South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-02
Copyright 1919. News-Times
Bureau)


Sims. chairman OF the tax board. -
az the point OF a physical collapse
working over the administration OF
the tax law. The republican state
organization Is hoping against hope
that there Will be a reversal OF popu-
lar opinion. Carl Mote. the official
explainer' OF the tax law has given
up trying 20 explain Il and the re-
publican party from Evansville 20
South Bend is split aslnder over
the provisions OF the Goodrich Hays
measure.
There isn't anyone in Indiana,
with the exception OF those who
had a part in the enactment OF
this new tax law who are today
willing TO defend It's operation and
the most OF those persons who
helped place II on the statute books
are without faith In Il. The failure
OF the law and the disastrous eff
fects II has had on the republican
party are the two greatest features
u indiana politics today. It is gem
orally conceded that this law will.
IN spite or the desperate efforts made
in It's behalf. wreck the republican
party OF Indiana unless that party
admits It's failure and endeavors,
soon to amend or repeal II.
Oppose Law.
Opposition to the state tax law as
il now stands IS not confined TO any
one particular class OF tax payers,
Ii is opposed:
1. BY the republican officials OF
towns and cities who have found
that Il Is curtailing their funds with
which they sought to carry out their
election promises.
Q BY republican county officials
who have been compelled under the
mandates OF the tax board TO boost
valuations TO a point where they re-
cognize that they are beyond all rea-
son.
,. BY republican citizens who re-
alize that the school systems of the
state are being crippled horribly by
It's operation.
4. BY republican bankers who are
cOntesting it in the courts on the
grounds that It is unfair and dis
criminatory.
8. BY republican business men
who find that under its terms they
~will be taxed for trying to keep in
stock the goods that their patrons
want.
6. BY republican utility owners
who find that the tax board has as
sessed some utilities at their true
cash values and others, notably one
in which Governor Goodrich is inter-
ested. at far less than the value on
which IL Is basing its rates.
Z. BY farmers who find that ow-
ing 10 the several boosts which the
state tax board has ordered in valu-
atoms, they will be compelled TO
pay taxes on a valuation much great
er than they could possibly obtain
for their properties.
s. BY municipalities who find that
tho tax board has the power to
stop all improvements in their
neighborhood and has not the time
nor the ability to determine whether
or not proposed improvements are
necessary.
In Bad Fix.
Republican officials of towns and
cities who went into office pledged
20 certain improvements in their
baiIiwicks find that the. tax board
will not permit them TO sell bonds
with which TO obtain the money nee
essary TO carry out those improve
ments They are implOring the tax
board to listen TO their pleas on the
grounds that they have little chance
OF politfcal success in the future IL
they are not allowed to fulfill their
obligations TO the voters who elected
them.
Republican assessors and auditors
who received direct orders to in
crease assessments after they had
soIemnly assured a dubious bunch Of
taxpayers that the limit" had been
reached are bowling with diSmay at
the tax board for adding more TO
the assessment. For example, the tax
boards horizontal increase OF the
property values in Woodruff place,
indianapolis, after the officials had
assessed at the full cash value. has
brought about the loss of a large
number OF republican votes in that
territory.
The tax board has been beseiged
by committees on behalf OF the
schools whose Ievies have been fixed
sufficient money to keep tn
schools in operation during the full
terms they have been running. There
is now a prospect that the schools
OF dozens of cities in Indiana will
have TO close long before the years
work IS completed, and there IS now
an organization seeking an inter
view with the governor for the pur-
pose OF asking relief.
Bankers I'm Court.
Republican bankers have gone
into court with their complaints and
are going 10 spend some money for
the purpose OF finding out whether
they must split their profits with
the STAGE or pay reasonable tax
on their holdings and allow their
stockholders to have what the banks
earn. Their cases will be brought
10 trial soon.
- Republican business men who find
that they will be taxed for the full
value OF all the stock they have
on hand March 1. and not allowed
any credit FOR the money they Dor
rowed with which 90 lay in this stock
arc voyying that never again Will
l. IL