The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-27
C. 0. FAvORS
REvAMPINC old
|. TAXATION LAWS
Policy Apparently Opposed
to New Plans Like Sales
and Income LevieS.


That the Republican legislators
will follow the administration view
outlined by Governor Harry G. Les
lie and try to patch up old taxation
machinery, rather than adopt new
forms such as income or sales taxes
appeared likely today.
This conclusion was given consid-
cradle support by the conduct OF
Republican senators at the session
Monday afternoon. While the DEM
ocratic majority in the house was
busy introducing its income tax
measure, the senate recessed to rush
through several committee reports
designed to counterfeit such a
measure.
Relief Measures Approved
Upon reconvening they reported
favorably from judiciary B COM
mittee the three Lindley bills pro-
viding for a moratorium and
amortization of real estate taxa
ton sales and delinquencies and
forbidding deduction of 1881 tax col
lectionS if sales are made.
The Hartzell bill putting all tax
exempt fraternal property back on
the duplicate also was returned
from judiciary G, with a favorable
report. It had been introduced just
before the afternoon recess and i'm
mediately was passed on by the
committee of which Senator
French Clements (Rep., Wander
burg), is chairman.
Pass Mortgage Bill
Fraternity and sorority homes
would continue to be exempt under
terms of the lodge tax bill, asserts
Philip zoercher, member of the
state tax board, calling attention to
supreme court decision several years
ago which held fraternity homes are
used for educational purposes and
are under supervision of educational
institutions.
Senator Lee j. Hartzell (Rep.,
Allen and Noble, author of the
bill and Republican floor leader,
had been inSiStent that the senate
recess and not adjourn before these
committee reports we're returned.
He was aided in this move by Lieu
tenant-GovernOr Edgar D. Bush,
who admits he is not going to let
the Democrats across the hall steal
any of the tax relief thunder If he
can help it.
Hartzell contends that his bill
restoring exempt fraternal prop
erty will mean putting an additional
SITS, 100000 on the tax duplicate.
Suggested by Democrat
The idea, however, first was sug-
gested in the senate by Senator
Walter S. Chambers (Dem., Han.
cock, Henry and Madison), minority
floor leader, in telling where the
money might be obtained for sup
port of the old-age pension measure
which he favors.
The Lindley bills would halt all
tax sales of real estate scheduled
for Feb. 9 and put them off for one
year with four years to meet the
delinquent payments. This applies
to Barrett assessments as well as
general levies.
Should two Of the bills with this
provision fail, a third provides that
taxes collectable in 1881 shall not
be deducted in making the tax sales
on real estate.
Exempt Frat Homes
Besides having the income tax
measure presented, house members
Monday afternoon passed a bill
raising mortgage exemptions for
taxation purposes from the present
$1,000 to $1,000 and repealed the
law exempting the, Jacksonville
bridge from taxation.
Representative DELPHI L. McKes-
son, majority floor leader of the
house, chaynpioned the mortgage
exemption DILL, of which he is au-
thor.
1--WE in Indiana encourage people
to buy homes and then penalize
them by forcing them to pay taxes
on something they don't own" he
declared. "This measure is de-
signed to relieve to some extent
the burden on the poor man who
wants to own a home"
Representative j. Frank Smith
(Rep., Tippecanoe) said the bill
would clip $1,800,O00 off the tax
duplicate. The state tax board
estimated $60,OOO,OOO would be re-
moved from the tax list by che bill.
Passed 80 to IA, it was sent to