Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-11
GOODRICH BRAGS.
OF ECONOMY IN
STATE AFFAIRS
Fails to Mention Rundown
Conditions in Many State
Institutions.
SHIFTS BLAME FOR TAX
By FELIx BRUNER,

stan Correspondent OF The Times.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. Feb. II. Definite
ly promising a special session of the
Legislature within thirty or sixty days,
and promising that this special session
shall be given opportunity to correct de
fects Of the tax law. Gov. Goodrich
opened his speaking tour in defense Of
his administration here last night.
A discussion of the program Of the
Indiana highway commission for CON
struction of roads In the southern part
of state and discussion of the tax law
at a meeting Of farmers at Cannelton
this afternoon were on the program for
the second day of Gov. Goodrichs tour
Of the state in defense of his admins
tration.
Gov. Goodrich's speech was In every
particular a defense. 1t was in compli-
ance with the demand OF the republican
state committee that he set himself right
with the voters, in order that the re
publican party might regain respect lost
through mismanagement of state affairs
by the present administration.
He did not come to the defense Of the
provision in the law, which requires the
tax board to pass on. all local bond is
sues. He fntimated that this provision
may be stricken from the law by the
legislature He recalled his efforts TO
obtain the excise tax law. and said they
were directed toward placing the burden
of taxation where it belongs. He said
that the primary and almost exclusive
purpose of the present law Is to bring
about assessment Of property at its true
cash value.
PLACES BLAME ON
LOCAL ASSESSORS.
AS did members of the state tax board
In their defense Of the administration Of
the law the governor blamed local as
SCISSORS for discrimination between homes
and manufacturing plants in under as
sessment Of latter. At the same time he
contended that the burden is being taken
from real estate.
"The power to remove local assessors
elected by the people is absolutely es-
sentiaI," he said, in defense of centraliza-
tion Of power in the tax board. II will
not take issue on the provision which
gives the board power over levies be-
cause that Is only temporary"
In speaking Of corporation assessments
the governor said that every cent he
possesses. except small amount invested
in a farm, IS invested in corporations. He
said that there is no single corporation
in which he is interested that has not
udu IT'S value luCTedSeQ. ne dQu1llteus
however that local assessors may have
made mistakes in some gases.
The resolution adopted by democratic
editors at the indianapolis meeting con-
demning the tax law was characterized
by the governor as hypocritical and de-
ceitful.
FAILED TO EXPLAIN
REDUCTIONS.
The governor laid considerable stress
on the record Of his administration for
economy. quoting figures 70 show that
increased cost under republican admins
tratlon was slight as compared with in
creased prices. He told Of reductions in
the cost Of maintaining state institutions
and said over three hundred employees
had been dismissed. He did not explain
however, that this was due to the fact
that the republican legislature failed to
appropriate sufficient funds and that h.
was on the point Of calling a special
session to provide funds after many Of
the institutions had degenerated to the
worst condition in years when Ele STAINS
bury, attorney general issued an opin-
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