Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-20
FIGHT ON TAX
AMENDMENTS
MAY KILL ALL
Opposition TO Two Proposals
Strongly Organized
Throughout State.

The possibility that the concentration
OF the constitutional amendment cam
paign on the two proposed taxation
amendments may result IN the defeat Of
ell thirteen OF the proposed amendments
is now being considered seriously by
persons interested IN passing or defeating
the proposed changes This possibility
results from a REGULARITY Of the con
stitutionaI provisions concerning amend
ments.
Most Of the interest in the proposed
changes centers in the amendment which
would give the Legislature unlimited
power IN matters Of taxation and in the
amendment which would authorize the
levying Of an income tax. Opposition to
these amendments OF the most powerful
Kind has been organized IN the State and
even their few friends admit there is
little possibility OF writing them into
revised basic Law.
INFECT OF
PARTIAL VOTE.
This opposition may have the effect
Of not only defeating the taxation
amendments but Of defeating every
Amendment IN the list. The campaign
OF opposition has created q great deal
OF interest IN the taxation amendments
and it IS believed that & large number
Of voters viii 60 to the polls Sept. g.
and vote against them without voting
either for or against any Of the other
amendments.
Because Of the POPULARITY Of the constt-
tutional provisions referred to every such
failure TO vote on an amendment or
amendments will mean exactly the SAINT
as voting against the amendment or
emenrments, providing the voter goes to
the polls at all The constitution pro-
vides that an amendment to be adopted
must have the vote OF the majority Of the
electorate Under the construction placed
on this provision an amendment TO be
adopted must have 4 majority Of all the
votes cast fl the election.
This provision could very easily work
out this way. Suppose there should be
cast 10000 votes against the amendment
giving the Legislature unlimited power in
taxation matters and 5000 votes cast
for It. Suppose this should be the high
est number Of votes cast in the election.
This would make q total Of 10000 votes
cast Now, suppose some other amend
ment, the one making the terms of all
state officials four years, for example
-~shOuld receive 5000 favorable votes and
10000 uufavOr3 bic votes. The latter
amendment would be defeated even
though more persons should vote for than
against IL. because it would not have re-
ceived a majority OF all the votes cast il
the election.
INTEREST IN
OTHER PROPOSALS.
This IS a condition which persons who
are attempting TO stir up interest IN
amendments other than those concerning
taxation are attempting TO avoid. Per
haps amendment No. Q. which would
make the Office Of state superintendent
OF public instruction appOintive instead
o felective, IS receiving the second great
est amount Of attention. An organiza-
ton Of educators has been formed for
the purpose Of attempting to bring about
the adoption Of this amendment.
Members Of this organization argue
the Office should be taken out OF politics
in order that # may be more efficiently
administered. They declare that a man
cannot give efficient service as an edu-
Gator If he is constantly thinking Of seek
ing reelection. Opponents Of the amend
ment argue, on the other hand, that the
superintendent of public instruction
would be subservient 10 the power which
would appoint him. be it the Governor
- the State board Of education, and that
he would be seeking reappointment as
vigorously as he would reelection under
the present system
FOUR YEARS
TERM ISSUE.
An amendment which is attracting
much OF the attention OF State officials
Is amendment No. which would make