The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-20
HOUSE PASSES
BUDGET BILL;
Vote IS 56-33
Appropriations Measure Is
Advanced While Recess
Is Pondered.
TICKLISH LEGAL POINT
As Day Adjournment Move
Occupies Attorneys in
Upper Body.

While Atty. Gen. Philip Lutz Jr.
and constitutional experts today
p0ndered the legality of proposed
45-day recess for the 18th General
Assembly. effective March l or ?, the
House of Representatives adopted
the s5O,OOO.OcO appropriations bill by
a vote of 56-33
Mr.. Lutz announced he expected
to rule today whether the legisla-
ture may lawfully recess until the
Federal social and economic relief
programs nave been formulated. No
state legislation bearing upon these
problems can be considered until
Congress acts.
The proposed recess became the
subject for partisan critisism in the
House shortly after that body con-
vened today.
Rep. H II. Evans CR. Newcastle)
Republican leader. charged the re-
cess would be illegal and claimed it
is unnecessary.
TickIish Legal Problem
The legal problem to be settled
is whether the constitution requires
the Legislature to meet not more
than 81 consecutive days.
Rep. David H. Byers Cd. Vim
cenne0, who voted against the
budget bill, told the House the
measure is opposed to every Demo-
cratic principle.
Democratic Representatives who
bOlted their party and opposed the
appropriation bill are Rep. Byers.
Rep. Joseph E. Klein, Whiting; Rep.
Martin T. Kruger. Michigan City,
and Rep. Henry A. Moore, Fair
land.
Question Legality of Bills
Meanwhile Republican leaders
charged that the recess might result
in throwing question upon the
legality of bills passed when the
assembly reconvened. This position
was taken by Senator I. Floyd
CARROT. Republican Senate leader.
Senator Jacob Weiss. president
pro TEN. OF the Senate. said he was
considering asking the Indiana
Supreme Court for a ruling on the
legality of such recess.
The only reduction made in the
budget was on a Democratic move
when Rep. Edward P. Barry Cd,
1ndianapolis) succeeded in having
stricken out the $4,000 revolving
fund sought for the Central Dupli-
eating Department. The Interna-
tional Typographical Union, Of which
Rep. Barry is a member, and other
labor organizations long have op-
posed the duplicating department.
A bill for its abolition was intro
duced in the Senate yesterday by
Senator z. Curtis White ID. In
dianapolis) as a companion move to
the budget cut.
Thompson Defends Budget
Before the budget bill was called
down for the second reading yeSter-
day. Rep. Frank G. Thompson. Bluff
ton. majority floor leader. read a
lengthy statement in which he de-
Tended the budget and offered an
Swers to Republican charges made
in the committee of the whole meet
ing.
He detailed specific reasons for
several of the budget increases and
defended the Jumping Of appropria-
tons for state institution equip
ment and capital outlay.
Meanwhile, no definite announce
ments as 70 the state adminiStra-
tons tax program have been made,
but it is reported reliably to consist
OF a ? per cent sales tax with a
compromising reduction in the gross
income tax levy on retail sales. The
personal income and other levies of
the gross income tax law are re-
ported scheduled for no change.