The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-16
IOBLESS MAY
Be AIDED BY
GAS TAXFUNDS
States 100000 Likely
to Be Made Available
by Legislature.
SENATE GROUP ACTIVE
Unemployment Committee
Plans to Introduce Bill for
Quick Distribution.

More than $4,000 900 in the cities,
counties and towns state gasoline
tax funds may be made available to
local communities for road work to
relieve unemployment through pro-
posed joint action of both houses
of the Indiana legislature.
Through the unemployment COM
nlittee of the senate it is planned to
introduce a concurrent resolution
permitting the distribution of these
funds now, rather than on March
l, as heretofore.
Although this action was planned
for today. it could not be taken as
the resolutions were not prepared
before the house adjourned. The
matter will be taken up the first
thing, under suspension of rules,
when the session reconvenes at 2
p. m. Monday, it was announced
upon adjournment by Lieutenant
Governor Edgar. D. Bush.
William CoSgroye, assistant stats
auditor, stated today that there is
more than 100000 in the cities,
counties and towns fund and that
the state highway department owes
the fund another 100000.
Sullivan Was Unsuccessful
The department has paid back
$1,O00,000 to this fund, which was
borrowed last summer.
E. Kirk Mckinney, president of
the Indianapolis works board, today
said the city can use Immediately
its share OF the fund. Several
street improvement projects have
been delayed for 1881 due to lack OF
funds.
Receipt Of the money probably
would bring about resumption of the
entire program. Mckinney said and
aid in relieving the unemployment
situation. The city receives approx
imately 100000 from the fund.
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan tried
several months ago to get some of
this money for use OH Indianapolis
streets, but was unsuccessful.
The city still can use its share,
but Auditor Harry Dunn Of Marion
county said that there Is sufficient
money in their gravel road fund to
finance all the county road work
that can be provided at this season.
Las year the county's share in the
gas tax was $4,000
Launched by Lindley
Movement to distribute the funds
grew out of the launching by. Sena-
tor Alonzo Fl. Lindley rep, Foun-
tain, Vermilion and WARREN, of an
unemployment committee to sec
what could be done for the dis
tressed unemployed at Clinton.
Director John j. Brown of the
state highway department visited
the district and reported relief in
the matter of road work there Is
needed sorely.
Under the distribution plan. Ver-
million county would have approxi-
mately $30,840 available for the
road work.
Will Ask Ogden Opinion
Cosgrove stated that Auditor
Floyd E. Williamson will ask an
opinion Of Attorney General James
M. Ogden as to whether or not the
money can be distributed before
March l, by resolution of the legis-
lature.
The state will lose 2 per cent in
terest on the funds and banks hold
ing them are likely to protest at
large Withdrawals at this time. it
was said.
Another plan is to have the bud
get committee make more money
available for maintenance work BIZ
the state highway department. This
would be done by borrowing from
the construction funds, where
money is needed to match federal
aid, which has been permitted to
pile up at Washington while the
department here went broke and
borrowed money.
Brown and state highway officials
conferred with the budget commit
tee regarding this funds transfer
today, but no agreement was
reached.