The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-12
BOND POLL BILL
HITS DRIVEFOR
CLEAN STREAMS
Proposed Measure Requires
Election to Authorize
Financing.
BY ARCH STEINEL
Times staff Writer

Indiana's effort to stem stream
pollution was threatened today in a
House of Representatives bill which
would prevent issuance of bonds
without favorable vote of residents
of offending municipalities.
Effect of the bill upon essential
powers proposed in the Conserva-
ton Departments pollution bill were
pointed out by The indianapolis
Times to interested groups.
Hurried consultations between the
Attorney Generals Office and Fred
Eley, conservation department at
torney, resulted in the framing Of
an amendment to the proposed $3.50
tax levy bill to prevent its inter-
ference with the stream pollution
program.
Election Is Required
Introduced almost simultaneously
with the stream pollution measure,
by Rep. Bennett H. Hockey 3D.,
Sharpsville) and Karl D. Noting
ham (R., Muncie). the bill-known
as H. B. 292-would prohibit taxing
units from issuing bonds except upon
approval by the majority of the tax
payers in an election after petit
ton of election is sought by 20 per
cent of the voters.
The section of the bill would null
lily provision Of the stream pollu-
ton measure-H. B. 293-Which
amends 1892 Acts and does not re-
quire approval of the voters on the
construction of a sewage disposal
plant following state orders.
Mr. Rockeys measure, although
inferring that it forbids only bonds
payable from taxes, is interpreted
by Mr.. Eley and officials of the De-
partment of Conservation to undo
the pollution measure which permits
the issuance Of revenue-producing
bonds or direct obligation bonds.
Bill Seeks Clarity
Lack of clarity in the bill intro
duced by the Sharpsville Represen-
tative, which is backed by an in
fuential group of five tax reduction
organizations, would bring into
question the provisions of the stream
pollution measure bonding powers
and would open the way for at
tacks against the law, MIR. Eley and
conservations officials agree.
The key to ending Indiana's
stream pollution for all time is seen
in the conservation measure in that
it would permit cities to issue bonds
without recourse to ballot, board or
the bar.
It permits issuance and retirement
of revenue bonds through service
charges where cities issue the bonds
for the construction of sewage dis
posal plants.
The stream pollution measure was
to have been placed on third read
ing in the House yesterday, but was
held up pending framing of an
amendment to be tackled on the tax
bill introduced by Mr.. Hockey.
Relief Bonds Also Involved
The tax measure is in the hands
of Judiciary B committee and has
not been reported out of committee
or placed on second reading.
Rep. Rockey's bill, in addition to
playing havoc with the stream pol
luton bill, would, if passed, result
in the necessity of poor relief bonds
being issued only after an election
had been held on petition of 20 per
cent of the voters of a township.
This, it is pointed out by observ-
ers, would mean that in Center
Township, indianapolis, it would be
necessary to get the signatures of
between $4,000 and 10000 voters be-
fore an election could be held to de-
termine whether poor relief bonds
may be issued.