The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-09-30
MAYOR FIGHTS
STATE SLASH
OF TAX RATE
Goes Before Board; Backed
by Civic Groups, to
Defend Levy.
MIESSE IN OPPOSITION
Taxpayers League SeCre-
tary Charges $1.1O Scale
Needs Pairing.

Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan,
backed by all but one of the citv,s
civic organizations. appeared before
the state tax board in the house
Oh representatives today and de-
tended his s7476. 099.99 adn1inistra-
tlon budget and the retention of the
SlIO tax rate.
The one organization appearing
III opposition was the Indiana Tax
payers Association. which carried
the appeal to the state board. Sec
Ietary Harry Miesse Of the taxpay-
erS association had hired Louis r
Ewoank, former supreme court
Judge, as spokesman for his pro-
posed budget reductions.
However, Ewbank was unfamiliar
with the budget. His procedure was
10 read a bit and then argue: read
ana argue. The result was post
ponement Of tn pickering, after two
ana one-half hours, to Oct. 10.
Civic Groups Represented
Besides the mayor and the city adj
minlstration, those appearing in
favor of the budget included repre-
Sentatives of the civic affairs com
mlttee OF the Chamber of Commerce.
indianapolis Real Estate Board. In
dlanapolis Clearing House Associa-
ton, indianapolis Federation of
Community Civic Clubs and the
Marion County Bankers Association.
Central Labor Union officials ap-
peared to declare that the rate was
100 low, rather than too high, and
TO oppose any reduction.
About seventy-five citizens and
taxpayers were present, and with
the exception of Miesse and his men.
only State Senator Robert L. Moor
head (Rep) offered objection.
He admitted that he lives outside
the city limits and had come
principally 10 protest against the
Marion county levy.
Scores Expenditures
"All budgets should be cut at the
time" Moorehead asserted. 1--WE
should declare a holiday for modern,
governmental folderol. The idea
that public expenditures will relieve
distress is fallacious. The money
must be wrung from the taxpay-
ers, which means the entire people"
Moorehead explained he is a
member of the civic affairs COM
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce,
but had not been asked to vote ap-
proval of the city budget.
Dwight Ritter, who represented
the civic affairs committee in ask
ing budget approval, pointed out
that the approval was given by a
special budget subcommittee, which
had been given power to act. This
has been the custom followed for
years, he explained.
Cites Expense Increase
Mayor Sullivan cited S479, 41I.10in
creased expenditures in the budget
which were forced on his admins
tration by previous city action. These
included such items as the police
radio, airport, flood prevention,
World war memorial and various
bonded and funded debts.
1t also included the $4,000 reduc-
ton due to lowered assessed valua-
tions and increased interest.
Should these things have been
eliminated, the administration could
have cut the rate cents the mayor
declared.
The mayors contingent fund of
$4,000 was defended as being
needed for a possible recurrence OF
spinal-meningitis epidemic this
winter.
Ask Other Cuts
N1iesse asked this be wiped out
as not specifically budgeted, and
also that other cuts be made, in
Guiding the thoroughfare fund. OBJ
lection to the latter being cut was
presented by Albert Stump for the
Hoosier Motor Club and by Irving
ton residents.
Marion county's proposed budget
Of $1,673,693 and rate of 1855 cents
also was opposed by AIiesse and his
men and defended by county off
Gals and the civic affairs commit
tee.
This afternoon objections to town
ship and the sanitary district bud
gets and leYies will be heard by the
board.
Chairman James Showalter in a
speech at the close of the city
hearing indicated that the board
considers itself duty bound to make