The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-20
SAYS TAXES
HAVE GROWN
500 PERCENT
Are We to Be Taxed Out
Of Existence Asks Fred
Sims at {. Chicago

Are we TO be taxed out OF exist
ence7 When will the peak OF tax
assessing be reached? Shall we al
low the tax emeption list to In
creaseT were SUBJECTS touched up
on in the address OF Fred A. Sims.
former chairman OF the state Tax
Board and nationally known tax
expert. when speaking before the
members of the Chamber of Com
merce and ladies Of the w. G. 7. y
at the Congregational church yes
terday noon at East Chicago.
BURDENsoME TAX
Plain and distinct facts of the tax
situation as IL now exists in the
state OF Indiana were unfolded In
the talk of the former state tax
commissioner. He dill not hesitate
in divulging any official secrets that
were practicsd during his career as
a member OF the board, or keep
secret any intricate methods used
by the taxing bodies. Pointing out
that the excessive tax assessments
were becoming burdensome and dan
gerous TO the security of the coun-
try. Attorney Sims said that while
Ii wasn't the purpose OF the con-
certed fight on high taxes 10 thwart
the progress OF the nation. the
question OF excessive taxes would
have to be solved before they be-
a
property. Not attempting to convey
any nlisapprehenslor to his audi
cnce, the speaker by records and
statistics OF the State Tax Board
showed that with the gradual in
crease each year of taxes. families
were constantly being taxed out II
their homes.
INCREASE 500 PER CENT
Consistent with the progress Of
the country, the taxes have grown
materially and taking note of this
fact, the former state official said
that he was not attacking any
heavy expenditures made. He de-
picted, however. the inevitable eli
max IL this increase is allowed to
continue From an official tabula-
tion of figures prepared in the Of
fee of the State Tax Board. Mr..
Sims read that since 1900 there had
been an increase OF sic per cent In
the taxes OF Indiana. He said that
this year the people of Indiana are
paying nearly five times as much
taxes as was assessed in 1900 The
informant did not try TO cloud the
minds OF his listeners with saying
that the excessive tax problem ap-
piled TO the confines OF this state
only. but mentioned that this cpl
demic was existent everywhere
Neither did lie leave the impression
that the abnormal period OF 192022
could he taken as a basis for the
against high taxes. He
simply conveyed the cold facts of
present tax conditions and said that
only by conservative efforts on the
part of everyone could the people
hope 10 lessen taxes and get back
to sound government.
ASSESSOR NOT BLAMED
The taxes are going to increase
il we continue demanding good
IA
fact IL we demand modern improve
in government. We'll have to
pay the 'fddler'" said Attorney
Sims we cannot blame the asses
sor who fixes the property values
for IL he were TO slice the values 90
per cent. the tax spending bodies
would only increase their levies 100
per cent so as 70 produce the same
amount of money to be spent"
TAX EXEMPTIONS
The only opinion advanced in Mr.
Sims address was offering a pos
sible solution to high taxes by less
eninE the number Of tax exemptions
and placing these on the tax dupli-
cate Mr.. Sims gave this sugges-
ton as potential factor in solving
the Indiana tax situation.