Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-09
Engineers Send
Another Letter
to Tax League
Again Ask for Information Re
garding Determination of
BOdyS Policies.

The indianapolis Chapter of tie
Association of Engineers
has again asked the Taxpayers
$ League of Indiana, for information re
garding the determination of its poll
cies.
In letter sent by Daniel 3. Luten,
secretary of the association, to Alfred
+. Potts, secretary Of the league, the
latter's attention is called to the fact
that in replying to a series Of Ques
tions recently prOpounded by the en-
gineers he failed to answer the one
considered most yital-that is, rela
tive to the manner In which the
leagues policies are hxed.
Light on this subject is awaited
with interest by the engineers as we'll
as the public in general, since ten
members Of the league have taken It
upon themselves to block the erection
of four badly needed schools in In
dianapolis by demonstrating against
a bond issue ordered by the board Of
school commissioners.
LETTER TO SECRETARY
OF TAN LEAGUE
Mr.. Luten's letter to Mr.. Potts is
as follows.
"The indianapolis Chapter Of the
American Association of Engineers
at It's regular weekly meeting yester-
day, gave considera tiOn TO your an
swer. not dated, TO our letter Of June
%, in which we asked FOR Information
about the Taxpayers League, its
origin and purpose. its officers and
members, and how its policies were
determined. Copies were given to
the press because you had failed to
RI Tor s4Ff ivy
"The chapter thanks you for your
courteous answer 20 our questions a,
b and C, but is not satisfied with
your failure to answer question d,
which requested definite data as TO
the method used 70 determine the
policies Of the league on any ques
ton Does your board of directors
actually pass on each project that
you Opposef If you Will supply this
omission it vii be appreciated
~ ou say that your purpose Is TO
check the extravagaut expenditure or
public money This seems TO us am
biguOus. You apparently interpret II
to mean that construction should NOT
proceed because prices OF materials
are high. But In an industry ad-
mittedly short OF production, can you
ever catch up unless you do ouer the
encoura cement Of high prices? To
stop construction In order that prices
may be reduced merely causes greater
shortage and cOrrespondingly higher
prices when construction is resumed.
I'VE believe the-construction indus
try IS the barometer OF business. The
hope Of reviving business depends
largely upon increasing the actlWty
in the building industry. And we
urge that those who have prohted by
stability Of government % lay aside
considerable wealth should now be
liberal in providing funds for employ
ment for those who now have meth
ing. often through no fault OF their
own.
OFFER or COOPERATION
MADE BY ENGINEERS.
We see no reason why the aims
and Purposes OF the Taxpayers
League should not harmOnize with
our own, when applied 10 the con
struction industry. We would gladly
cooperate with you II that is agree
able, In remedying abuses in engi-
neering such as complained OF in the
school board contracts, ln eliminating
combinations to raise prices, and in
securing efficient expenditure. But
we believe that the evils should be
attacked and not the Industry
we have talked with members OF
the Taxpayers League who say they
Joined the league by signing an ap-
plication and without payment Of
dues. and that they have had no part
In its deliberations If the only re&
quirement for membership IS to pay
taxes and sign the application. t4ere
are many among us who would ap-
preciate an invitation TO join and eyhO
would take a most active interest iu
your activities"