The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-26
SWORD HANGING
OVER BARRETT
LAW FEE GRAB
Bills Stopping Personal
PoCketing of Interest
Still Pending.

A two-edged sword, in the form OF
bills pending in both houses of the
Indiana Legislature, hangs over the
practice Of Marion County treasur-
ers of pocketing between 100000
and $4,000 annually in interest on
Barrett law bonds. -Iu0
These bonds are issued on city
Improvements when assessed prop
erty owners elect the ten-year pay
ment plan. Interest accruing OH
the bonds during the ten-year period
has always been pocketed by Marion
County treasurers, according to
time-honored Marion County politi-
cal ethics.
This practice allowed by a loop
hole in the present law, has resulted
in an estimated Marion County Be-.
rett Law fund. deficit of 100000.
Most Important
Pending bills to correct the prac-l
tice are considered among the most'
important to come before the pres
ent Legislature. They affect Marion
County taxpayers more than any
other piece of legislation to be acted
! upon.
The Babcock-Borns bill, in the
House, was written in its amended
form by Alvah Rucker, former city
corporation counsel.
It provides that Barrett Law.
funds to be held intact by county
treasurers for the city.
t., IN tho TIonoo Lf1I
Rucker said, IF the. present law
was enforced, co:aity treasurers
could not appropriate for their own
use this Barrett Law interest. The
pending bill merely makes the pres
eHt law more specific" u-..t.
An attempt was made Friday by
Representative Lloyd ID. Claycomb,
Indianapolis, who introduced Ruck-
er's amendment, TO postpone second
reading action until Monday. This
was the third postponement OF the
bill proposed, and reused Speaker
Les.ie's ire.
Leslie Takes Stand
"There will be no further post
ponement Of this bill If I have TO
order it on to third reading my
SELF" Leslie declared. "The time
is so limited now that further post
ponenent will be equivalent TO kill
ing the bill"
Claycombe replied that his desire
to postpone the bill was caused by
the fact that "a Senate bill affecting
| AZ sr "a, Il
than this measure"
Postponemnt was denied and the
bill passed TO third reading.
The Senate bill is attacked by
Rucker on the grounds that it seeks
to penalize the small property own
err for the actions Of treasurer"
"Small indianapolis taxpayers
Kicker said. who are paying Tor
property improvements under the
ten-year plan, IL they desire to pay
the assessment in full thirty days
after electing the ten.year plan, would
be forced to pay for ten years in adj
vance"
This is regarded as an effort 20
provide n means whereby treasurers
can make up the 100000 deficit now
existing. This advance interest"
will, it is pointed out, amount to huge
sums annually and can be used to-
ward making up the deficit.
Now Six Months
Present law enables a property
owner paying for his improvements
under the ten-year plan. who wishes
to pay up in full. TO pay the assessed
charge and six months interest.
Unless both bills spend their
strength in contending with each
other for preference. one of them
probably will survive before the
Legislature closes. Pressure is be-
ing brought to bear on the HOUSE,
bill. since it is the more popular
with foes Of the present "pocketins
practices"