The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-10-09
SINCE RIT \
0FPART|SANS
QUESTIONED
John j. Brown Says That
People are Being
MiSIead
ESPECIAL 10 TAE TINEsl

board, in a speech here Saturday
night. raised the question whether
political partisans were sincere IN
attacking the state tax law. and
showed that Samuel NJ. Ralston and
other democrats had urged the
need of the very provisions of the
so-called Goodrich tax law. which
he pointed out was series OF
amendments TO the tax law enacted
in 1891 by the democrats.
ANY man or organization of men
who purposely attempt to mislead
the public by distor ing the facts
concerning this subject so vital TO
public welfare" declared Mr.
Brown, Is guilty Of the vilest and
most despicable sort OF criminal
demogogy and strikes a blow at
the very heart of civilization and
orderly government"
First. Mr.. Brown answered the
question why the Goodrich amend
ments to the 1891 laws were neces-
sary, showing the inequality of
tax distribution under the 1891
law were necessary, and the suits of
the Western Union Telegraph Co.
and five other corporations that at
tackled the law and made it I'm
perative that action be taken to
avoid utter collapse in government
al functions in this state as there
was no question a s to the rights
of many interests TO have enjoyed
the placing OF their property on
the duplicate at discrimina tory
valuation"
The 1891 law. enacted by the
democrats, provided all property
should be assessed at true cash
vaiue. Mr.. Brown pointed out, add
ing that the legal provisions for
enforcement of this standard were
| insufficient. He showed that real
estate assesm onts under that law
ranged between 25 and rs per cent
OF It's value; personal property. al
lo and 146 per cent; great corpor-
ate interests a 10 per cent upward:
Intangible property at IS and rs
per cent, and that a large portion
Of the property in Indiana was os-
Gaping taxation altogether. The
net result of such marked dtscrin-
-sAAr - Wv II recalled was
described by three democrats
named In 1915 by Governor Rails
ton TO investigate the tax law,
whose report declared that the tar
system of Indiana is leralizad ~
rather tolerated system Of robbing
the large body OF small pronerty
owners for the benefit Of a con,na~-
atively small body of lare, nron-
erty owners. The three democrats
using this language were William
L. Elder, Thomas B. Brookshiro
and Jacob P. Dunn. it was recalled
by Mr.. Brown.
Are the democrats sincere :,
their attacks on the law as
amended in 1912" asked NJ
Brown What is the evidercao,.
answering these questions. Mr.
brown refraincd from any express
sion of his own personal opinio,
but cited statements that are
matter OF public record that wars
made by John w. Kern. the Iata ~
5. senator: John E. Lamb. anofbe-
distinguished democrat: and hv
Samuel NJ. Ralston.
Mr.. Ralston's statement -
tanned in his message to the s,.-
legislature. was read by Mr. Brow,
as follows. IT is a notorious fart
that county assessors have 49,
known TO consent to the lissing -
property for taxation at eros.
under-valuation. particularly when
compared with assessments ~
similar classes OF property in a.
Joining counties. Such further
amendments should be made in the
tax law as will secure mora
nearly equal assessment of pron-
erty in the first instance by legal
authorities"
Mr.. Ralston's recommenda+io,.|
It was pointed out by Mr.. Brown
were that the state tax hoard -
empowered to remove county a.
SCISSORS and appoint their success
ors' that the state board b. give,
authority to equalize assessments
on personal property by classes.
mat the state board be empowered
to equalize valuations hetwaar
townships In all cases where the
county board OF review fails to 10
So and that the safe board re-
ceive additional power for more
equitable enforcement of the law
as to obtain all assessments on the
same basis
Under present demands" con-
tinued Mr.. Brown. with the con-
slant increasing demands upon the
various governmental functions Of
the state for better educational ad-
vantages. better highway facilities.
more. humane provisions for tba
betterment OF the facilities for car
ing for the educating the deaf. the
dumb and the blind. both the girls
and the boys schools. and caring
for the insane and with the con-
stant deman and necessity for an
increase in expenditures for ali
those wards Of the state, number
ing approximately $4,000 II can
easily be seen and understood why
there has been and will continue
10 be increased burdens from the
standpoint of thes esponsibiiities
BY the state. AS the population OF
the state constantly increased TIE
responsibilities will corresponding
ly increase in this respect.
"A survey of the records dis.
closes that while we have always
had this burden and it will con-
tinue to grow and no right think
ing man or woman desires to avoid
this responsibility and tha IN
creased burdens that will neces-
sarily follow. vet it is a fact that
the local communities in the state
of Indiana have increased their
burd ms by their demands for bet
ter roads. better schools and bet
fer puhiic improvements OF var.-