The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-02
An Emergency Exist

Governor Leslie, summoning the men,
bers of the legislature for special session,
properly says that an emergency exists.
1t is not exactly the emergency which
he has in mind. It is greater. 1t does not
stop with the prospect of an empty public
treasury in the state and in the counties. 1t
is not limited by the fact that an unfair dis
tribution Of tax burdens in confiscating the
farms, Transforming the owners into ten
ants, and changing the little home owner
into renter.
When the regular session was held, all
proposals to change the sources of public
revenue were defeated by a lobby repre-
senting the great industrialists and capital
lists who were shocked at the thought that
an income tax on individuals and corpora
tons might lift part of this burden.
At that time the Governor gave some
service to this lobby. There is nothing on
record to indicate that he has changed his
own attitude.
The Governor attempted to secure a
pledge from the members of the legislature
that there would be no action on any subject
except that of taxation, which, of course,
would include reduction of wages and num-
bers of employees.
The legislators can not afford to limit
themselves. The conditions have changed
since the Governor so arrogantly declared
that the law makers could not meet.
For one thing, the cost of poor relief has
mounted in most counties to a sum that
is staggering. The limit of relief has been
reached.
Unless there is state action of some sort,
there will be hunger.
1t is now generally accepted as fact that
the federal government will attempt to give
some relief. President Hoover has been
forced to change his attitude. He no longe-
relies on such gestures as those made in III
diana and other states. The congress will
vote funds for this purpose before it adj
journs.
The legislature must create some
machinery for caring for the unemployed
in this state when federal money is avail
able If one fact has been demonstrated
thoroughly, it is that these funds can not
be trusted to the machinery set up by
Governor Leslie for the distribution Of the
small sums collected from football games
and donations by Purdue professors. Fed
eral relief must not mean private peonage
The legislature will wish to reduce costs
Of government.
1t may find some clew to possible methods
In the fact that wages are already being re-
duced by the expedient of assessing those on
the public pay rolls for political purposes.
Stenographers with small wages must pay
per cent of a years income to the party"
under an edict delivered through member
of the highway commission.
If public employees must pay for their
Jobs, the pay should go back to the people.
In any plan to rescue the state from its
predicament there should be provision for
transfer Of the present gasoline tax, license
fees on automobiles and other sources of the
huge highway funds to places and uses where
the money will take care of those in need and
lift part of the general tax burdens.
That the Governor recognizes an emerg-
ency is a hopeful sign. Public opinion will
indicate the direction the legislature must
travel.
The first objective is the care of those
who will suffer next winter unless some new
means and methods of help are found.