Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-24
G. OF. TAX ORGY
FLAYED BY SAHM
Democratic Rally Speaker
Gives Facts and Figures.

county ana city ADMINISTRATIONS during
the past three years has resulted in the
increasing OF the public debt Of the city
Of Indianapolis to the enormous figure Of
more than s20,0o0,oO0 and the increasing
OF the tax rate and the amount of taxes
raised thereby to millions upon millions
Of dollars more than was ever needed to
carry on the government before, was re-
viewed step by step by Albert Sahm, at
torney, In an address at a Democratic
rally at Talbot and Palmer streets last
night.
Mr.. Sshm traced the Goodrich tax law
from the day of its inception in the mind
Of the Governor through all of the vicissi-
tudes which 1t has suffered down TO the
present day, showing why and how the
law, coupled with the carelessness and in
ability Of Republican officials TO preserve
the pubhc's best interests, is responsible
for the vast increases in expenditures Of
public funds and estimates of expendi-
lures for next year.
The interest alone upon the public debt
OF the community is costing the taxpay-
ers 5000 per day or 1878 per hour, every
business hour Of every business day in
the year, Mr.. Sahm declared.
Tt may interest you" he told the
south side voters. ito know that while
since 1904 our population has increased
little more than 90 per cent. that tax
collections have increased more than 800
Per cent, and that in addition to this
Incredibly enormous increase because the
tax-eater's nav called for more. the
public debt increased more than 800 per
cent, on TOP Of It, and that this is in
reality an increase Of 500 per cent.
NEW TANES- OF MORE
THAN s16.6OO.OOO.
1t may interest you to know that the
taxable valuations of indianapolis arc
sd02-5oo,000 and that this enormous sum,
Plus the additional S104. 10000 in the
county, viii yield the scandalized high
new taxes Of more than S160OO.OOO this
BENG between 400 and 800 per cent more
than fifteen years ago and nearly S.
10000, or nearly 100 per cent, more
than we were led to believe would be
raised under the new tax reducing tex
Law.
1T may interest you to know that
this S16,OOOO0O to be produced for next
year equals about $4,000 for each Of the
300 business days or about $1,000 Der
business hour each business day.
1t may be needless to remind you
that In addition to the burdens heaped
upon you by the local takers you now.
By State permission, pay more for heat,
light, water and telephone, all through
and under the able business nagement
OF that genus homo, the 'tax-eater.'
1t may be interesting to know that
in the published budget of the city ad-
ministration, amounting to 81 So, Cos 81
the sum OF S3,s05-s71 81, or three ifths
Of the total amount, is designated as
salaries part OF which. of course, is
s-hargeable to increases, but very much
Of which is due to many instances where
two and three men are dividing one
mans job.
1T may not be amiss to recite that
while the tax-eater' is being aided and
encouraged by our quasi public bodies
end by every beach-comber looking for
easy money, by every soldier Of fortune,
every hobbyrider and financial adven-
turer, to make you like this abnormal,
high pressure effort to transform your
good community into one vast, continu-
Gus vista Of bowers and boulevards. yom
own home (you are continually enjoined
to own your own home) goes painless
and often paneless, because OF the ever
growing, everlasting penaIization heaped
upon you under the guise of public bene-
faction by this 'tax-eater.'
BROKE TT GRADUALLY
TO THE PUBLIC.
Mr. Sahn declared that, like the naa
who cut of his dogs tail a small piece
at a time so as to make the operation
less painful the Republican county and
city administrations tried to break the
news OF the enormous increases in the
new tex levies to the public pieeemeal.
First, he said, they Just estimated"
that the rate Of indianapolis in Center
township probably would be $3.50 on
the 800: sndi lnapolLs in Warren, about
s225, Indiana polls in Washington, about
s2.55; Indianapolis IN Wayne, about $40,
and Indianapolis IN Perry about S2.42
"The 'tax-eater' was simply estimating,
so it wouldn't hurt so bad
Tie was getting you ready for what
would follow, what surely did follow,
and when he finally got down to brass
tacks he gave you the fun count.
"He estimated the rate here in Cen
ter Township at $3.50, but he fixed it,
and fixed you at the same time, at $40;
he fixed Perry at s2,54; Wayne at s2.46;
Washington at S2.62; poor old Warren
at $272.
How would you like to live in War
ren!
However, he dopes US with little
soothing syrup by predicting the rate
for 1922 probably viii be less.
But his predictions thus far are like
the Irishman's flea. never there"
GIVES FIGURES
ON $1,000 HOME
Mr. Sahm took for example, the owner
Of a modest, $4,000 home, and figured
that under the old tax law the property
would be assessed at 81, 900, or two-thirds
Of its true cash value, and showed that
under the old rate Of S2.6S. which was
decried by Goodrich followers as much
roo high, the taxes on the property would
amount TO $107.20.
But under the new law, he pointed
ont, this $4,000 homo was appraised st
ST 200, which under the last year levy of
$50 would make taxes against il
amount 70 S11a20, or s. more than
inder the old system.
Cnder the new rates, he explained. the
xss on a $4,000 home in Indianapolis
d the various townships win be as
Lows:
In Center Township, s172so; Wayne,
si7712, Perry, S1S2ss; Washington,
$50; Warren, $195-S4.
sixty per cent more taxesw
jimmy Mellen urged young voters to
join the Yonug Mems Democratic Club
and requested mothers and fathers to
see that their sons and daughters take
zttsye parts In Democratic politics.
Henry Span. Democratic candidate
10 Congress; Martha Yoh Marsan, Ma
zen County Democratic Women's Chair
p and John W. Hoffman, also spoke.
0baccO Machines