The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-16

SHADOW BOX
FOR 10 DAYS
No Major Measure Passes
Both Houses in First
Quarter of Session.
BY DANIEL Nj. KIDNEY

With the first ten days of the
forty-day special legislative session
completed, majority of members
of both houses have gone to their
homes to keep from Sweltering while
they review their accomplishments
What does the record show?
1t shows that the problems they
we're convened to consider largely
are dealt with in host of bills await
ing action in senate or house and
that other matters are being dragged
in daily.
No major measure has passed
both houses, nor are any close to the
time when they will require the sig
nature or veto OF Governor Harry
G. Leslie.
Little Progress on Taxes
Little agreement has been reached
regarding the tax relief program
and each little group has its pet
measures.
Democratic pressure is to start
in the house Monday, it has been
announced and Republican state
committee advice shortly will be
forthcoming in the senate, here
the G.. o. P. majority prevails.
State G. o. P. committee observ-
ers who have been watching with
an eye to drafting orders, include
j. Glenn Harris and John Scott,
both of Gary, former members of
the house and well versed in pro-
cedure.
Major measures closest to passage
include three passed by the senate
Friday and now awaiting action in
the house
| One is the Hartzell bill, which
provides a ten-year moratorium on
all local governmental bond issues
except in the case of indispensable
necessity" What the latter term
implies is to be determined in each
instance by appeal to the state tax
board.
Merger Measures Up
The other measures set up ma
chinery for effecting county and
township consultations and thus
reducing governmental costs
through mergers.
While some general agreement
prevails regarding reduction of gov
ernmental costs throughout the ma
Jority in both houses, few definite
ideas have been advanced regard
ing new revenue raising measures.
An Intangible tax has received
favorable action to second reading
in the house, and several income
tax measures were introduced in
the house Friday.
Malt taxes and utility taxes also
are pending there.
Over in the senate, a bill has been
introduced to change the present
chain store license tax into a sales
tax, levying Y per cent on gross
sales.
Money for Schools
Under the bills provisions. the
money would go to the state school
fund and thus wipe out Is cents of
the 29-cent state levy, according to
Senator ]. Clyde Hoffman (Rep.)
Indianapolis, its author.
Hoffman, chairman of judiciary
A committee and the state tax sur
vey commission, estimated that the
house intangibles tax bill would
yield approximately 100000 a
year; the 50-cent fee on mortgages
passed by the senate, $1,000, 900. and
the $3.50 split in state highway
funds, $12,000,000. These, with re-
peal of mandatory levy and salary
laws at 100000 saving would
decrease property taxes $4,000, 900
he said.
For the first time, administration
spokesman have come out into the
open in their fight to retain the
$24,000,000 state highway funds in
tact.
Both Ralph Simpson, assistant
state highway director, and DR..
John Hewitt, director of state I'M
employment relief, condemned re-
turning half of the state highway
funds to cities, counties and towns.
Paint Dark Picture
Simpson said to do so would
wreck the state highway road con-
struction and maintenance program
next year and Hewitt declares it
would prevent the state from CIV
ing jobs to 10000 unemployed.
Split of the funds has many back
ers in both houses and is part of
the legislative program to be pushed
under the Democratic whip in the
house.
Counter action is provided in bills
turning the roads over TO the state
highway department and letting
them Keep their funds.
Wright law repeal will be one of
the session accomplishments, &C.
cording to hackers in both houses.
Impetus was given wet movements
by a second and double victory in
the house before adjournment Fri
day.