The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-22
STATE Senate
ACTS TO LIFT
TAX BURDENS
Bipartisan Legislative Body
Suggests Income, Poll
and Luxury LevieS.
LEADERS IN AGREEMENT
Lieutenant Governor for
Fourth Plan to Guard
Against InvaIiditY.


ford some measure of relief from
heavy property taxes is sought in a
resolution adopted unanimously in
Indiana senate today.
Introduced by Senators Tholie W..
Druley Dem, Wayne) and VIII
liam v. Doogs Dem, Dubois, Perry
and Spencer, the resolution as
serts it Is the sentiment Of the sem
ete that to effect tax reduction,
farm machinery, implements, live
stock and farm products should be
exempt from taxation, and that all
household goods, up to $500, be ex
empt. This latter provision would
apply to all taxpayers in the state
Deeming a constitutional amend
ment necessary to accomplish these
aims, the resolution recommends
such amendments be prepared for
submission to the voters at the
earliest possible moment.
Farms Hard Hit
The resolution carried without
dissenting vote and now goes to the
house for concurrence.
Speaking for his resolution, Dru-
Icy asserted that from 30 to so per
cent OF the rental value of Indiana
farm lands is consumed by taxation.
Striking at the present tax ex-
empt bonds and notes of counties.
townships and municipalities, Rep
resentative Howard Grimm CRep.,
De Kalb) today introduced in the
house a bill, which he claims would
raise revenues Of several million dol
lars.
The Grimm measure provides for
taxation, after August, 1881, all
bonds, notes and other indebtedness
issued by any municipal corpora
ton or maintenance of free gravel
townships for building, construc-
ton or maintenance of free gravel
or macademized roads; municipal
bonds for maintenance of streets,
highways, drains, levees, parks,
docks, waterways, boulevards, play
grounds, bridges. sewage disposal
plants and any other improvements
for public benefit paid from special
assessments or special taxes.
Amends Present Law
Another measure sponsored by
Grimm amends the present tax law
to bar mortgage foreclosure suits
against real estate unless the mort
gage bears Endorsement of the
county auditor showing it has been
offered for taxation every year of
the documents life. Both bills were
referred to the ways and means
committee.
Both Representative Walter Myers
Dem, Marion), Speaker of the
house, and Lieutenant Governor Ed
Bush, presidei.o of the senate, an
nounced they favored the plan of
Bush contending that at least four
permitting the bipartisan tax COM
mittee to introduce measures within
few days. Bush contends that at
least four revenue raising measures
should be enacted in order to safe
guard state income in event one or
more of the measures should be de-
clarerd unconstitutional.
Senator ]. Clyde Hoffman, mem
Der of the committee and chairman
Of the state tax survey commission,
presented the commissions finding
for consideration.
Poll Tax for Both Sexes
These recommendations embraced
q 50 poll tax for both men and
women: a income tax for indiVi-
duals and another for corporations,
and a retail merchants license which
would have the same effect as
sales tax.
Hoffman declared .the commission
agreed on a / per cent tax on total
retail sales as desirable. He asserted
the courts have held sales taxes ex-
else taxes. and therefore constitu-
tional, when Lieutenant-G Governor
Bush questioned the legality
Amounts likely to be raised by
the commissions taxation plan were
apportioned by Hoffman: Corporate
and individual income taxes, $500;
poll tax for both men and women,
S20,000,000: retail sales tax, $7,000,-
900, and doubling of auto license
fec, S6,240,00o
Split on Levy Limit Plan
Members of the joint legislative
committee were divided on the ad-
visibility of including in their pro-
gram the revenue plan of Senator
Addison Drake (Dem.. Sullivan and
Vigo) which would limit property
taxation to SITS on each 500 of
property.
-rniS bill has been branded by
James Showalter, chairman of the
state tax board, as a gallery play"
Showalter declares a minimum
levy is impracticable and that gov
ernmental units would be thrown
into debt.
Bush, Myers. Senator Lee j. Hart
zell (Rep., Allen and Noble) presi-
dent pro tenn of the senate, and
Representative DELPHI L. McKesson
Dem, MARSHALL, majority floor
leader of the house, are to meet to-
night to discuss further the Joint