The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-26
PAT PAGE DECLARES HE'S STILL COACH At INDIANA
DEMOCRATS WRITE
INCOME TAX BILL
Platform Measure Intended
to Raise S12,OO0,000
Awaits Introduction.

Bills carrying out the Democratic
platform pledges on income tax and
voters registration have been
turned over TO Representative
DELPHI L. McKeSson Dem, Mar
shalD, Democratic floor leader, for
introduction at the house session
this afternoon.
The income tax measure, which,
when first written provided that the
tax shall be one-half of the fed
eral rate, contains no specific
figures or levy charges.
It has been decided by R. Earl
Peters, Democratic state chairman
and Speaker Walter Myers (Dem.,
Marion), that the tax rates shall
be fixed by the committee on ways
and means which will frame these
recommendation into amendments
to be incorporated in the bill when
it will be reported out for passage.
Sponsored by Women
Party leaders are anxious that
the income tax bill shall raise
$12,000,O00, which will leave a bal
ance of $2OO0,000 to be collected by
some other tax to replace the
$14,000,000 obtained annually
through the % cent levy to meet
the state governmental appropria-
tons.
With but few minor changes the
registration bill is the same which
was sponsored by the Indiana
League of Women Voters in the
1929 session and which was passed
after stormy debate by both houses
only to have Governor Harry G..
Leslie refuse to sign it.
Legislation abolisling the fee
system, where it now exists, and
providing for uniform salaries for
county officials, is another Demo-
cratic party measure now in prepa-
ration.
Amounts to be appropriated to
pay salaries of deputies and assist
ant officials constitute the greatest
obstacle facing those drafting the
measure, likely to be opposed gen.
orally by county commissioners be-
cause of the restriction placed on
them in handling extra salaries.
Measures Attacked
Attacking measures declared dan
gerous to tax reduction, the Indiana
Taxpayers Association has prepared
a digest showing effect of all meas
ures introduced thus far in the gen.
eral assembly.
OF the 293 bills now in the hands
of committees, only forty three are
designed to reduce taxes, while
forty-f1ve, despite announced policy
of leaders of both houses, would in
crease taxes, Harry Miesse, asSoci-
alton secretary, asserts.
Chief among the bills labeled by
the association as harmful to tax
reduction are the Rowley bill, au-
thorizing collection of a sinking
fund for school building purposes,
and the Ketchunl bill, providing
establishment Of boards of safety
and boards of works in fourth class
cities that operate utilities. Both
are senate bills.
$5,OOO,OOO Cut Likely
Efforts to slash departmental re-
quests and keep the biennial ap-
preparation down to $50,000,000, a
cut OF 100000 from the 1929
figure, probably will be noticeable
when the appropriation bill is in
troduced.
Believing it necessary to clarity
the public understanding on high
way funds, the state budget COM
mittee. it is reported. may suggest
a separate appropriation for the
highway department.
If the 1929 levy of % cents is re-
tanned, it will be necessary to cut
the appropriation at least 100000
below the last sessions figure, it is
pointed out, because of the reduc-
ton in taxables valuation.