The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-20
TAX STRIKE THREATENED
BY THR0NG OF CITIZENS AT
HEARING; JAM COURTROOM
Crowd Cheers as Realtors
Are Played Bitterly by
Karrer.
$3.50 DEMAND IS MADE
LevieS Must Be SIaShed,
Is Plea to County
Adjustment Board.

MurmurS of a tax strike ID
force strict adherence to the
$3.50 law swelled to a mighty
roar today from a crowd
which damned criminal court
to capacity and overlooked
into courthouse corridors.
At the first public hearing before
the Marion county tax adjustment
board, several hundred taxpayers
broke into shouts and applause
when more than a dozen speakers
declared that taxes must be re-
duced to save us from bankruptcy.
Shortly before close of the meet
ING. Lawrence Holmes, executive sec
retarv of the real estate board, OIL
fered a resolution to uphold the
81. so law, which was Endorsed by the
crowd without a single dissenting
voice.
1--WE demand that the board OF
tax adjustment carry out the spirit
and letter of the $3.50 tax law TIE
resolution declared, Ito avoid bank
ruptcy of 10000 home owners. we
hereby voice our intention TO aploe
only by the $3.50 tax law.
Crowd Jumps on Eoard
Climax of the meeting came, how
ever. when the crowd turned on its
host. the indianapolis Real Estate
Board. with a chorus of cheers and
applause after a speech in which
the realtors we're branded the
cause of it ALL
CLYDE Karrer, former member OF
the legislature and attorney, lashed
the real estate men in an speech
several times punctuated by shaking
trembling finger under the nose OF
Albert Uhl, president of the realtors
homeowners' division.
1.-The trouble is that the real estate
men have oversold us" shouted
Karrer. "They built $4,000 houses
on a lot worth 5000, went to the
building and loan associations and
got a $4,000 loan and then sold the
property to us for $4,000.
Attacks Subdivisions
That's where the trouble is. Why
don't the real estate men take back
their subdivisions, turn the land
into farms and get the sewers, the
lights and the water plugs off the
corners. and end the Improvements
for which we now are paying the
tax bill
And another thing, why aren't
the taxes put where they belong, up
on Meridian street, where the real
estate men live and sell their
houses?
Let me tell you something, Mr..
Real Estate Man" he added, shak-
ing a finger in Uhls face, Il rep
resent a lot Of rentpayers as well
as taxpayers. I want to tell the
Real Estate Board-and the tax adj
justment board, too-that there may
be a renters strike along with a
tax strike"
Wild applause followed Karrer
from the stand. Thomas F. Carson,
real estate man, offered the only
defense to Karrer's remarks when
he caused a wave of laughter from
the crowd with the sally:
Il didn't know there we're so many
good real estate men in the city"
Defends Property Owners
Paul c. Wetter, former municipal
court Judge and president of the
Federation of Civic Clubs. followed
Karrer's speech with a defense OF
property owners.
although Karrer made num-
Der Of good points, l want to call
his attention to the fact that nu-
merous property owners have not re-
ceived l cent Of rent for the last
two years Wetter sair.
Uhl spoke on several occasions
during the meeting before introduce
ing new speakers. During one Of
the intervals, he said:
Property values have declined,
rents have decreased, but taxes con-
tinue to go up. What is the an
swer?" He was interrupted by cries
from the crowd:
Cut salaries. Pay no taxes. Let's
strike"
Reform on Revolt
IF expenses are reduced by the
officials, it will be reform, but if the
expenses are cut by the people, it
will be revolution asserted T. NJ.
NeWsome, Woodruff place, one Of the
impromptu speakers.
Speaking of ways in which gov
ernmental expenses could be re-
duced, Newsome declared that one
economy would be to burn less
lights"
A few seconds later, the lights in
the courtroom we're turned off by an
unknown person from a switch box.
The crowd applauded. The lights
were turned on few minutes later
on orders of courthouse official.