The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-13
MORTGAGE FEE
BILL STIRS UP
HOUSE BATTLE
Bitter Personalities Hurled
in Angry Debate Over
Measures Passage.
CHARGE RULE VIOLATION
Democratic Floor Leader
Accused of Fight for
Personal Interests

Thrown into turmoil by YER
bal battle between two legislators,
the Indiana house OF representatives
today ended a three-day wrangle as
the mortgage filing fee tax bill was
signed by Speaker Walter Myers.
After being the topic of debate for
two hours Friday the bill again
threw the house into an uproar to-
day as Representative Delphi Nc
Kesson of Plymouth, Democratic
floor leader filed q written pro-
test questioning the manner in
which the bill passed Friday, after
being defeated the day before.
McKesson charged that house
rules we're not followed in passage
OF the measure. which, it is esti-
mated will draw $7OOO.OO0 annually
into the state treasury by taxing all
persons taking mortgages.
Nick essen Is Assailed
The battle was precipitated as
Representative John Bold Dem i,
Evansville, charged McKesson with
fighting against the measure for
personal interests.
Has the gentleman as lawyer
ever had an interest in banks or
building and loan companies which
would be affected by this bill?" Bold
asked.
McKesson flew into rage deny
ING the accusation.
And 1 want to say" he shouted
chat it is a damn dirty trick for
any member of this house to impugn
the motives of another member"
Bold responded with the state
ment that it is a violation of house
rules to record a protest which, he
asserted, every member of this
house knows to be an absolute UNI
truth"
Others Join Wrangle
The debate spread around the
floor. with dozens of legislators seek
ing to explain their version of Nc
Kesson's protest.
Finally Myers declared the
journal committee would make a
thorough study of passage of the bill
and recording of votes
Avenue for reconsideration of the
bill was opened Friday, after being
defeated the previous day, when
Myers announced he wished to re-
cord his vote of aye on the meas
ure
A study of the roll call sheet
showed an error had been made in
tabulation of votes, and when the
correction was made Myers ruled
that the bill was not killed and that
it was open for reconsideration.
Passage followed.
Renew Sales Tax Drive
Facing adjournment Monday
night, hackers of the retail sales tax
renewed their drive for passage OF
revenue measures as a last resort.
Senator j. Clyde Hoffman's origi-
nal sales tax bill failed of passage
in the senate, but as a member OF
the special tax committee he is
drafting another one.
Meanwhile. Senator Lee J. Hart
zell (Rep)., TT Wayne, has pre-
pared amendments to the $3.50 bill
which will leave a loophole for the
state to raise the l5-cent levy limit
to 20 cents, through appeal to the
state tax board.
Local levy emergency appeals
were provided for in the $3.50 bill.
Cloture rule has been invoked for
the remainder of the session
with exception made for these tax
measures. Under the ruling, no
senator can talk more than five
minutes in debate and three minutes
in rebuttal.
The limitation will apply to final
passage of the pari-mutuel bill
which is on third reading, after
minor amendments in the. senate
Friday. However, the bill is eX-
pected to raise considerable revenue
through the 500 day license fee
charged each track where betting
machines are used.
Members of the house Friday
killed the senate home rule" bill
which would place jurisdiction over
all offices and salaries in the hands
of local boards Vote was SIS to 81