The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-22
That Extra Tax

Before the legislature raises the gasoline tax
to four and one-half cents gallon to get an
extra FIVE and half millions of dollars every
year for the highway department. there
should be most complete and sweeping in
vestigation of the department, its program, its
practices, its purposes and the necessity of this
huge levy.
The people now understand that they must
pay an increased tax this year to provide for a
deficit in the state treasury which will exist in
very short time.
In order to make paper showing for the last
administration, the tax lazy last year was too
ow to meet necessary payments.
The money must be raised next year and
he tax levy will be the highest, in point of
total money raised in years.
The educational institutions are demanding
and with reason, that they be given more
money
The state university needs money for
holding the better professors the school will
soon have a secondrate standing among col
leges and the youth Of Indiana will Be COM
PEELED to go to Michigan or Illinois or some
other state university, if they wish to receive
an education that will permit them to compete
with the youth Of other states.
With this situation confronting the tax
payer, it seems to be the limit of folly to turn
over additional millions to commission which
has shown singular contempt for laws and
regulations and which holds itself above public
scrutiny.
The fact that the additional millions are to
be raised by an increased tax on gasoline does
not alter the fact that it is a tax upon all the
people.
Members Of the legislature are looking for
other forms of indirect taxation to raise money.
Some propose to tax cigarets and cigars to raise
funds for educational purposes.
The state has been well prepared for this
assault on its pocketbook. There has been
suspicious activity by associations with high
sounding names. The newspapers have been
filed with advertising, to show the need of
more cement roads What does not appear is
the fact that this advertising, for the most
part has been paid for by the manufacturers
Of road materials.
The attempt to raise more money is the sig
nal for big raid by these interests
Every one wants good roads. But not every
one is ready to admit that the present sixteen
millions of dollars year, properly expended,
would not give the state all the roads necessary.
There are several questions which should be
answered before any more taxes are voted.
Is this highway commission, and its or
ganization the best medium for building reads2
Can it be trusted with these extra fundsf
Is it possible for the state to manufacture its
own cement in its own factories at saving
which will mean additional miles of roads? Is
there pool and combine in the making OF that
material and is there secret fund maintained
by its organization through tax of 10 cents
barrel to be used for propaganda or other
pufposes7
Is it possible for the state to utilize its
convict labor in making road Materials
Surely the legislature viii not commit the
citizens to so huge burden until it has ordered
a most sweeping investigation of the whole ma
chinery for road building and discovered
whether there is both the necessity for the
funds and fair factor of safety in intrusting
it to present hands.