November 18, 1930, marked a bleak day for Indiana’s state highway commissioner, as powerful Senator Alonzo H. Lindley predicted a one-third reduction in revenue for the 1931 legislative session. The news sent shockwaves through the department, which had been enjoying a generous 3-cent share of the gasoline tax, leaving cities, counties, and towns to make do with just a single cent.
Lindley, the influential Republican leader from Kingman, revealed the grim forecast in an exclusive interview with The Times, citing the need to alleviate the local tax burden as the driving force behind the drastic cuts. ‘I am not in favor of cutting state highway revenues, but I know that this legislature will have to do it to relieve some of this local tax burden,’ he declared.
As the highway department prepares to face the music, Director Brown and his team are likely to be quizzed by lawmakers on their spending habits. Senator Lindley hinted at a possible full-time commission basis, stating that a legislative investigation into overexpenditure was on the horizon. ‘Our local tax units must have that other cent to reduce rates,’ he emphasized, in a veiled warning to Brown and his colleagues.
The 1930 session promises to be a tumultuous one, with Senator Lindley’s prediction sparking a heated debate over the future of Indiana’s state highway commission. As the battle for budgetary control heats up, Director Brown and his team will be put to the test, forced to defend their spending habits and navigate the treacherous waters of legislative politics.
The stakes are high, with the livelihoods of thousands of workers hanging in the balance. Will Director Brown and his team emerge unscathed, or will the budget cuts prove too much to bear? Only time will tell, as the drama unfolds in the Indiana Statehouse.
The fallout from Senator Lindley’s prediction has already begun to reverberate through the state’s highway department, with rumors of a possible reorganization on a full-time commission basis. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: the future of Indiana’s state highway commission hangs precariously in the balance.
In a cryptic comment, Senator Lindley hinted at his own support for an income tax, stating that it was an option that deserved serious consideration. The Times can confirm that the senator attended a state aid school commission meeting in the city on Monday, where the issue of tax reform was likely to have been discussed.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Public Corruption
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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