The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-21
UTILITY RATES
HELD TAX, IN
HOUSE VOTE
Move to Kill Measures for
Public Ownership Is
Knocked Out.
HEATED DEBATE RACES
Committee Is Turned Down
on Recommendation for
PoStponement.

With two record votes, the mouse
of representatives today ratified the
theory that public utility rates are
a form of taxation members voted
down the recommendation of the
cities and towns committee that two
bills affecting public ownership be
killed.
All but two members of the COM
mittee signed the report asking in
definite postponement. The two
who brought in the minority report,
recommending passage were Jesse
P. Curry of Vevay and George M.
Forbes Of Connersville, both Dem
ocrats.
Martin Kruger (Dem), Michigan
City, chairman of the committee,
voted for the minority report for
passage, although he signed the
majority report for indefinite post
ponement.
OeDdIe is dcdCeu
The efforts to kill the two
measures, which provide for re-
moval of municipality owned util-
ties from domination of the pub
lie service commission and enable
municipalities, on vote of citizens,
to purchase. utilities, refunding the
cost out of earnings, were Shrouded
in a smoke screen of verbiage, to
the effect that the special session
is for tax relief, and municipal
ownership properly could not be
discussed.
This was knocked into a cooked
hat in the stormy debate which
followed ard the majority report
for killing the bill, which curtailed
the public service commission power
over publicly owned utilities, was
defeated by 70 to % vote. The
report asking death of the enabling
act for public ownership was de-
feated by SO to "a vote.
Evans Hits Move
Debate was opened by H. H.
Evans (Rep). Newcastle, who de-
clared:
1.-THE people of Indiana want the
privilege of operating their own
utilities. One of the greatest mis-
takes that could be made by this
session would be to refuse the peo-
pie the right to control their basic
needs"
Utility rates are taxtion and the
men and women of this state have
realized it. They want opportunity
to consider and vote on the cues
ton of owning and operating their
own utilities" asserted Jacob Weiss
Dem), indianapolis.
Indefinitely to postpone consider
alton means killing the entire sub
ject matter of home rule during this
session. Every one wants that now"
Branded as Taxation
What has utility ownership to do
with taxation?" asked Chester N.
Watson (Dem), Fl. Wayne, one of
the leaders of the utility group on
the cities and towns committee.
Everything" shouted Weiss. "The
rates come out of our pockets. What
could be more direct taxation than
extortionate and exorbitant prices
we are forced to pay? Do not the
cities
Pointing out that the question of
public ownership is statewide in
terest, j. F. White Dem.). Indian
apolis, said it is one of the most
important questions before the ses-
sion.
Passes Property Tax Bill
Passage of income, sales and in
tangible tax bills as revenue-raising
measures appeared inevitable today.
If the Indiana house follows the
senate in approving the $3.50 prop
erty levy limitation bill,
Under the lash of organized land
owners, senators voted approval of
the measure Wednesday afternoon,
38 to 9.
It limits the state levy to Is cents
OF the $3.50. Present state levy is
20 cents and the average levy
throughout the state for all govern
mental purposes is $2.82.
Despite drastic retrenchment, new
revenue sources must be found if
the levy limitation prevails, since
huge Assessments cuts already have
been made or are being ordered.