The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-15
BLOCK MOVE
TO KILL old
AGE PENSIONS
Senate Defeats Attempt to
SheIve Measure by
31-15 Vote.
NEJDL RALLIES FORCES
HartzeII Opposes Taxing OF
Prosperous to Aid
Poor Failures
NEJDL RALLIES FORCES

I'VE people who are prosperous
and honest should not be taxed to
support those who have failed and
are poor"
Thus did Senator Lee j.. Hartzell
CRep., Allen and Noble), president
pro tenn of the Indiana senate and
Republican floor leader, state his
stand on social legislation today in
debate on the old-age pension bill.
Upon croSS-examination by Sena-
tor James j. Nejdl Rep, Lake.,
co-author with Senator Walter S.
Chambers Dem., Hancock, Henry
and Madison), Hartzell admitted he
never had read the bill, didn't know
what was in it but absolutely was
against such things as old age pen
Sions, as 1t would mean increased
taxation.
Fail to Kill Measure
Having defeated Nejdl for the
senate leadership, Hartzell added
another personal reason for his OPP
position. He said he was opposed
to it ever since he heard "Nejdl
speak for old age pensions at the
1929 session"
The Lake county senator pointed
out that this Is a different bill, but
that since Hartzell wasn't going to
read it he supposed any changed
provisions didn't count"
So successful was Nejdl in the
repartee which followed, that ne
finally defeated by a vote of 81 to
Is an attempt to kill the bill.
1t was brought to the floor on a
committee report for favorable &C
ton, but the pension age was raised
from the 65-year provision, as
originally introduced, to 10 years.
The limit of payments is $25
monthly.
NibIack Opposes Bill
Where is the money to coms
from?" was the burden of the plea
in opposition.
Senator John l.. Niblack (Rep..
Marion) particularly was distressed
on this point and asked that the
bill be killed at once, 10 we can
get down to important legislation"
Nejdl asked that the bill be con
sidered in the interest of "the aged
and INDECENT Of the state, who at
least are entitled to as good treat
ment as an old horse"
Chambers spoke to the point of
where the revenues might be OBJ
tanned to finance the old-age
pension plan.
Favors Taxing Lodges
eve are refusing to finance the
needy while we enjoy tax exemp-
ton in our fine lodges ana frater-
nifty houses" he asserted. Here in
Indianapolis there is a lodge to
which I belong that has completed
a $2,00o,1o0 club house which will BE-
tax exempt.
I'VE car get the money by putting
these properties back on the tax
duplicate where they belong.
It am told by the state tax board
there nov is $493, 600, 900 worth Of
tax-exempt property in this state,
which is 10 per cent of the total
wealth.
Lodges and ~fraternities neither
are charitable nor benevolent in
stitutions and should be taxed. Let
the church, schools and hospitals
remain untaxed, but stop there.
Raps Teachers Pensions
"If senators are opposed to PEN
| sions in principle, let them repeal
the teachers pension fund law.
Teachers are we'll paid and there is
less point to pensioning the we'll
TODD than the needy poor.
But such things are part of tbs
social evolution in this and other
states. In 1915 I was opposed to
old age pensions, but I can see
clearly nov how such legislation Is
needed in the modern industrial
and commercial world. The central
ization Of business and the swift
pace of industry has left no room
for the aged to work.
Il predict that if we do not pass
this bill this session we will the next
one or two afterwards and all other
states will do likewise"
With the acceptance of the COM
mittee report, the bill will be
printed and go on first reading.
Effort of Senator French Clements
(Rep, Vandeburgh), to recommit to
the finance committee failed. The
favorable report came from the
committee on counties and towns Of
which Senator Frank s. Southworth
(Rep., Marshall and st. JoSeph). is