The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-06
Otherwise Record of AS
sembIy Shows Lack of
important Work.
TAX BILLS STILL WAIT
Democratic Income Levy
Pledge Faces Possibility
Of Not Being Enacted.
BY BEN STERN

that with but one exception the rec
ord remains a blank as far as pass
age Of important remedial leglsla-
ton is concerned.
This one exception is the Nejdl-
Chamber old age pension bill which
was passed by the house Tuesday
and was vetoed today by Governor
Harry G. Leslie. The senate con-
CURED in the veto.
If the senate and the house are
really serious in their desire to pass
measures of grave moment to the
people, they can do so by suspend
ing the rules in the remaining days
but. this is exceedingly doubtful.
Tax Measures Menaced
The Democratic platform pledges
of personal and corporate income
tax measures are in grave danger.
The senate Feb. % passed the per-
sonal tax bill after lowering ex-
enptions and maximum rates, but
as yet no conference committee has
been appointed by Speaker Walter
Myers.
The corporate income tax bill ap-
pears to be doomed to death. The
? senate cut the rate on net incomes
of CORPORATIONS from 3 to lie per
cent on first reading; and then
raised the rate to per cent on
second reading, thus paving the way
for it's defeat when it is handed
down for final passage today. House
Democrats will not permit the per-
sonal income tax to pass If the cor
porate tax measure is killed. For
this would mean placing an even
greater burden on the mass Of work
ing men and farmers, it was pointed
out.
The companion Intangible tax
bills, which would have permitted
taxation on Is per cent Of the face
value of bonds, stocks and money
credits are dead. One was killed in
the house and the other is dying IN
the senate finance committee.
Bush Victorious
Defeat Of these two measures is
a victory for Lieutenant Governor
Edgar D. Bush. He even managed
to have the Joint tax conference
committee strike them from its list
of preferred measures. ~
Senate Republicans were incensed
when the house killed the bill turn
ing auto license fees over-to the
state general fund.
Lingering death seems to be in
store for the primary repeal bill in
troduced by Senator Joe Rand
Beckett (Rep., Marion) and thir-
teen others, which is sponsored by
the Republican state committee.
Although failing of passage ouce it
was called down again and ] ised.
It now reposes on the desk VI the
chairman of the house judiciary B
committee.
The theory, often quoted and
more often proved, that the mem
bers Of the general assembly stand
in fear Of their own creations
state commissions and boards-was
exemplifled this week when the
senate defeated the Strey- Ketchum
bill providing for abolition of the
present highway commission and
creation Of q full-time four-ran
commission with senate approval
of the appointments.
Calling down Of this bill was pre-
ceded by minority report of the
senate highway probe committee,
signed by the authors Of the bill
taking to task the commission and
Director John, J. Brown for falling
to obtain federal aid for highways.
Lobby Power Demonstrated
Democrats lined up with Repub-
Leans to defeat the measure which
was opposed by a powerful lobby Of
black top material men and
others who sell supplies to the COM
mission
Substituting the Republican SEN
ate congressional reapportionmept
plan for the one passed by the
house, the senate will vote on its
passage today, following which 1t
will be cent to conference COM
rnittee Of both houses, from which
there is some possibility 1t may
never emerge.
Sharp cleavage in the Democratic
house ranks has resulted from the
uniform fees and salaries bill, which
has suffered legislative anenia in its
most pernicious form.
This bill, which was introduced
Feb. Is and reported four days later,
lay on the Speakers desk from that
date until Thursday when it was
brought down for second reading
and amendment. 1t was then that
Earl Crawford CUnion and Wayle),
Dem cratic caucus chairman,
through others, attempted to strike
out all of the bill but the enacting
clause, and insert a new bill giving
county councils power to fix county
officials salaries.
Rising in wrath, floor leader
DELPHI L. McKesson (NIarshalD re-
buked Crawford for attempting to
obtain passage Of his amendment
because it has been turned down
by two Democratic caususes."
Through virtue Of the gavel Of
Speaker Myers, a division was
stopped and the amendment lost
on voice vote. Democrats opposed
TO the fees and salaries bill swung
in with the Republicans for the
amendment
Back Of McKesson's Ire lies what
he, by inference, already has ex-
pressed, that the late introduction
Of the bill and its constant delay
is prompted by the state commit
tee heads who feel they should make
a gesture towards carrying out
campaign pledges, but at heart are
not in favor Of these same promises,