Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-29
|VIGOCO. JUDGE
RAPS STATES
EXPENDITURES
Says Spending Orgy Cause of
High Taxes and
Living.
ECONOMIC PROBLEM
Special to The Times.


TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Aug. 29.-Ex-
planning the plans of the Tax Payers
League Of Terre Haute for an aggressive
campaign in lowering the tax rate in
Vigo County, Charles S. Bait, former
city Judge, addressed those who attended
, the annual Old Soldiers bean dinner at
Fontanet, north of this city Saturday
THE time has come when the problem
of taxation has become an economic
one" Judge Bait, who is president Of the
tax payers league, stated.
Continuing, he said In part:
High prices are being kept up on rents
etc, within cities, due to the enormously
high taxes; SO the only way to reduce
| taxation is to reduce these needless ex-
penditures. You win scarcely believe 1t,
but there are sixty-six boards and COM
missions created in the State of Indiana
all with large salartes-secretaries. stem
ographers, clerks, travelling agents, rep
resnetatives, inspectors and what not.
ITO show you how the burden Of taxa
ton is increasing:
'In 1900, with a population Of 100000
In the State Of Indiana, the disburse-
ments were $235 per capita.
I'm 1910, with a population of 100000
the disbursements were increased to $40
per capita.
ain 1920. with population of 100000,
the disbursements have risen to $40 per
capita; in other words, while the popu-
lation for ten years increased a scant 16
per cent, the disbursements increased $40
per cent
1.-THE increase for expenditures outside
OF the maintenance Of State institutions
is more than 300 per cent Increase from
1911 to 1920. Or in round figures, in 1911
it was 81 ,s425s1. %. and in 1920 it was
IS, 736s1L5o; in fact the tendency to ex-
travagant public expenditures have pep
meated and honey -combed, not only the
state, but. the county, city and school
body polite, so thoroughly that the tax
payer as he enters the domain of the
treasury office TO give up his share Of
this confscatory penalization, may in
sheer desperation cry out, Abandon hope.
all We who enter here The menace Of
the world today is the tendency to ex-
travagant public expenditures.
ITO show you how We have progressed
in the way Of delivering up taxes In
Vigo County; IN the year of 1917; for
taxes payable in 1918, the county valua-
ton Of property was S61, Ale, 233, the
county rate 70 cents, and the total county
taxes raised 1886, $50. In 1915 payable
in 1919. county valuation of property was
S64, $4,000, and the county rate rs cents,
county taxes $5O3, 100. In 1919, payable in
1920, under q new valuation scheme, the
county valuations were suddenly jumped
TO s135, 200, ITO and the rate was reduced
to 80 cents. making the county taxes that
year 1851, 25S In 1900, payable in 1921,
county valuations were raised to $685.
SIS, 7O5, the rate 20 cents and the taxes
collected $780, S1 So that in four years
in vigo County we have increased the
amount Of taxes gathered more than 100
per cent, and Increased our bonded in
debtedness In proportion
In urging the citizen OF Vigo County,
y udge Bait, said:
The experience here in Vigo County
seems to be a complete answer to those
persons who are continually advocating
larger assessed valuations, on the the
DRY that It would reduce the tax rate
in equal proportion, and that no more
taxes would be gathered with a higher
valuation than under the lower Yalua-
tions. SO good an authority on the tax
question as Fred A Sims, who was
chairman of the board Of tax commits
sioners said in g speech at the Clay
pool Hotel, June Z, 1921, The taxes
raised in Indiana have jumped from
S45 100000 in 1917 to SILL 900 in
1921. My experience has been that when
You uncover more property for the local
assessor, he will make q higher levy;
and taxes have increased Al per cent in
Indiana during the past year. With
these facts and figures before US, 1t is
unfortunate indeed that our Legislature
which adjourned during the recent
month, could so far forget itself as to
create offices and make wild expendi-
lures to the point where our state taxes
this year will be increased % per cent.
SO 1t is high time, farmers, home own
ers, renters, and everybody, to cry out
from the house tops to those officials
who still do not know that the war Is
over, to stop these expenditures befo.e
the country becomes bankrupt and it
is too late"
Judge Bait is scheduled to speak sew
eral times during the week before meet
ings of Vigo County farmers. y.