The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-19
ENFORCE $3.50
Law, IS PLEA
TO TAXBOARD
County Groups Emergency
Ruling Attacked at
Hearing Here.
100 CITIZENS AT SESSION
Disclosures of Times Are
Cited at Meeting in
Courthouse.

Attacking the ruling of the county
adjustment board that an emer-
gency existed for raising the 1884
tax levies beyond $3.50 limits, a
dozen speakers appeared today be-
fore the state tax board, in public
session in the criminal courtroom
at the courthouse.
Approximately 100 citizens at
tended the public hearing and ap-
lauded speakers demands for strict
enforcement of the $3.50 law.
Presentation of figures advocating
further reductions in township and
county prepared by Harry Miesse,
secretary of the Indiana Taxpayers
Association, was delayed until an in
formal conference is held with the
board.
Mr.. Miesse announced that the
public hearing was mot the time
for actually going into the figures"
and asked for the conference, to be
attended by board members and
county officials.
GlGt
Citing disclosures by The Times
regarding oppressive utility con-
tracts and decrease in property val
uations, two speakers asked the
board to take steps toward remedy
ing the evils.
1T only recently has become
known that the state board has been
making utterly unwarranted reduc-
tons in property valuations" Gavin
L. Payne, local tax reduction leader,
pointed out. Il ask the board to
to consider these valuations in a
special hearing, at which time 1 will
present additional information.
Mr.. Payne attacked the emergency
declaration by the adjustment board
with the statement that the words
pressing necessity" used in the Or
der, first had appeared in the $150
law.
After passage Of the $3.50 law in
the senate, specifying that rates
should be raised only in case OF a
pressing necessity the bill was re-
written and passed again with the
word emergency substituted" MIR.
Payne said. Nov those words are
used in juStifying the very things
the original law sought to avoid"
Prejudice Is Charged
He charged two members of
the state tax board with being
"prejudiced" against the $15O law,
and with having declared it "un-
workable"
Albert S. Walsman, board mem
Der, later explained that his remark
about the law had been made in
reference to the Anderson city bud
get, in which he said "the law is
unavoidable under conditions here"
Walter Rothermel president of the
South Side Federation of Civic
Clubs, which has been active in
seeking track elevation, attacked tax
reduction leaders for advocating a
tax strike.
Il wish to say that the men who
have been urging tax strikes and
debt reputation are in a large
measure, responsible for present con-
ditions,' Mr.. Rothermel said.
He cited recent series of ar
ticleS in The Times in which OPP
pressive utility contracts were re-
vealed, and water mains installed in
outlying subdivisions at instances of
real estate men.
One of the leaders in the tax
reduction movement places a value
of only $500 on his household goods
and includes on his assessment list
an automobile at threee times that
value Mr.. Rothermel charged.
Walsman Checks Attempt
He urged the board not to make
drastic cuts which might impair
governmental functions, but urged
equal distribution of the tax burden
At conclusion of Mr. Rothermels
speech, Albert Uhl, tax reduction
leader, asked him to reveal the
name of the man referred to in his
remarks.
Mr.. Walsman checked the at
tempt with the assertion 1T wasn't
necessary and wouldn't do any
good"
Charles T. Coy, representing the
Chamber of Commerce, called the
boards attention to a written sug-
geStion already in the boards hands
for refunding 100000 in county
bonds to reduce the tax rate 512
cents.
Mr.. Walsman announced that
public hearing on the city and
school budgets would be held Nov