The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-15
COMMISSIONERS
SPURN C. OF c..
ECONOMY PLEA
Requested Scent Cut Is
!. Serious Threat to
Efficiency, View.
WILSON is oBDURATE
'PII Never Stand for It, Is
UItimatum of Board
President.

AS member Of the school board
of indianapolis, state that there
never will be a Scent levy cut with
my authorization" is the ultimatum
of Russell Wilson, president Of the
board.
1t was delivered to the Chamber
Of Commerce budget committee
Tuesday night when it demanded
that the school budget be slashed
in order to cut the tax rate from
s1.01 to 95 cents.
Wilson's unalterable opposition to
a Scent reduction was approved
by Merle Sidener, board member,
who declared:
Il was elected with a commit
ment from the public to improve the
school system of Indianapolis. That
IFS what l am here to do, and as far
rs 1 am concerned one member Of
your committee (Chamber of Com
lmerce) can take my place on this
board.
Doesn't Think 1t Right
Il am not going to do what you
ask, and don't think it is right Of
you to come In here and tell us to
cut the budget" Sidener added.
The closed conference of the
school board before the regular ses-
zion with the seven members of the
Chamber of Commerce committee
became acrimonious as the latter
groups demands were aired.
Utmost necessity for slaShing the
1931-1932 school budget was out
lined by State Senator Joe Rand
Beckett, member of the chamber
committee.
THE economic depression has re-
fduced incomes of all classes in the
city, and just as private businesses
are reducing their operating ex-
penses, so should the public enter
prises," Beckett pointed out.
Wilson pointed out that the
board was cognizant of all the eco
nomic points brought out, but that
If the budget is reduced the schools
of Indianapolis would be impaired
seriously.
Cut Last Year
Instead of the necessary scent
increase last year to operate the
schools adequately, the levy was cut
l cent" he said.
where can we cut the budget,
the president asked.
Shall we stop night schools as
has been suggested, when grown
men and women throng them in
search of an education?
Shall we curtail the operation of
the public libraries and close the
branches where hundreds of I'M
employed are given a chance to read
and so find surcease from their
woes?
Or do you want the free kinder
zen stopped?"
priated under the proposed budget
to maintain the buildings is made
quate.
They are spending $4,000 to
clean, the statehouse that's extrava-
gance, yet you come in here and
want us to curtail and har~ner the
school system of this city.
Pleads for Taxpayers
THE taxpayers support the
schools and these same taxpayers
are in difficulties so it is up to the
schools to reduce their expendi-
lures, said Arthur v. Brown, pres
ident of the Union Trust Company
and committee member. '"The high
rates affect the taxpayer in the ex-
treme."
very we'll" declared Wilson, we
might as well close the schools
THE Chamtrs; of Commerce be-
aieves that taxes must be reduced
some way by skiInping here and cut
ting there" Brown said.
will the Chamber of Commerce
say to us and the public reduce the
rates even If it makes the schools
less efficient?" asked Wilson.
Both in Protests
William H. Book, secretary of the
civic affairs committee Of the
chamber. and Brown declared in re-
Spouse to a question that, in their
opinion the rate should be cut 6
cents, and that brought the pro-
tests from Wilson and Sidener.
Wilson later declared that he
personally was glad that an appeal
on the budget and rate had been
filed with the state tax board by the
Indiana Taxpayers Association
Sbecause we don't want to take the
responsibility for cutting the budget
and impairing the schools"
Other members of the Chamber
of Commerce committee were Dan
Eel B. Luten, Thomas r. Radcliffe.
Earl Buchanan and Frank v. Tow
Ter