adopted. The amendment
is as follows:
section l. The school trustees of the
several townships, towns and cities shall
have power to levy annually a tax not ex-
ceedings 80 cents on each 500 OF taxable
property and Is cents on each taxable poll,
which tax shall be assessed and collected
as the taxes of the State and county rev.
enues are assessed and collected, and the
revenues arising from such tax levy shall
constitute supplementary tuition fund, to
extend the terms of school In said town.
ships towns and cities after the tuition
apportioned to such townships, towns and
cities from the State tuition revenues shall
be exhausted;
..Provided however that should there
be remaining in the tuition fund OF any
township. town or city levying such tax
at the close of any school year any unex-
pended balances of such supplementary tut
ton fund assessed and collected for use
in such school year. or previous years.
equal TO or exceeding III ttnb
upon each 500 of taxable property In said
township, town or city, then IL shall be
the duty of the county auditor TO take no.
tice of the same, and at the time when the
trustee or trustees of such school corpora
ton shall make the annual levy for SUCH
tax such trustee or trustees shall make.
under oath, an estimate OF the amount or
supplementary tuition fund that VIII be
required TO meet the actual expenses OF
the school for the next school year. and
from such estimate said auditor shall de-
Hsd hall 0f
I'm such trustee or trustees hands on the
first Monday OF July, and the said trustee
or trustees shall make levy not larger
than shall be sufficient 10 produce sup
Elemental revenue equal 10 the amount
remaining of such sworn estimate after
such unexpended balance shall have been
deducted therefrom.
.sSec ? All laws and parts of laws in
conflict herewith. and especially Section J.
of an act approved March 2 1888, being
Chapter 50 of Page ls3. of the acts OF 1885.
are hereby repealed
DEMOCRATS Is DISORDER.
After the bill had been passed TO engross-
ment the Democrats tried their old tactics
of flibustering and moved that the vote by
which the amendment had been adopted be
reconsidered. Senator Milburn. who took
the lead in lighting the Ball amendment.
made the motion. Senator Ball Immediate
Iy moved that the Milburn motion be laid
on the table and his motion carried.
The scene which followed verged on the
sensational Senators Milburn. Davis. For
tune and Ulrey rushed TO the front of the
chamber shaking their fists in the air and
declaring that President Gilbert had been
unjust and unfair TO them. One after an
other they arose TO question OF personal
priyilege but Senator Matson. who had
taken the gavel. refused 10 recognize them
on the ground that IL was a custom Pc
culiar TO the Democrats OF the Senate TO
take advantage OF the rule OF personal priv
ilege only 10 waste the time OF the Senate
in rambling around Robin Hoods barn
Senator Milburn, OF Dubois, became obsfre.
porous He roared and rumbled like a VOL
cano in full action and refused to take hia
| seat when requested TO 90 so by the chair