The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-15
MUCH OF TAX
BURDEN LIFTED
BY ASSEMBLY
Legislature, However, Falls
Short of Goal Set for
Session.
BY EDWARD c. FULKE


Although the legislature has
fallen short of the tax relief goal
set at the beginning of the special
session, a review Of activities of the
last forty days shows definite gains
toward lessening the tax burden.
When the adjournment gavel
falls tonight, it will be certain that
more than sl0,00O,000 has been
saved by the session, either by gov
ernmental retrenchment. tax levy
reductions, or diversion of funds.
Probably the most significant &C
complishment Of the legislature is
the gas tax and license fund di-
version, which will pour approx
imately S11,00O,0OO into treasures
OF counties, cities and towns, thus
lowering tax levies.
100000 Is Saved
About 100000 was saved with
suspension of the 2-cent educa-
tlonal improvement fund levy.
If medicinal whisky is legalized
before the adjournment, about
S250000 will be realized from the
tax, it is said.
When Governor Harry G. Leslie
signed the amended preparations
bill, s1,672,0OO was Topped from the
annual costs of state departments
and institutions.
Despite the fact that the $3.50 tax
limit has become a law, it appeared
no appreciate savings would be
made by it, because state depart
ments will be forced to operate on
borrowed money. This cost must
be Offset later by additional tax
levies.
Defeat Poor Aid Bills
Another definite step of the as
sembly toward relieving persons I'M
able to pay taxes was passage of the
delinquent tax moratorium bill sus-
pending penalties on unpaid taxes
for 1929, 1880 and the first INSTALL
ment of 1881.
Although definite move was
afoot at the beginning of the ses-
sion to provide relief for the job
less, several unemployment insur-
ance proposals failed to pass.
Passage of the moratorium on is
suance of bonds for county high
way work will account for tax re-
auctions IN majority of counties.
Among the few new revenue
raising proposals before the as
sembly are the mortgage-f1ling fee
and chain store tax increase, passed
in both houses.
Fought as Blow to Poor
Although it was estimated the
mortgage tax will raise 100000
annually for the state, opponents
of the law vigorously fought it's
passage, declaring it was a new tax
on the poor at the exclusion of the
rich.
Chain store taxes would be in
creased several hundred per cent
under the provisions of the amend
ment to the 1929 law. Stores would
be taxed on a graduated scale from
SIS up to SIS, according to the num-
Der operated in any chain.
Buses and trucks felt the full |
force of revenue raising attempts
when the house passed a bill tax
ing practically every truck and bus
in the state operating outside a
thirty fve-mile limit from the home
base. Final senate action is due
before adjournment.
Spur Home Rule Move
Theory of home rule" for all
municipalities and counties was
Spurned by the legislature with de-
feat Of bill abolishing all man
datory levies and placing full au-
thority for management of local
governments with councils in all
cities and towns.
Bills providing for reduction of
salaries of officials in many cities
and counties, however. were passed
by the legislature. Chief among
these were Anderson and Ft. Wayne,
and Gibson and Vigo counties.
Treasurers of all counties will re-
ceive only half of delinquent tax
collection fees under a bill awaiting
executive approval. Formerly, these
officials received all collection fees. |
In some cases these aggregated |
many times their salaries.
Aside from its duties of consid- |
ering tax reduction, the legislature
drained the state treasury of to-
tai of $220000. of this $4,000 paid |
assembly members $40 a day during
the special session.
The remaining 100000 was ap-
propriated for the Governors mil
itary fund, coincident with main
tanning troops in the mine strife
near Terrier Haute.