Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-12


previously outlined by the governor with
The exception of a request for legislation
to return to local authorities the power
to make tax levies and to issue ponds
such action on the part Of the assem-
bly, would remove most of the opposi-
ton TO the tax law.
The governor outlined fifteen measures,
the bills for which are already written
and resdy for introduction
He expressed the hope that the as
sembly will adjourn at the earliest poi
sible date.
GOVERNORS MEASURES
COVER WIDE FIELD
The principal measures suggested ty
the chief executive are corrections or
the tax law, emergency appropriations
for state institutions corrections or the
county unit road law, appointment Tor
a commission On q war memorial the
adjustment of the employment commits
sion. provisions for women voters, anG
provisions for the operation or coal
mine for the state
Following is the full text of Gov. Good
rich's message TO the legislature:
Won have been called together in extra
ordinary session for the purpose OF con-
sidering certain matters OF pubic inter
est that could not, without serious IL
furv 10 the state, be postponed until the
The last regular session of the general
assembly convened shortly after the close
of the world war. II was the general
opinion OF the members OF the genera
assembly. an opinion held throughout the
country. that the close Of the war would
bring about serious unemployment, rap
idly falling prices and decreased cost
IN the conduct Of various state insutu-
lions It is not necessary for me 10
hot ar TINA I did NOT share
the view held by the general assembly,
as I had expressed the opinion at the
reconstruction conference held IN Novem-
Der that instead Of lack OF employment
there would be serious labor shortage
and that prices would go up instead OF
down. Such has been the result. Prices
have increased by leaps and bounds
especially the cost OF living, with the
result that the correctional, educational
and charitable institutions OF the state
will not be able to finish the fiscal year
without substantial emergency appropria-
tons to meet the deficit that now faces
them.
since ian. 1, 1917. the price Of necesA
sites OF life has Increased al per cent
The price of coal, which is the largest
single item used by the institutions,
has increased more than 800 per cent,
vet the cost OF the maintenance Of the
state Institutions for the fiscal year end
ing Sept. 90, and including the appro-
priation to be made by this general as
sembly TO enable them 10 complete the
year viii show an Increase OF but - per
cent over the cost Of maintenance OF
the fiscal year ending Sept. 80. 1916. This
las only been made possible by the prae'
tice Of the most rigid economy con
sistent with the proper care OF the
states unfOrtunstes.
GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS
CERTAIN MEASURES.
I recommend to the general assembly
the following measures:
Emergency appropriations 10 DC maGe
10 the various state institutions accord
ing 10 their respective needs and SUI
ficient to eIhble them to complete the
fiscal year ending Sept. 30 next.
That the county unit road law be
SO amended as 10 replace III the Il IS
those sections that were left out by the
enrolling clerk Of the senate and which
left in grave doubt the responsibility
for the care Of the highways OF tus
state.
That provision be made for paying to
the county auditors and county treasur-
ers CT the state the per diem due them
Of the counties during the years 1919
and 1920, and which was taken from
Them by the present tax law
The rates OF legal advertising have
last thirty years. The rates for COM
mercial advertising during that time have
more than doubled. bill was passed
by the general assembly IN the last
received by the executive on account
of certain defects In the bill. I recon-
mend that law be enacted granting TO
the newspapers Of Indiana the same
rates as proposed in the measure whach
failed TO become 4 law.
Indiana has never been unmindful Of
the obligation that il owes 10 the suf-
d!ers and sailors IN the wars Tor the
defense Of the republic. The monument
erected 10 the memory OF the soldiers
of the Civil war stands as the finest eX-
ample of a memorial Of that character
erected by any state In the union. It
Is q privilege for the state of Indiana
10 erect a memorial to the soldiers or
the world war. / am convinced that
such memorial should take the form o
memorial building rather than the
erection of 4 monument; /, therefore,
recommend that legislation be enacted
providing for a permanent, non salar.e1
commission to undertake the superb
sion of the project for making tax
levy TO provide funds with which 10
erect in the city Of Indianapolis me
mortal building in memory or the sol
diers and sailors and others who offered
their lives in defense Of the honor Of
the nation.
THEN HE TACKLES
STATE TAX LAW
The tax law passed by the general as
sembly has proven TO be 4 vast improve
ment over the preceding law. The task
of administering the law at the regular
of real estate was appalling.
Mistakes IN the administration of
the law. of course, were inevitable.
The principle of the law is right and
only such changes should be made from
time TO time as experience suggests to
be necessary. Under the prior law, there
We're certain legislative limitations on the
tax rates. In the absence of any certain
knowledge as 10 the extent OF the dupli-
cate, It was impossible to fix such liml-
tstion in the new law. In lieu OF that,
the tax board was given control over
bond issues and tax levies.
In the change from the old TO the new
Law this power threw upon the tax board
the enormous burden Of examining into
every tax levy and every bond issue
authorized in the state.
The tax board has since made a rule
which in effect means that Il will only
exercise appellate jurisdiction in the case
OF tax levies and bond issues. This rule
has greatly simplified the enforcement Of
the law.
I suggest that the following changes
may well be made in the tax law at this
special session, leaving TO the next gen
eral assembly the making Of such other
amendments as the operation OF the law
may develop to be necessary Cor the fur
ther strengthening of the tax law:
I. That the control over tax Ievies
end bond issues be restored to the
~ local taxing and bond issuing author
tiles subject to such appeal as may
be necessary to protect the interest
Of tie taxpayer.
2. That that section al the law
exempGng public securities be
all bonds issued and payable out of
revenue derived from taxation be
exempt from taxation.
3. That the section of the law ex-