The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-09

Democrats in opposing final a,
Reason for the deadlock
was the action of the G. o. P.
majority in committee of the
whole in taking S12,500,000
in automobile license fees
away from the state highway
department and putting it into
the general fund. as a final
gesture at reduction of prop
erty tax.
When the senate reconvened as
committee of the whole tlais morning
and refused to restore the highway
fund by reconsidering its action
Saturday, which took away the $12,-
100000, Democrats served notice OF
q deadlock.
Branded Petty Larceny
~There is no use to report this
bill to the senate for passage in
this shape" Senator Walter S.
! Chambers (Den., Hancock, Henry
and Madison), Democratic floor
leader, warned the majority side.
''The Democrats here and in the
house are not going to stand idly by
and see double taxation imposed on
the small property holder and even
those without property for the sake
Of the Standard Oil Company, Bel
Telephone Company, and the insult
utility interests.
''This is petty larceny, wouldn't
dignity it by calling it grand lar
ceny."
Defends Chambers Stand
senator Alonzo H. Lindley (Rep.,
Fountain, Vernilion and Warren)
took the floor to defend Chambers
position.
NejdI previously had appealed
from the decision Of the chair IN
tabling the amendment which
would restore the highways fees.
The result was one of the outstand-
| ing parliamentary battles of the
session.
Nejdl finally succeeded in making
Senator Lee j.. Hartzel (Rep., Allen
and Noble), president pro tenn.
who was presiding over the COM
naittee of the whole, surrender the
gavel to Senator French Clements
(Rep., Vanderburg).
The latter gaveled through the
tabling motion, but Nejdl stuck to
his guns and finally secured a di-
vision. The motion to table TsS
carried, "a to 20.
Democrats Are AssaiIed
Senator G. Oliver Holmes Rep,
Itakey took the Democrats to task
for their challenge to deadlock and
declare that reduction Of highway
funds by taking the automobile IL
cense fees was "tne deliberate judg-
ment Of the majority"
Lindley declared the majority &C.
ton would be meaningless and that
the budget committee could restore
the fees to the highway department
under the budget law.
Vote to arise as committee OF the
whole and report back to the SEN
ate wes carried, q to II.
During a recess, Holmes declared
that the Democrats must come
through or state aid bills, affecting
the southern sections, where democ-
racy always prevails, viii not be
passed and their schools can not op-
crate.
Chambers, however, declared
there will be no change in the Dem
ccratic stand and a special session
might be all right after the sena-
tors returned home and learned
what the people, instead Of the lob
byists, are demanding
Amendments Again Beaten
When the senate received The
committee report with amend
ments and recommendation for pas
sage signed by Hartzell, the bill went
on second reading and the highway
fund restoration amendments agair
were offered and defeated.
An amendment by Senator Ander.
son Ketchum dem, Bartholomew
Decatur, Franklin and Union) tc
limit state highway administration
expenditures TO S75,000. also wa:
tabled.
When the rule suspension motion
which would have put the budget
bill on final passage. was voted
down, another recess was taken anc
another unsuccessful effort usade Il
patch up differences and avoid z
deadlock.
Democrats may use the bill os Z
formidable weapon to force Their
demands on both reapportionmen
and income tax measures. Til
latter has been considered as gooS
as dead, since the session is ovel
af midnight.