The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-23
PARTY STRIFE
PERILS EXTRA
SESSION WORK
Democrats Split Over Tax
Bills; Four Measures
Are Considered.
PRIMARY REPEAL ASKED
Senate viii Start Probe of
Highway Board on
Monday.

Monday.
Democratic strife which may
block the work of the special ses-
sion of the legislature split the
house of representatives today in
debate over income tax bills.
The breach occurred as the WAYS
and means committee reported
without recommendation, four in
come tax measures, admittedly con-
shutting the most important meth
od of tapping new sources of rev.
enue.
Failure of the committee to take
definite action on the bills passed
the entire burden to the house.
The income tax fight occupied
the house after it was decided to
postpone vote on the bill to repeal
the Wright bone dry law until Mon
day.
Other Important Issues Up
Abolition of the public service
commission, repeal of the direct
primary law, and a third measure
to extend Center township bound
aries TO include the entire CITY of
Indianapolis were laid before the
house.
The senate adjourned for the
weekend, will open a probe Mon
day of the state highway commits
sion, which has been branded a
political machine.
The committees income tax re-
port was submitted before a storm
of protest and resulted in recon-
mltted the measure to the commit
tee, pending study of the bills by
all members of the house.
The bills, varying in provisions
would assess a tax against incomes
and against all persons and firms.
and would, it is estimated. bring
millions into the state treasury an
nually.
Want Expert Advice
The fight was precipitated when
Representative Jacob Weiss (Dem)
Indianapolis, objected to failure of
the committee to pass on the bills
and moved they be sent back to
committee for recommendation.
DELPHI McKesson of Plymouth.
Democratic floor leader. declared
that the committees failure to act
on the measures would precipitate a
bitter fight on the house floor. A
majority of the members, he de-
clared, demand expert advice on
provisions in the bills. He declared
this to be the duty of the COM
mittee.
THE house as a whole can not
arrive at conclusions on bills as
technical as these. Seventy-f1ve per
cent of the members can't under
stand them" he declared.
Representative John Bold Dem),
Evansville, member of the COM
mittee, defended the groups action,
asserting that only confusion
would result from having divided
committee reports on each of the
four measures.
Why relegate the bills to the
committee when it's only a waste
OF time" McKesson queried.
Linke Is Wrathy
Apparently irked by McKesson's
remark, Representative Hardin S.
Linke of Columbus. chairman of the
committee, leaped to the floor, de-
claring the committee is mot
Sinking its work"
The public service commission bill
was introduced by Representative
Nathan B. Combs Dem), Mulber-
ry, who, while a member Of the
house in 1913. voted for the Shive-
ly-Spencer bill, which created the
commission.
I still think it was a good bill"
Combs said today, but 1 don't
think much OF human nature be-
cause of the way it has operated"
The primary law repeal is asked
IN bill introduced by three south
ern Indiana representatives and is
said to be the most drastic measure
OF it's kind since the primary law
became effective.
Would Abolish Primary
The primary would be abolished
Tor all state, county and city Offices.
Beginning in 1884, the bill pro
poses that on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday of November
OF every second year. political
parties would elect precinct COM
mltteemen TO perfect organization
and that during the following Nav
party conventions-state, congress-
ional legislative and judicial dis
tricts and city be held.
Directly involved in the highway
quiz is the senate resolution reouir-
ing an accounting Of the collection
OF funds made for the state COM
mittees of both political parties.
Additional questioning is EXPECT
ed to cover the general allegation
that commissioners are trading road
improvement patronage in an effort
to keep their S24,OO0,0 900 annual bud
get intact.
The probe also will touch on the
promise of Commissioner Arthur
Sapp to oil highway for a Wabash
manufacturer If Senator Charles L.
Strey Rep), Wabash, can be
whipped into supporting the com
mission