The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-08-23
LESLIE ADVISED
TO Get RID OF
HIGHWAY GROUP
Muncie Manufactures IN
Protest Over Living
Up of Income
BIZ DAN a. KIDNEY

vote his time to obtaining highway
commission that viii live within It's
income and discourage further pub
lefty about the plight Of southern
Indiana farmers, was advice con-
tanned il a letter to the chief ex-
ecutive Friday from w. F. Spencer
secretary of the American Lawn
Mower Company, Muncie.
The governor answered the. let
ter, at once, and assured spencer
that the danger Of the state making
a 81 900 900 loan now is passed.
Leslie stated today that the GER
tificate of indebtedness plan Tor
paying road contractors so as TO
release highway department funds
for southern Indiana road work stu
is being worked out.
Matched by U. S. Aid
The money will be matched by
federal aid, ne said, on projects APP
proved by the federal aid roads bu-
reau. The state has an unclaimed
balance of $4,000 900 in federal aid
funds, making the total available,
when qualified for, of more than
$4,000, COO. The state expects to get
at least ST 900, 900 of these funds this
fall, he said.
1t is understood that the certiti-
- Af
meeting with much enthusiasm
from state highway officials. The de-
partment has a deficit Of more than
100000 now, and the present set
up for drought relief will put them
farther in the hole. They had
hoped to set 100000 cash for re-
lieving drought-stricken farmers by
roadwork and, perhaps, relieving
some of the highway indebtedness.
Thinking About Deficit
This deficit was what Spencer had
in mind when he wrote the Cover
nor.
This whole issue is being clouded
and made an excuse TO relieve the
highway commission, and 1 wish to
protest emphatically against the is
suing of bonds or the borrowing of
money in any other form to be
placed at the disposal of the high
way department." the Spencer let
ter stated.
The highway department has
plenty of revenue from the Accent
gasoline tax, he pointed out. and
said when the 1-cent tax raise was
voted by the 1929 legislature, it was
said that it would furnish suficient
revenue to complete the state paw
ing program in five years.
II do not believe that the farm
ers of the state of Indiana are 60
ing to leave their farms and find
relief in working for the state high
way department." the letter con-
tinued.
Not Skilled WOrkmen
IF they did, they would not be
efficient workmen in that depart
ment, as they are not skilled in
that class of work. Any scheme
Of this kind can only result In an
increased burden of taxation, and
in spite of all the hue and cry about
the taxes paid by the farmer, the
burden eventually will fall on the
manufacturers of the state"
Spencer then pointed out that it
must be borne in mind that Indi-
ana manufacturers must compete
with those in other states and to
increase taxation is to increase the
production costs.
II believe the real farmer in the
state of Indiana is attending to his
own business and not asking for
any relief" the letter declared, and
continued, IF the politicians would
quit trying to make capital out of
his misfortures ne will come out
of this drought all right, the same
as he has out Of similar experiences
in the past.
Farmer as Excuse"
Il sincerely trust that you will
use the power of your Office to have
the state highway commission oper-
ate within its income and not use
the poor farmer as an excuse for
drawing next years funds, or in
creasing taxation in any other way"
Leslie pointed out in his reply
that drought relief will be carried
on without additional obligations to
the state and reminded Spencer
that the manufacturers we're given
hundreds of millions" of tax money
to assist industry in the 1905.