Indiana daily times., 1920-08-04
FARMERS WILL
FIGHT TAX ACT
TO LAST DITCH
Continued FROM Page oneo

review and a retearing the horizontal
increases which have been held Illegal.
"Can you deviate from that order?"
asked Mr.. Fink.
"I do not interpret it that the order is
mandatory that we should refer back to
the state tax board the horizontal in
creases," said Mr.. Fesler.
Then Mr.. Lemcke interrupted by say
ing, Isn't it an order?''
And doesn't it say according to
lava" asked Mr.. Besson.
"Of course it's an order" said Mr..
Lemcke
1t was then that Attorney Bosson
cleared the decks for action when he
exposed the real weapons of the state
tax board as he saw it.
This state tax board said Mr.. Bos-
son, talking very slowly ana earnestly,
would like 20 fix it up so as to null
,ify the decision of the state supreme
court and OF Judge Hay.
"They want IL done under the guise
of expediency and they want the board
Of reviews to DO it for that reason he
said.
Mr.. Fesler took issue with him and
stated the board of review was attempt
ing 10 act on economical and efficient
motives, and not because OF expedienGT
Take off the horizontal Increases and
restore the original tax assessments as
made by the township assessors de-
mandeu Mr. Bosson.
Bosson then called the attention of the
board of review to the fact that when
the hearing was going on In the injunc
tiou petition before Judge Hay, town
SHIP assessor testified the assessments
made by the township officials were of
the true cash values.
Continuing. he said "All the state tax
board attempted TO do was to increase
the valuations to obtain moro revenue. ,
mfr. Fesler and Dir. Lemcke, you are
under oath not to certify back anything
to the state tax board but the true cash
value, and if you certify back the hori-
zontal Increases, you are committing per-
jury.
You, Mr. Lcmcke and Mr.. Fesler, are
under oath not to assess any property
over it's true cash value. and when any
one does that he violates his oath.
I'VE are willing 10 pay just and legal
taxes to support our institutions, but
we viii fight to maintain the rights given
us by the state supreme court.
You have no legal right 10 reverse
Judge Hay and the state supreme court
IF you want to invite litigation, all
right
I'VE want only what is fair and just,
said Mr.. Bosson.
Mt. FesIer asked Mr.. Bosson II it Vas
his opinion that the Tuthill Kiper act
Was Illegal.
As far as validating the horizontal in
crease orders Of the state board on Aug.
%, 1919, is concerned, It is not worth the
paper it is written upon,' answered Mr..
Bosson.
Mr.. Bosson said. "Au the state tax
board IS asking the board OF review to
do is to confirm It's orders concerning
increases"
Mr.. Fesle- said. "Then # we take Mr.
Bossons view, ;he board OF review has
nothing to do"
THE state tax board wants You. vita
out a scratch Of the pen on the tax dup
iicates. to refer back those Increases de-
clsred to be Illegal by the state supreme
court as the pretended true cash value
Of assessed property replied SIR. Bos-
son.
Many others asked questions and ex-
pressed the opinion that they favored
going 10 the courts TO got Justice
Members Of the county farmers fed
Grafton arc ready to petition the state
farmers federation 10 aid in meeting the
financial obligations which viii be in
CURED in fight In the courts.
Its my opinion that the state su-
preme court wiz have the question he
fore It within the next four or six
months" said Mr.. Bosson.
IT is known hat Mr. Lcmcke. who is
r candidate for reelection is greatly
concerned over the attitude Of the farm
ers and that II puts him in a very tight
situation 70 keep righr with them as
well as with the republican state party
which insisted that the special session
of the Legislature pass curative tax
measure 80 the party would not have to
carry the burdens Of the blunders Of
the Goodrich administration.
Under the Tuthill- Riper act the cir
cult court is required to appoint two
freeholders to sit and act with the board
Of review In ''re-assessing. reviewing and
equalizlng assessments.
The farmers have presented Circuit
Judge Chamberln with a list OF ten rep
resentative men, asking the court TO ap-
point two Of them.
The farmers are insisting that they he
represented on the board n review.
Judge Chamberlin win probably make
his appointments today.
Auditor Fesler today stated he was IN.
formed the act provides that the board
Of review equalize only assessments as
to townships as whole aud not between
individual taxpayers.
That Is understood 20 be the lnterpre-
tation OF the state board Of tax commits
eioners