The Jasper weekly courier., 1918-07-05

NOTWITHSTANDING the inadequate TAX
levy in force at the beginning of the
ID mocratic administration in 1913
and the many additional and unusual
demands made upon the State during
the subsequent four years, on account
of the increase in the number of i2-
stitutions and wards of the State; the
constant increase in the cost of liv-
ing: and in round numbers one hun
dred thousand dollars on account %
the mouth and foot disease among the
cattle in the State and other items too
num-. rous to mention, it is most graft
fyino to be able 20 call your attention
to the fact, taat at the end of each
fiscal year the State treasury showed
IN rcrea e In its annual balances
and hat on the last cay of that ad-
ministration there was in the State
trea ury, over and above al outstand-
ing warrants, S3,735, ,997.yo. And the
State out of deot.
And let it be not forgotten, that be-
ginning on the 18th day OF January.
1913, our party so managed the al
"A - o. Indiana, that the Governor, IL
his message to the 10th General As
ser y, in January, 1917, was In duty
LOT to, and did. recommend a re-
due 4 in State taxes, OF cents on
each 900. And the State out OF debt.
Progressive Legislation.
A hurried review of the legislation
of tie past thirty years in Indiana,
wi. slsw that fully seventy-fve per
cent of the really progressive laws OF
that period was enacted by the Demo-
cratic party. It's record in this re-
spect is monumental. We point to it.
1t is an established fact, but too vol
luminous TO review on an occasion like
this.
Public Service Commission.
L will be pardoned, however, for re-
ferring to one of the laws placed upon
the statute books of Indiana, during
my administration, in view of the crit
icisms that have been offered of it and
of its administration, while | was ir
office. 1 have in mind our Public Serv-
ice Law. And I make bold to say that
this law is not surpassed by any law
of the kind in this country. Nor has
1T, or any other law of the kind, ever
been more wisely and ably admins
tered than was this law by the Com.
mission | appointed. If any man takes
issue with me, l challenge him to q
comparison.
If it be insisted that this Commits.
sion made mistakes in administering
this law, | call attention to the fact
that, for many months past, the Com.
mission has been reorganized and new
men have had and now have, the con.
trolling power in it's administration
out no man, no corporation, municipa
or private, has asked the new commits.
sion to reduce a single rate, or re,
verse a single ruling made by the ole
commission, except in cases where z
higher rate has been asked and il
many cases granted No revision
downward has been made by the re-
organized commission and none viii
be made. And yet my administration
was criticised, abused and villifieC
with all the venom of creatures that
hiss, because, it was charged, it fixeC
rates too high.
But that is not all. The old com
|mission saved utility patrons, on al
average, 100000 year. The new
commission has raised rates, and in
creased the cost of utility servic,
more than 100000 per year, but M
creatures are kissing.
We are told, however, that the Com
mission, through its reorganization
has been taken out of politics. If tha
be true, things are not what they
seem!
concede that the Commission
should be kept out of politics, but
maintain il, is quite as important tha
it be not required TO submit its find
ings and decrees for approval to /,
power not authorized by law to pas
thereon and not sustaining any oflicia
relation with the people. OF this sub
ject. however, more will be said in th,
future.
Taxation.
The Republican party of Indiana
recently assembled in convention il
this hall, put forth n platform, oI
Which, it is proposing to stand in tn
approaching campaign. This declara
ton Of principles is sort of Graz.
quilt combination and is so long an,
bewildering that il is doubtful if ther
be an hundred people in the State rea,
1t. IL is also indefinite on subjects ol
which it should be explicit.
The power To tax is one of the mos
sweeping powers of government. |
rs the power to destroy. The father
of our State, who framed FOR US Oh
constitution, appreciated the DANCE
the people would encounter, if san
and definite restrictions were no
thrown about the exercise of thi
power. They therefore declared
should be exercised on basis of uni
formity and equality.
The present tax law of Indiana
framed on this basis. When konestl
exec,.ted, and il can be, If we are ca
pable of self-government In this STATE
il affects alike all property-l older
and 10 this mo man should be heard I
object. Ii ii be said, il is difficult
Ill q u