Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-23
JUDGE BAIT
MEETS CHARGE
ABOUT TAXES
Fl. Wayne Jurist Further Dis
cusses Proposed Platform
Plank.

Reiterating that assertion that taxes
must come down, Judge Charles S. Bait
Of Fort Wayne. today replied to letter
Of criticism addressed to him by W w
Spencer. Edward c. Eikman, Charles P.
Tighe, r. E. Stuart and Thomas E
STICKY The letter criticised a proposed
plank in the Democratic platform in
which Judge Bait advocated the abolish
ment of useless commissions.
The letter addressed to Judge Bait
characterized the judges proposed plank
as smoke screen Of the corporations"
They also declared the proposed plank
was not sufficiently specific
In replying to the criticism Jude1 Bait
said in part:
4 did not assume to write q plat
form for the Democratic State convent ton,
as that, of course, is reserved exclusively
for small coterie of Indiana polls poll
ticians who assume to dictate the policies
of the Democratic party
What I did attempt, In my humble
way, was to suggest one plank in the
platform, on the subject OF taxation; and
in that plank I mentioned in general
way some Of the things that would have
to be done in order to reduce taxes; for
the burdens Of the plank was that taxes
must come down land one of tia essen
tial ways Tor taxes to come down, as we'll
as to improve the operation OF the States
work, is TO abolish mony of the boards,
bureaus and commissions that have been
foisted upon the State from time TO time,
with the assistance of both political par
ties: but which has been developed ty
leaps and bounds turing tie past five
years
las to what boards. bureaus and COM
missions should be abolished, it l. APP
parent, even from your letter, that it fs
difficult to determine in advance; for
you mention only those most often in the
public print and then speak of all other
boards, bureaus and commissions too nu-
merous 10 mention; as there are some
sixty-eieht of them and I suppose there
is not one citizen in Indiana who even
knows the names of them, much less
what function they perform, If any.
so it will take time and study to
learn what boards exist and what service
they perform, If any, before it could be
determined what one or ones should be
al olished; unless we should take such ac-
ton in this State, as Governor Lowden
did n Illinois when he was Governor, and
abolish every single board, bureau and
commission; and it is very probable that
such action as this will havet to be taken
in order to divorce these political bar
narles from the State pay roll
''one thing, however, strikes me as
PECULIAR: for among the wel-krovn
boards that you mention to be abolished
you omit the public service commission
Can it be that the preservation of this
board in the real rea son for your letter.
! know that there are men in Indianap-
oils high in the councils Of our party
who want us to avoid saying anything
worth while abou THE public service
commission for the reason, as they claim,
that this was enacted under q Demo
cratic Legislature: (of course you re-
member 1t WE'LL but the real reason IS
on account Of lucrative employment,
both present and prospective, that some
of these In our party enjoy and expect
to enjoy before the public service COM
mission; but am free to say that there
is not a single board. bureau or commits
sion In the State of Indiana that is as
unpopular or has done as much harm to
the citizens and taxpayers Of the State
es the public service commissioni Jet
your letter, that claims to 1nvetgh
against corporations is singular1y silent
with regard to this one board.
II do not and never have represented
any corporation in these matters, but I
have been fighting this taz question con-
stantly for the last two years