Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-25
NEW TAX BILL
WOULD RETURN
BOARDS POWER
Administration Measure Ready
for Submission in
House.
MCRAY GIVES SANCTION

The administration tax bill, which
amends the Goodrich law in several i'm
pertant Details was gone over for the
last time by Governor Warren I. Nc
Cray this afternoon and, according to
present plans, will be introduced in the
House tomorrow by Representative Muir
ray S. Barker of Boone County.
The bill, while it bears the stamp
OF the administration, is a composite
measure evolved from many conferences
the Governor has held with taxation ex-
perts. Among those who have collab
Grated with him are Attorney General
q. S. Lesh, members of the State board
Of tax commissioners, a special advisory
committee appointed by the Governor
and members OF the Indiana Farmers
Federation.
The bill to all intents and purposes
returns to the tax board nearly all the
power of which ii was deprived by the
johnson Home Rule passed at the
special session last summer. The
board may order horizontal increases in
order to equalize assessments as be-
tween counties and in cases where it
believes township assessments within
counties are not equitable it may re
convene county boards Of review and
make suggestions for changes.
The bill provides that appeals may be
taken to the State board of tax COM
missicners from the decisions Of local
authorities on bonds and levieS on the
petition Of ten taxpayers. 1t has been
pointed out that there would be hardly
a bond issue or a tax levy which would
not be protested By at least ten per-
sons, thus the proposed law virtually re-
turns to the tax board power over bond
issues and levies. One departure in the
bill, which makes it different from the
Goodrich tax law, Is the provision that
hearings must be held in the counties
affected.
DRAFT OF NEW
TAX MEASURE.
The draft Of the bill which the Gov
ernor is considering this afternoon and
which win be introduced in the House
substantially without change, is as
follows:
and 1872 Of an act entitled An act con
cerning taxatiOn-repealing all laws IN
conflict Herewith and declaring an emer-
gency," approved March II, 1919, and TO
amend sections 3 and f of an act entitled
IAN act to amend sections ). 1917. 200, POI
and 335, and to repeal section 1JS OF an
act entitled An act concerning taxation
repeating all laws in conflict herewith
and declaring an emergency, approved
March IL, 1910, approved July 81, 1920,
and declaring an emergency.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Gen
eral Assembly Of the State of Indiana,
that section 1S1 Of the first above en-
titled act be amended so as to read as
follows: Section Isl. 1t shall be the
duty Of the State board of tax commits
sioners, during the first five days Of its
second session each year, to consider the
assessments of the personal property Of
the various counties Of the State, and
also the assessment of the real estate Of
such counties in the years when il IS re-
quired to equalize the same. determine
the counties in which the assessment Of
the real estate or personal property, or
both, appear TO be improperly assessed,
fix a day or days in their next succeed
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