Evening star., 1922-09-17

tne QelenSiVe at the outset. neIe
are some of the charges put forth
by the democrats In their official
party statement:
In 1915, the last year under Gov.
Ralston, democrat, the total state ex-
penses averaged ST for each. voter
or head of family.
In 1921, just five years later, the
average expense for the head Of each
family was $40. This is an increase
of 135 per cent. Other states tncreas-
ed from 33 to so per cent in their ex-
penses and few of them more, but
none of them equaled the 1S5 per
cent increase of Indiana. When 1t
comes to raising taxes and spending
money Indiana has them all beat
There are approximately 100000
families in Indiana. In 1915 the total
expenses Of the Indiana state govern
900. In 1921 these expenses were more
than S2S,O00.O0O. These figures are
taken from the yearbook issued by
the state.
with an income in 1915 of less
than half what 1t was last year Gov.
than s1.000.OO0 the last year Of his
administration. In fact. he saved
and paid off the state debt.
Living Cost Issue.
TN 1921 the republican admins
tration, with an income more than
double the 1916 income. spent almost
100000 more than it received.
IF it had not been for the big
state of Indiana would have been in
bad way financially.
The cost Of living In that time has
increased about so per cent. according
to the recent report of the United
States Railroad Labor Board, after
u II
The cost of living in the republi-
can official family has increased 135
per cent in five years. a most reck-
less and eXtravagant family OF spend
thrifta
THE people of Indiana are paying
a premium of s1O.OOO.OO0 a year for
the privilege of having the republi-
can machine run the state. Is 1t
worth the price?
The cause of all this reckless ex-
pendlture was the Goodrich tax law
that went into effect in 1919. Up to
that time taxes had increased In a
normal way, about in keeping with
general living expenses. The first
three years Of republican admins
tration were under the old democratic
amount of taxes collected all over
Indiana for all purposes increased
s15.000.O00 In three years.
Then came along the Goodrich tax
law and in single year the total
taxes collected jumped from S75.00o,-
increase in one year. This increase
of s37,0o0,000 taxes in one year was
more than the taxes had ever in
creased before in any ten years.
THE s37,O00.000 increase in taxes
in 1921 was more than all the taxes
purposes a dozen years previous.
1T is the new boards and commits
sions created under republican rule
In the last few years that have caused
most of the state tax increase. The
democratic party pledges to reform
bring them back to the purpose for
which they were created"
Imagine an Indiana farmer, on his
front porch down in Posey county,
reading an allegation of republican
such as this item of the
cost of furnishing the governors
mansion:
'On file in the state auditors Office
are receipted bills for fitting up this
mansion. These bills amount to S19,-
$50. Among the interesting items are
a grand piano, oriental rugs and a
all the state tax paid In by Rush
county in June to pay that bill.
only a partial bill shows furniture
for the rooms TO have cost $500.
Rugs cost S2.314 and draperies 81 ,594.
Andirons. screens and shovel and
waste basket for one room cost $11.50,
and another waste basket cost $40.
Lest the governor or some Of his
friends might get mud on the oriental
rugs two door mats were bought for
s2ss.50.
"One chair for the chauffeur's room
In the garage cost $24. while a mir
ror for the chauffeur's bath cost
$3.50. Three enameled bath stools
cost $3.50 and a rocking chair for the
garage SIG"
The republicans counter these
charges as follows:
THE tax law never has had. and
cannot leave. anything to do with an
Increase in taxes. IT provides the
method of assessing and collecting
taxes. and contains provisions Of
The only power affecting
taxes vested in the state board Of tax
by the tax law now in
force is to approve or reduce tax
evies made by local taxing officers,
upon appeal taken by local taxpayers
and to approve or entirely DENY or to
reduce in amount the issue Of bonds
ordered by officers of the counties.
cities. townships and towns Of the
state. Under the present law the taxes
Of the citizens Of the state can be in
creased only by laws enacted by the
legislature appropriating money.
tax levies, increasing salaries
TO be paid by the people and exempt
Ing property from taxation, and BY
the expenditure Of money by local
officials.
School Budget LarKe.
Taxes have increased because we
are now building roads by taxation
which were formerly paid for by
assessments against those specifically
benefited because local authorities
are expending twice as much for
schools. because everything bought
for public use has increased in cost,
because new purposes for the expen-
ditule Of public money have been
created by law, and because Of some
slight increase in salaries paid to
officials.
~, Taxes ss. are are higher partly because
and partly because of extensive i'm
provements. Most Of the increases are
for schools. roads and other public
More expensive roads
are being constructed and more
money expended for repairs. More
new schools are are being hs'ns,i: built M0ae af
higher cost More children are be-
Ing hauled to school. Automobile
buses are being purchased rather
than wagons. Gymnasiums are be-
ing built. Town and city schools
and other puo1fc buildings, parks,
and other public improvements ars
being added in every county from
the general funds, and the expendi-
lures for sewers, streets and side
walks are greatly increasing"
How Money Goes.
The Republicans quote Gov. Raj
ston (democrat) in his message to
the legislature in 1915 as saying:
IAN examination Of the facts will
show that out of every dollar of the
general property tax 3l.2 cents is
paid for education, and 17.s cents for
olnnA Tho sum of 40 nAn&a e..A -