INDEBTEDNESS OF COUNTIES.
Mr. Cotton's bill [H. R. 154] to amend Section 4 of an act regulating the indebtedness of Counties having a voting population of over 20,000 inhabitants, approved March 21, 1879, was read the third time.
Mr. COTTON--This bill applies to Counties of 20,000 voting population, only, therefore, it applies to Marion County only. There is no good reason why a County of 20,000 voters should be limited in their right to assess taxes any more than a County of a less number of voters, and the law does not prohibit them from levying taxes at their discretion. This bill limits the Commissioners to forty-five cents on the $100. The last assessment of real estate has reduced the taxables in this County from $95,000,000 to $65,000,000, therefore, the increase asked for in this bill would not increase the taxes individually or collectively if the Commissioners should levy to the full extent of the limit, but would enable the Commissioners to run the affairs of the County without issuing more bonds.
The bill passed--yeas, 60; nays, 11.
