The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-30
JOBLESS man
IS OUTCAST IN
TAX CUT QUIZ
Advocates of Budget Slash
Would Put Halt to All
Public Work.
GRAVEL FUND OPPOSED
National and State Relief
Plans in Conflict Under
MieSSe Program.
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY

ployment relief through increased
public works found not a single
spokesman today as the proposed
34-cent Marion county tax levy was
being considered on appeal before
the state tax board.
In fact, the opposite policy OF
hating public construction and thus
increase the "doles," public and
private, was advocated openly.
Both the Indiana Taxpayers As
ISOLATION and the Chamber of Com
merce would abolish the county
gMvel road fund levy, the one place
where the county might supply jobs
for the jobless.
Yet the county commissioners did
not arise to defend it on this basis.
Harry Dunn, county auditor, was
the sole spokesman for the budget.
But he did not mention helping the
unemployed through jobs, pick and
shovel jobs, as are being supplied by
the state highway department in
some districts.
JoblesS Out of Picture
So far as the state tax commits
sionerS themselves are concerned,
they never have indicated at this or
former hearings that they would
consider the unemployed even in the
picture. At least not so far as pro-
vision for jobs on public works are
concerned.
They are out to cut budgets, as
advocated always by Harry Miesse,
Taxpayers Association director and
New York Central Railroad repre-
sentative.
This same plan or cutting taxes
and ignoring public workers job
sources long has been advocated by
the indianapolis News, of which
Warren Fairbanks, Hoover relief ex-
pert for Indiana, is owner.
So the Indiana plan and the ma
tioqal plan are to be based on OPP
poSite ideas, it appears. That is, if
the national plan really is to be that
advocated by Walter S. Clifford, ma
tional chief of the Hoover unem-
ployment relief commission.
Would Cut County Levy
Position of the Taxpayers Asso-
citation was outlined by Albert F.
Walsman, Democratic member of
the Indiana house of representa-
tiyes, now employed by Miesse.
Is is to take 5 cents off the
county levy by eliminating the l.
cent gravel road provision and issue
refunding bonds at 4 per cent over
long periods of years. Following
the refunding, the county and other
local governments should pay as
they 60 and there would be no
more bond issues for anything, he
said
Postpone all possible expendi-
lures, except poor relief" WalSman
urged. Half or more than half of
the outstanding bonds can be re-
funded and the rate, now as high
as 5 per cent in some instances, cut
down to per cent or less"
William Book, Chamber of Com
merce spokesman, joined with the
Taxpayers Association in urging
elimination of the 1-cent gravel
road levy, on the grounds that
balance of more than $4,000 win
be in the fund and that much or
more will be added through the
gasoline tax.
Opposes Road Building
MieSse himself opposed a program
for road construction, compiled by
the county commissioners, and
urged that it not even be eonsid-
cred as evidence.
But the association and chamber
both opposed Dunn's plan to cut
the 1919 cent Center township poor
relief levy to Z cents and cover the
deficit by bond issue.
1T always is poor public business
to pay current expenses of govern
ment by bonds WalSman declared.
The commissioner took the mat
ter under advisement. This after
noon they are considering the IN
dianapolis civil city levy of $1O8 and
viii demand that the gasoline tax
revenues, estimated at $223, 900, be
included in the budget.