The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-07
C. 0. P. TRIES To
WRECK INDIANA
WELFARE PLAN
House Minority Opens At.
tack on Administration
Security Measure.
Continued From Page One)

Continued From Page One)
die the entire expense on the Fed
eral and state governments.
This attitude was keynoted yes
terday in the hearing before the
joint House committee by Lewis
Taylor. Indiana Farm Bureau pres
ident who strenuously opposed any
additional tax burdens on prop
erty.
The administration hurdled one
obstacle, however, when House
Democrats agreed to the section in
the administration bill dropping
the age limits on old-age pensions
to IS in July, 1888. There hod
been considerable sentiment for
starting payments on a bo-yea.
basis in 1887.
Bill Is Reported
The welfare bill was reported
without recommendation this morn
ing to the House by Rep. Hardin S.
Linke 3D., Columbus) with this
change: Elimination Of the section
creating 13 welfare districts in &c of
the smaller counties and substitute
ing an enabling act permitting
counties TO consolidate if they de-
sire. Another minor change pro-
vided that in counties of less than
100000 population board members
be paid $50 a month and the direct
or 5000 yearly.
The new attack on the public well
fare measure was started by Rep.
Guy w. Dausman (R., Gosnen). He
introduced bill which seeks to take
the power Of appointing the county
welfare board members from the
circuit judges as provided in the
Administration welfare act.
Judge Is Limited
The bill provides that no Judge
shall make appointments to any
Office or name any other employees
except those who have to do with
the functions of the court over
which he presides.
In two other sections, the bill puts
complete home rule" in the hands
OF county commission and town.
ship trustees by providing that they
each shall have appointive powers
over agents, officers, and employees
hired to work on matters pertaining
wholly to the county and townships.
The sections, as interpreted by
Republican minority members, would
prevent county or district welfare
boards from controlling the employ
ment OF old-age pension investi-
gators as we'll as poor relief special
workers.
Townsend Plan Injected
The Townsend plan was tossed
in the hopper when Rep Jacob j.
Reisinger 3D., EVANSVILLE offered a
joint resolution urging Congress to
enact the pension plan with annu-
tiles for aged persons over go years
old.
The Townsend hill weS sent to
Judiciary A Committee and Rep.
Martin j. Downey Cd, Hammond
1ntimated that the measure might
be reported out of committee for
discussion on the House floor.
Two other bills were introduced
at the half-hour session. The first
was a measure by Rep. Dausman
making it unlawful for presiding
officers to sign a bill which was
not read section by section on third
reading. The bill would make such
action an ofense punishable by
two years imprisonment and 25
years Acknowledgement. Rep. Row
j. Harrison (R., Attica) introduced
the second bill. 1t would legalize
business of county officials con-
Quoted in places where the court
house has been vacated.
During the public hearing in the
House chambers yesterday the bill
was attacked from various angles by
different organizations.
The League of Women Voters
charged that employees of county
and district welfare units were not
placed under the merit system. and
that the bill failed to state qualifi-
cations of board members and en-
ployes in the state welfare depart
ment. The league urged proper ex-
aminations, work tests, and safe
guards against discharge of COM
petent workers under the welfare
act.
Welfare Worker Objects
Miss Gertrude Taggart welfare
worker, formerly of the State Board
of Charities, objected to any feature
that might give county commission
ers, whom she says are unframed.
the right to direct the work of the
county and district boards.
The Child Welfare division of the
American Legion was opposed to
features that it feared might tend
to lower the standard of probation
officers.
The Indiana Probation officers
Association charged that the bill is
ambiguous and might take proba-
ton control from courts such as the
juvenile court.
The Indiana Farm Bureau. Inc.
charged that tax sections of the old
age pension bill is not fair and
square" and that the $3.50 tax law
would be nullif1ed. The bill would
give unlimited power to county
councils to raise practically unlim-
tied taxes on property, the bureau
said.
Officials Group Opposed
The County and Township OFF,
Gals Association stated the bill is
full of jokers and destroys home
rule; the social worker is put in
the saddle to spend large sums of
money; that it is ripper" bill in
effect in that it takes over supervi-
sion of reformatories, the parole sys-
tenn, orphanages and other welfare
organizations Of the state; that it
would result in higher taxes and
that 1t is unconstitutional.
Spokesman for the association was
Leo X. Smith Cd. Indianapolis, who
is counsel for Miss Hannah Moone