The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-01-07

SdIy 10 eI0CL tue EQUALIZATION OI ~
sessments; and that it be given au-
thority to eQualize assessments upon
personal property by classes.
| 1t Is the duty of the County Board
Of Review. among other things, to
equalize the valuation Of property as
between the various townships OF
their county. This duty has often
been neglected. The law should give
the State Tax Board the power to
equalize these valuations between
townships, in all cases where the
County Board Of Review fails to do SO.
1t is notorious fact that County
Assessors have been known to con-
sent to the listing Of property for taxa
ton at a gross undervaluation, par
ticularly when compared with the as
sessments Of similar classes of prop
erty in adjoining counties. Such fur
ther amendments should be made in
the tax laws as will secure more
nearly equal assessment Of property in
the first instance by the local author
tiles. This, IN my Judgment, can best
bs done by providing for the removal
Of the County Assessor by the State
Tax Board for cause, after due hear
ing. and for the appointment of his
successor by that Board.
Public Service Commission.
The Legislature of 1913 enacted
numerous laws in obedience to the
demands Of the different leading poliu
cal parties in 1912. Among these ell
actlnents may be mentioned the Public
Service Commission law; vocational
education law; anti-hog cholera law:
the inheritance tax law: the housing
law; the law regulating loan sharks;
the new registration act; the new cor
rupt practice act; the law providing
for the appointment OF a county agent
to work in conjunction with Purdue
University in advancing the interest
Of farmers: and the uniform negotia
BILE instrument law. These are a few
Of the laws for which that body will
finally be lauded in terms OF high
praise. Notwithstanding the partisan
criticism we have heard of 1t.
l hesitated long before | esroused
legislation creating a Public Service
Commission. Such lesiSlA ton runs
counter tc what had long been the
policy in this country in dealing with
the private affairs Of individuals and
corporations: and it goes Il long ways
in setting aside the power Of the peo-
pie to control their own local affairs:
but the people were demanding it and
| stood with the legislature for 1t.
Now that we have the law there is
but one thing that can be consistently
done. and that is 10 give it 4 fair trial.
Ccr,Hinly there can he no complaint
with the present Commission because
of the amount and character Of work
it has done since May !. 1913. 1t i'll
herted all the unfinished work Of the
Railroad Commission, and by the
terms of the statute of its creation, it
oil hn
duties of that body.
Highway Commission.
In June, 1914 l appointed nonpar-
tisan Highway Commission composed
OF five distinguished citizens Of the
State. namely: Addison C. Harris,
Thomas Taggart Leonard F. Clore
William H. O'Drien and R. L. Sackett,
together with an advisory Commission
composed Of one member from each
Of the thirteen congressional districts
in the State, to study the building, and
maintenance OF public highways and
make to me such a report as they be
leved the facts would warrant. The
services of the commission and Of the
advisory commissioners as we'll as
those of the secretary to the commits
sion. Mr. Luke w. Duffy, have been
rendered free Of charge.
The investigation was made along
broad lines and seems to be very com
plete. | hope to put in your hands
the commission IS report. 1t points out
the staggering fact, that during the
year 1911 the people of Indiana paid
in taxes for road repairs and interest
on gravel road bonds not due and on
principal of road bonds falling due,
approximately the enormous sum of
fifteen million dollars.
Flood and Other Commi issions.
The damage and distress inflicted
in the spring of 1913 by high waters
upon our people living along certain
rivers were SO shocking that I ap-
pointed on my own motion q commits
sion composed OF leading citizens of
the State, with Dr.. w X. HIATT, an eff
ficient engineer Of Purdue University
at their head, to study the flood situa-
ton. The result Of their labors will
be laid before you, and hope you will
take such action regarding this sub
ject as will, in your judgment SO far
as practicable, protect the people of
our State against similar injuries in
the future.
Your attention will also be called to
the reports of the Women's La Dor
Commission and the Workman's Com
pensat ton Commission. | appointed
these commissions by the authority
vested in me by acts of the last leGiS-
lat,re, and their reports will merit
your careful consideration. That there
is a demand for legislation on the
questions they have Investigated, there
cannot be doubt
Primary Election Law.
In brief. all declarations OF state
touching affairs set forth in the last
Democratic State Platform. including
the one for the enactIng of primary
election law, should secure such ac-
ton by the Democratic majority of
your body as will, in their opinion,
meet the demands Of the people Of the
State.
Public Accounting Law.
The public accounting law of Indi-
ana. model of it's kind. was drafted
by committee Of business and pro-
a