Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-06

y TIUPUIIJ
creased from two and a quarter billions
to nearly six billions of dollars. This
increased the debt contracting power
OF the various municipalities. under the
Constitution, nearly three times 1t
made possible the indulgence in great ex-
travagance The old tax law had a stat
utory limitation as to the amount of tax
that could be levied for the various pub
lie purposes.
Not knowing at the time the Jaw was
passed. to what extent the duplicate
would be increased, and fearing the re-
suit of the unlimited power to make tax
levies and contract debts, the General
Assembly vested in the tax board the
control over tax levies and bond issues:
This placed an enormous amount OF
work and great responsibility upon the
tax board. 1t did not prove entirely sat
isfactory to the people. Both political
parties demanded the return to what
popularity was known as home rule In
the various communities. At the special
session of 1920 the control OF the tax
board over tax rates and bond issues
was abolished and the local communities
permitted, without any limitation what
ever, to levy any amount Oh tax tney
saw fit and to Issue bonds Ut TO the
constitutional limit. The increase In
tax rates and the tendency to multiply
bond issues, illustrate the danger that
lies in this unrestricted privilege.
am fully convinced that some limita-
ton must be placed upon this power;
[
statutory limitation upon the right to
make tax levies and the right to issue
bonds or to vest in some body far re-
moved from local influences the final ap-
pellate control over these important tunc-
lions
TAX LEVIES SHOW
UNRESTRICTED POWER.
A glance at the tax levies and the great
burdens cast upon the taxpayers OF In
diana during this coming year is an I'M
pressive illustration of the abuses OF tlls
Unrestricted power. This added burden
will be small beside the burden that will
fall upon the taxpayers In 1922 unless
some protection Is afforded them. | rec
ommend, therefore, while the power OF
the local boards to originate tax rates
and authorize bond Issues remain with
such boards, that the right TO review
such actions on appeal be vested in the
state Board Of Tax Commissioners in
such manner as to afford adequate pro-
lection TO the taxpayers.
The State highway law was passed.
| The State Highway Commission has laid
! out a system of highways extending to
| every county seat and town Of more than
, five THOUSAND people. The total is about
| $500 miles.
The work OF organizing the department
under the unusual conditions that ex-
I listed has been slow and difficult. Some
| people have not been able TO foresee all
| the benefits that viii aow from the en-
| actment Of this law.
Fifty miles VI hard surface roads have
| been completed. One hundred miles more
are under contract.
| There has been expended for
construction ...-.......... S2,630,sJS.S0
or motor transport, includ-
! ing garage .............., POS, fS25 90
FOR maintenance ........... ,JSj. SIS %
| With the general fall in prices the high
way commission should substantially in
| crease new construction. We mny look
! forward to the time when every county
VIII be connected with every other county
/ by system OF permanent hard -surface
! roads, constructed as 10 Withstand
/ the heavy demands made upon them
/ under modern traffic conditions. The
/ state levy for highways should be so
Increased that with the increase in the
autO license tax 900 miles Of highway
could be constructed each year, until the
/ state system has been completed
he live stock sanitary commission
created by the last General Assembly
LOOK the place OF the old State Board OF
! Veterinary Examiners. II is made IN
/ or two live stock men and two veterinary
surgeons. This important service has
neen placed on a strictly nou-partisan
oasis and has proven TO be exceedingly
satisfactory to the live stock interests.
I The last General Assembly created
separate departments of banking and in
sufahce, the heads to be appointed bv
ana directly responsible 10 the Governor
Inc banking depart ment has made an
enVlable record during the past four
years Not a dollar has been lost 10 the
depositors Of Indiana during that period
through the failure Of any Of our bank
Ing institutions
The law creating the insurance de-
partment and vestIng in the commits
sioner the control OF rates is one of the
best laws I'm this country. II requires
UNIFORM treatment Of all pollCyho.ders,
prevents discrimination in rates. and
In &FaNn
termine and fix a reasonable rate. I'm
der this law insurance companies have
been prevented from charging exorbitant
rates and many hundreds Of thousands
or dollars have been saved to the policy
holders Of Indiana.
The fees collected In the bank depart
ment have increased $7,036O2. The fees
collected in the insurance department
during the last year, without any change
in the law, has increased 500 O44 o.
Both OF these departments are entitled to
the full support OF the General Assem-
bly,
The coal commission created by the
special session prevented in Indiana ex
tortions practiced in many States, as
disclosed by the senatorial Investigation
at Washington. 1t saved the consumers
Of Indiana more than million dollars.
( 1t prevented profiteering by the coal
operators during the acute period that
obtained in the late summer and fall.
and the operators are freely selling coal
under the prices fixed by the commission.
DECISION DEFINES
/ STATE POLICE POWER.
suit to test the constitutlonality Of
the law Is now pending In the United
States Supreme Court. This case should
vigorously be pressed to a conclusion so
, that the police power Of the State may
clearly be defined.
In this connection I want to call At
tention TO the fact that Jesse Eschbach
chairman Of the State Board OF Accounts.
upon whose shoulders has rested in
large measure the administration of this
law, has. performed a large amount of
extra service; no not only served as a
member Of the commission, but also as
fuel director; he has worked intell gently
and untiringly In the public interest
during the time this law has been In
force. The law creating the commission
made no provision Cor this extra service
| recommend that q suitable appropria-
ton be made by the General Assembly
to compensate Mr.. Eschbach for his
i services and chargeabe against the fees
collected by the commission.
After many repeated attempts and a
long struggle, the old oil inspection de-
partment was finally abolished by the
General Assembly in 1919. The inspec-
ton OF oils was placed under the direc-
tion of the pure food and drug division
OF the State Board of Health. The num-
her of inspectors under this law was re-
duced from seventy to twenty six. The
oils Of the State have been carefully and
intel1igently inspected. All expenses Of
the department have been paid by fees.
There was turned into the State treasury
during the first year of its operation a
net profit of over $65O00.00.
| am advised that an attempt will be
made to repeal this law and restore the