South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-22
CLUB ATTACKS
GOODRICH PLAN
Charge State Tax Board As
SumeS 0iCtatOrial Powers
Local Government Ruined.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July 22.-
The opening gun Of the attack on
the present republican state admin
istration's widespread plan to de-
stroy completely local government
for Indiana cities. towns. townships
and counties, has been fred here By
the officials Of the Hoosier Motor
club. an orgaization extending into
every township Of the state.
The action is due 20 the determin-
alton Of Gov Goodrich's state tax
board TO sit here as a board Of
works. supervising all Of the plans
for improvements throughout Indi
ana When the last legislature pass
ed the tax law it was not under
stood that il gave the state board
such tremendous powers as it is now
exerting This board which is an
important cog i'm the republican ma
chine, now assumes to tell every
city. town. township and county
what il shall spend for improve
ments and how the money shall be
spent point has been reached
where the local communities have
nothing whatever TO say about their
own affairs
Aroused Over Decision.
The ire of the Hoosier Motor club
was aroused over the decision of the
state board not 20 authorize the is
suance of bonds for the building Of
more roads in this county. this year
Several petitions were presented and
few granted. Ii is well known
that those leading out Of Indiana
polls never were in such deplora Bile
condition. yet the state tax board
for the purpose of making its own
law work out. has put a veto on the
urgent demands for better roads for
this county
The situation has become so bad
that the officials of the Hoosier
Motor club has protested publicly
through statemtnt sent to the
Marion county commissioners
"It is high time that the citizens
Of Marion county through you. the
Representatives of the people force
a progressive road program TO "a sue
cessful conclusion, secure for the
county a unified road system that
will be credit TO the county. and
by every bit of cooperation possible
with the state tax board enable you
TO complete this program" says the
club
See No Blockade Cause.
THE Hoosier Motor club stands
ON the premises that the state tax
board should not block or interfere
To any great extent in a plan that
will enable the county 10 complete
main city approaches under the
three-mne law and county unit
plan"
The good roads organizations are
now demar ling "home rule" for
i cities and counties.
The state board seems 10 take the
position that il is warranted in turn
ing down requests generally for
funds for improvements in order
that its posit on on the new law may
be indicated. Reports are coming
To indianapolis from many cities
and counties indicating that the peO-
pie are aroused over the ursurpa-
tion OF the powers OF the local gov
ecnmental units by the state tax
board which can not go into the
merits of the requests for funds for
improvements. but rather acts on
/ the theory that 10 is justified in turn
ing down such requests in order
= that the new tax law may not be-
come even more unpopular that i. is
Bond Not Allowed
However. the state tax board is
not alone I'm squelching the time
houored idea Of local self govern
ment Jesse Eschbach. head of the
state accounting board, within the
past week turned down petition
of the authorities of Gibson county
for the permission 10 eXpend $4,000
for the celebration in honor OF their
soldiers
Eschbach held that $4,000 was
+ sufficient although the people OF
I Gibson county were merely seeking
/ 20 spend their own funds The de
1 c.sion OF Eschbach is in line with
many OF the decisions Of the taN
board, denying the people OF com
munities authority over their owl
expenditures. Tx j. not surprising
that the people are becoming alarm
ed over the discovery that cOntro
. of an cities. towns and counties IA!
been lodged in the hands OF a few
departments by the present admin
istratiou. IL would not be surpris
ms under the circumstances II some
O. e should demand at the specia
session Of legislature repeal OF tn
odious tax law and the adoption o
"a measure curbing the powers 9th
I or boards have assura~H