The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-02
new PROGRAM
OF TAXES MOST
PRESSING TOPIC
Assembly Enters Last Lap
With important Work
Still Undone.

Indiana's legislators returned to
their desks today grimly determined
to evolve some constructive tax re-
vision legislation during the re-
naming seven days of the session.
Beside the important corporate
and personal income tax measures,
they had before them fourteen
specific bills recommended to the
joint tax committee representing
both houses for passage.
Conference Planned
The personal income tax measure
awaits appointment of conference
committees to evolve compromises
in senate amendments which placed
a heavy burden on small wage and
salary earnerS.
The corporate income tax bill
awaits second reading in the SEN
ate. When it is handed down, prob
ably Tuesday, new efforts will be
made to amend it reducing the
corporate income tax rate from the
present IL per cent figure to per
cent. Its proponents, however, in
Guiding Lieutenant Governor Edgar
D. Bush are insistent upon raising
the rate to at least 2 per cent, either
by amendment or in conference
committee. AS passed by the house,
the bill carried a per cent rate.
LeVies Proposed
Chief among the tax measures
which will be pushed toward enact
ment by the join tax committee are
those:
Applying revenues derived from new
sources Of taxation to the general fund
expressly for reduction Of the state prop
erty levy.
Providing that all municipal budgets
adopted in 1881 and 1882 shall not ex-
coed the budget adopted in 1880 for 1881.
Prohibiting the state board of educa-
ton or the state board of health from
condemning school buildings because OF
their condition. and as amended in the
house to permit the state boards to petit
ton local authorities for condemnation.
Prohibiting the issuance of automobile
or drivers licenses unless the applicant
produces q receipt showing his poll tax
has been paid.
Permitting a rs per cent deduction or
intangibles when the intangibles are re-
ported 100 per cent.
Providing that the portions Of the gas
oline tax money distributed to counties
cities and towns. to be budgeted only for
iy,&a oF Tnade
and bridges.
Making the county the unit for assess
ment of property for taxation and elimi-
mating the four-year assessment on real
estate.
Diverting revenues obtained from auto
mobile license fees from the state highway
commission and placing them in the gen.
eral fund for reduction Of the state prop
ertY tax.
Reducing the limit of bonded Indicted
ness for county unit roads from 2 per
cent to per cent.
Providing for a 90 per cent increase in
automobile license fees.
Repeating all acts fixing minimum man
datory 1evies.
Providing for the optional consolidation
of two or more counties.
Providing for the optional consolidation
of two or more townships.
Extending the payment of poll tax to
women and removing the 50-year age
limit after which poll taxes can not be
collected.
Bipartisan Plan
Other bills bearing on new
sources of revenue or reduction of
governmental expenditures may be
added to the list this week. The
fourteen were selected by Senator
j. Clyde Hoffman (Rep, Marion)
chairman of the Governors state
tax survey committee, and Repre-
sentative Hardin S. Linke (Dem.,
Bartholomew, chairman of the
house ways and means committee.
$50 far" Senator Hoffman said
''the legislature has accomplished
little or nothing in the way of pro-
viding any constructive tax 1egisla-
ton. If anything is to be accom-
plished it must be by concerted ac-
ton and cooperation of both
houses. Much can be done if poll
tics are forgotten and a sincere
effort is made to put through a
group of bills calculated to reduce
expenses of government and tc
enable local taxing units to reduce
tax levies''