The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-20
TAX MEASURES
SUFFER FROM
PARTY STRIFE
Politics Rules Assembly and
Two Branches Fail to
Work in Unison.
LEADERSHIP C0LLAPSES
Past Week Brought Ex-
ampIeS Of Poor Strategy
by Democrats
BY BEN STERN

- 4 DEN SIEhN
Apparent utter futility of getting
the Republican senate and Demo-
cratic house to agree on controyer-
sial matters. which presages i'll for
the income tax bills and congress
sional reapportionment, together
with the breakdown of any con-
structive leadership in the house are
the outstanding developments of
the week in the general assembly.
The senate refused to turn against
the Governor despite its heretofore
proclaimed insurgency and did not
concur with the house in passing
over his veto the McKesson bill.
raising the mortgage exemptions
from 81 900 to $1,000.
That was simply a slap at the
Democrats, but a more important
point Of strategy confronts the Re-
publicans now and that is whether
TO make a play for labor and join
with the Democrats in passing the
"anti-yellow dog" contract bill over
Leslies veto or stick to party lines
and kill that measure.
Looked Toward 1892
Republican leaders have an eye
cooked towards 1882 in considering
this question and the senate division
may be close. The house Democrats
re-DarSed the hill 40 IN %
But these same leaders should
have something to worry them-all
things being equal-for they we're
having a good laugh at Democrats
In the house this week.
Record of the Democratic house
majority for the week is proof of the
pudding, they say, and has revealed
ano almost appalling ignorance of
strategy and Of those tactics neces-
Sary to garner votes.
Here is the record at which the
G. o. p. chiefs point, and some of
the boners are good for a chuckle.
Passage of the Democratic plat
form pledge personal and corporate
income tax measures was delayed
two days in the house. at a period
when time means everything.
Blame for this can be placed
equally upon the shoulders of
Speaker Walter Myers and Delphi
l.. McKesson CMarshalD, Demo-
cratic floor leader.
Another Farce Staged
For some reason mover. ey1o1ained
perhaps as a. farcical attempt at
fairness, the Democratic leaders
postponed the discussion of tax bill
amendments from Friday afternoon
to Monday night and then steam
rollered them through.
The amendments raised the
exemptions so high that the esti-
mate of revenue the tax was at first
expected to bring, has been cut in
half
There can be little doubt that
the senate will cut the exemptions
to where they we're originally and
because of the strong business lobby
may not pass the corporations tax
bill, in which event large source
of revenue will be lost. Defeat of
the corporations tax bill, may of
course, be considered part of the
usual G. o. p. bid for business sup
port.
Where the leadership fell down in
particular was failure to follow
through on the vaunted Democratic
liberal stand.
Floor Leader Blamed
NcKesson is held directly respon-
sible for these "deplorable errors"
in strategy.
Those independent voters who
have been attracted to the Demo-
cratic standard by its apparent lib
eral attitude are now among its Sc
verest critics.
Labor, first Modified with passage
of the nti-iniunction and yellow
dog" contract bills was given a slap
in the face by the slaughter Of the
full crew railroad bill in which STAY
ing the Democratic floor leaders
Joined. As result this group has
been alienated.
lIleIl MCheSSOn COIulnlJCSQ WnaJ
may be recorded as the worst error
OF the session.
Does a FlipHop
When the "anti-lynching" bill,
backed by every Negro organiza-
ton in the state, and that group
was Democratic both in the city
election of 1929 and the state cleo
ton of 1880, was brought to the
floor, McKesson moved for in
definite postponement, and despite
the fight of members from the
larger centers, the measure was
killed.
The next day he turned a flip
under pressure and after suspen-
sion of the rules withdrew his mo-
ton for indefinite poStponement,
and without a dissenting vote
smart Republicans-the bill is now
on its way to engrossment.