The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-06
SENATE DEBATES
ARE LIMITED TO
THREE MINUTES
Rule Adopted Amid Scenes
of Confusion When Debate
on Measure Was Resumed.
(By Associated Press,

INDIANAPOLIS, March ga rule
to limit debate by any senator to three
minutes, to prohibit yielding of the
three minutes to another, and to pre-
vent any senator speaking more than
once on any question was declared
adopted in the Indiana senate today
amid scenes Of confusion. The rule
was adopted soon after the senate
convened to take up further considera.
ton of the tax bill, and is to apply to
that measure.
Senator Negley was acting as presi-
dent of the senate. Senator Beardsley
made the motion to limit debate which
was followed quickly by counter
moves on the part of advocates Of un.
limited discussion on the measure.
Senator Negley in his ruling sus.
tanned the contention of those favor.
ing the limited debate motions, refus-
ed demand for roll call and on vive
voce vote declared the chair had been
sustained when an appeal was taken
from his rulings, and also that the mo-
tion to limit the discussion had been
adopted when a vive voce vote was
taken.
Restore Salaries.
After limiting debate in considera.
tion of the tax bill. the senate restor.
ed the salary Of members of the tax
commission to $4,000. placed the sec.
retary and auditor Of state on a par
with the governor in selecting the
commissioners and limited the author.
ity of the tax board to make rates to
1919 and 1920.
Invoking the limited debate rule at
every opportunity the senate progress
ed to section 100 with 14S yet to go.
Warning was expressed on the floor
that if consideration of the tax bill by
the whole committee of the senate is
not completed today it will not be
passed during this session and an ex.
ira session will have to be called to
approve the regular and specific ap.
preparation besides many other i'm.
portant questions.
Salaries of many offices created in
the bill were raised. That of the sec
retary of the commission was made
$4,000 instead of $2,750.
Real Estate Assessment.
That section providing for the man.
ner OF assessing real property which
was radically changed by the house
was re-inserted in its original form
and now provides that the assessment
OF real estate shall be based on the
value of the land and that the i'm
provement thereon shall not be taken
into consideration
Another section stricken out BY the
house which provided that the assess
or shall list the value of property both
improved and unimproved was also
re-inserted. On motion of Senator
Metzger, the senate eliminated that
clause permitting county assessors tc
employ additional assistance with ap
proval of the tax board.
The bill was also amended so as tc
permit the tax board to assess real
estate more often than every fou,
years. This was accomplished by re
instating that part of Section 1872, Gu,
out by the house.
Bush Takes a Hand
During consideration of the amend
ment to permit the auditor and secre
tary of state to cooperate with the
governor in appointment of members
of the tax commission another propo
two officials ex-officio members of the
commission, as they are under the
present law. This was defeated, how
ever, over the objection of Lieutenant
Governor Bush who declared, 1--WE
want the people represented in an ell
ective capacity on this board"
Supported by the lieutenant cover
nor and a few senators, Senator James
made an unsuccessful effort to strike
out that section empowering the ia,
commission to require county audi
tors to certify for review any assess
ments. This same group opposed thu
movement to make the salary of the
commissioner $4,000 instead of $4,000
as fixed by the house. Bush was or
his feet much of the time in opposi
ton to various amendments.
The air was surcharged with IL
feeling throughout the morning as the
result of the opening of the session
when the rule was adopted limiting
debate to three minutes for eacl
speaker on any question. The scene!
of the exciting session OF last nign'
were re-enacted on a smaller seal;
and minus the discriminating word: