The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-16
FIRM
AGAINST STATE
AID To HUNGRY
Bars Special Session, Un-
less He Is Sure No Relief
Will Be Voted.
DENIES NEED IN INDIANA
'HOoSierS Take Care of
Own He Wires to Sena-
tor in Washington.
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY

ID DANIEL hIONEX
Fear that state money might be
appropriated to aid the unemployed
is one of the major reasons Gov
ernor Harry G. Leslie is delaying
call of a special session of the legis-
lature to solve the tax problem.
The Governor disclosed his anxiety
over this possibility in discussing
special session plans today. He re-
iterated his requirement that the
legislature come forth with COM
pletely pledged taxation @program
and promise not to pass anything
else before he issues the special
session call.
What if they should come in
here and appropriate $1,000,000 for
the unemployed? Leslie inquired,
pointing out that $10,000,000 had
been appropriated for unemploy-
ment relief in Wisconsin.
Wants Something REAR
st don't believe they would dare
ask for more than 100000, but
what would happen if Sl,0O0,000 is
added to the already heavily bur-
dened state finances?
That is why I want the legis-
lature to agree on genuine pro-
gram of tax relief and pledge itself
to stick to it and give the people
something real, and not promises.
MY relief organization is func-
tioning in all counties of the state
at little cost. 1 don't want a state
appropriation which merely will
serve to break down the local Civ
ing and the community aid in car
ing for its own"
Leslie also emphasized the point
that he is a constitutional Gov
ernor," and declared he doesn't IN
tend to "coerce the legislature into
any particular program" The Con-
stitution provides for division of
legislative, judicial and executive
functioning, he pointed out.
Would Use Own Judgment"
But, later, he declared that if the
legislature concluded that state
funds were needed for relief and
agreed on program for such APP
preparation he would exercise his
own judgment about calling the
special session.
mo one would be more eager TO
call a special session than 1 will be,
if I have assurance that problems
are to be solved and not mere poll
tics played" Leslie declared.
He then pointed out some of the
citizens committee" tax recon-
mendations which he considers
questionable. These include a ref
erendum on bond issues, rather than
the present method of appeal to the
state tax board; the intangible tax,
which would cut the payments of
national banks to Is per cent of the
present levy, he contends; change
in distribution of highway funds,
and salary cutting.
The government has figures to
show that half of the 4,400 state
employees receive $1,000 or less a.
year and that more than three
fourths are paid under the $4,000
mark.
Gives His Remedy
Consolidation of local govern
mental units is the most feasible
way of cutting costs, he asserted.
Indiana takes care of her own"
is the slogan the Governor sent in
telegram to Senator Hiram
Bingham (Rep., Comm to help
Bingham's fight against the Demo-
cratic measure to increase federal
highway appropriations as an un-
employment relief measure.
Senator Bingham submitted to
the senate today an estimate that
100000 persons are unemployed in
the United States, and accompanied
it with kilograms from the Gov
errors of forty-eight states upon
which he based his figures.
Complete text of LeSlie's telegram,
revealed today, follows:
There are no people starving in
Indiana. From 10000 to 1901 I'M
employed. Relief agencies ade-
quate. Indiana takes care Of her
own
But the Governor doesn't want
Indiana to take care of its own
through a state appropriation, and
isn't going to call a special session
until assured that will not be done
Members of the general assem-
bly, will not be asked to convene
here for consideration Of the tax
relief recommendation of the citi-
zens' committee, Speaker Walter
Myers and Lieutenant Governor Ed
gar D. Bush decided at confer
ence today.
They adopted resolution which
is to be sent to the legislators. 1t
contains proposals that they pledge
themselves to consider nothing but
tax relief measures in even a spe-
cial session call is issued by Gov
ernor Leslie; and second, that they
give their opinion on each Of the
committees seventeen recommended
/ tionS.
Answers are expected to be re-
ceived within a week. AS soon as
the result is known it viii be sub
mitted to Leslie with the recon-
| fnendatiot1 that he iSStJe a call for a