The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-09-10
VERDICT Of
PEOPLE IS
EMPHATIC
Indiana Taxpayers Staggering
Under Load Warns State
Legislators
TIMES sussAu Al srArs eAs,rALl

INDIANAPOIIs, SEPT. Io-The en-
phatic verdict OF the people Of Indi-
ana in the constitutional election last
Tuesday against any sort of a change
in the taxing system viii tend TO
temper the attitude of the next seS-
sion Of the general assembly, should
new schemes be ssvauced for the
raising OF public revenue.
Those in authority have been of the
opinion that the people Of the state
are staggering under the present load
OF taxation. Taxes. Of course, are ah-
normally high. bit Il the people are
suffering from the pressure OF taxa
tion they seem TO be willing to go
along carrying the load rather than
resort 70 experiments
Before the decisive defeat OF the
tax amendments IN Tuesdays election
there was an undercurrent OF senti-
ment for some sort Of investigation Of
taxation by q state commission ana
possibly the convening OF special
session Of the assembly TO bring about
reform
The grim attitude OF the electors
against not only a change in taxation,
but in other matters OF state govern
ment. has served to quiet the tax re-
formers for the present.
In fact several other plans Of the re-
form element OF the state have been
definitely halted On the face OF
things it did not seem to be bad
plan TO place in tho constitution a
clause whereby the assembly could
establish qualifications for lawyers
with the exception or a few attor-
neys who expressed tho BELIEF that /
got my law in tho back room OF an
other lawyers orice and think the
same opportunity should be given to
others" the attitude seemed TO favor
the basic principle set out in the
Qualification amendment.
Nowhere in the state did there de-
velop any open hostility to the idea
that lawyers should be forced to come
up to some sort of educational stand
ard On the other hand there seems
to be a very definite sentiment in the
state. especially in the rural sections,
that government IS becoming too pa
ternalistic. Leaders here see in the
defeat OF this ans ndment desire on
the part Of the electors to register a
vote OF disapproval at the creation OF
new governmental bureaus and de-
partments TO regulate almost every
avenue OF professional business. so
clal and agricultural life
Hand in hand with this sentiment is
the opposition 70 generalization Of
power This probably accounts for
the defeat OF the amendment to maxi
The office or state superintendent OF
public instruction appointive instead
Of elective.
For several years there has been
movement on foot in Indiana. rs
well as other states. to centralize the
school government The men behind
this movement are educators who have
worked out scientific programs for
uniform educational opportunities for
all the children OF state regardless
IF the wealth or poverty of the re-
spective sections. The plan involves
the adjustment or school govern
ment BY townships and making the
county the unit Of education. This
entire program seems to have been
slapped by the citizens ot Indiana in
defeating one Of the most Important
cogs IN the plan.
The defeat or the amendment 20
make the terms OF oil state offices
four instead Of Two years changes the
political situation with regard to the
general election q 1922 The pas
sage OF this amendment might have
enabled William G. oliver. state audi
tor; Ed Jackson. secretary OF state.
and Ora J Davies, STATE treasurer. 10
remain in office for another two years.
Mr.. oliver and Mr.. Davies Will both
be candidates for reelection. This
had been known 1t develops that
Mr.. Jackson will also be a candidate
for reelection
Mr.. Jackson vas first elected secre-
tContinusd On page nve.l