Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-10-12

two dollars day, for their services; and the
salary of the County auditor "a new office Is,
besides certain fees, to be ANY AMOUNT
WHATEVER which the County Court chooses
to allow him.
Such is an outline of the new system invented
or adopted by the last Legislature, to collect
the taxes, which past mprudence and eNtrav-
agance call for, in order to meet the continually
increasing demands on the treasury OF the State.
Let us review its character and effects.
81 last wears assessment, the entire taxable
property of Indiana was Il little upwards OF
.NInety Millions of dollars. OF tins, upwards OF
Strenfg Millions was real estate, and not quite
Trcniy Millions was personal property More
than three-fourths, therefore, of the property
liable to taxation is real estate; that IS, lands
and improvements thereon and less than one
fourth is personal property
Now, according to the new system which our
LEGISLATORS of last winter devised for Us, a man
not elected by the people, nor responsible TO
them. but elected by, and responsible to, a board
of three men. values more than three iourths OF
the property of each county But let that pass.
This man and the board which appointed HIM re-
wise and correct his valuation. Does the matter
end there Ohno The appralsement thus revised
and corrected, * sent to Indianapolis ana next
January sort of supplemented legislature, not e.
lected by US, not responsible 10 rs, their very
Offices not known to Us except from last winter :
statute book meet there with rui"0i pOlrer 10
tar ihf people al This STATE than either House Then
IN session ,rW hare, or than The Legislature crer
did hare. SINCE Indiana took her place among the
States cthe Union.
Does this seem to YOU past all belief? Be
lieye it or not, it Is true. Here IS the section,
word for word, and letter for letter section 10
4. Gel 10 f.,fN
SEC 10 That there shall be elected by JOINT reSo luton
of both houses during tic present session OF the General AS
>enhv one person resident each judicial cTcpt who.
tsether with the auditor o state shall constitute board o
equalization for the State. which board shall assemble al
INDIANAPOLIS the fourth Monday OF January Nl2 and
should any Of said board of equalization not meet nj the
auuont suitable persons from the several circuits % hl the
places of may De present aud when So met snail
power 70 equalizc the valuation OF real estate IN me
several throughout the state which they snail do
by adding to- dciucng from the valuation thelcc made
by appraiser and corrected by the county boarl cd equal
i2aon herein before provided i ~ adding [" OF oeic
inc from such per scnum them shall appear Just and
reasonable: Prorded said boa shall MT lessen the az
gTeglte valuation OF tie State
Thus, then it stands. The Legislature OF
last winter first created this board of financial
inqulstors, and then named It's members, elev-
en- in number If hut two OF these should
chance to encounter the muddy roads and win
try storms OF january for tie sake OF two dol
lars Gay then these two may appoint the other
nine. TIE board NAV be THE CREATU RES
OF THE CREATURES OF the Legislature.
4 body farther removed from the people, less
responsible To thcm-a body who may brave
w.th moro complete inpunity the public will
a body who may .'play fantastic tricks before
high Heaven" with Jess fear OF an after reck-
onlna than this, cannot bc found short OF the
thruacs o Europe or tire dIvans of some Oucn-
tai despot.
What is the power & this irresponsible Star
Chamber Of Finance Read, my fellow citl-
zens, read for yourselves and say say, fit be not
I'm their power to double treblo--to Increase ten
/ fold-twcnty- fold for aught the law declares to
the contrary-the valuation. and consequently The
tares. ofthc state Has the House Of Representa-
tiycs-the men of or chocc-thc creatures OF
orr direct votcs-hayc they such a power
They have not. They cannot increase our tax
IS by one poor dollar n amount, unless the Sc
nate an,i he G0rcaor concur. Can the Senate
do il Why they cannot even originate a ball
to impose taxes. far less decide upon 1t, un-
checked and without appeal OF concurrence.
But this new Legislature stands alone There
is no House or Senate or Governor 10 concur
or dissent There is no one to say why do
We thus :" No VETO can reach its decisions.
It's DEGREES are the laws OF the AiedeS and
the Pcrsans, which cannot be altered.
absolute power to double or treble the valuation
OF our real estate it Is unreasonable to suppose
that they will do it they may probably only
give and take 50 a. to leave the total nearly the
same see nothing to assure me of this. Yet
do not say what they vH do that is nothing
to me say what they CAN do. The law
does not restrain them, except from tsscang the
sum total OF our taxes. They hare he poieer T.
increase them. That Is the POINT. The club 5
in their hands and to their tender mercIes We
owe it. if il fall not on our heads. To Us Is lief
what The right OF petition suppose the
privilege of remonstrance. Like the damsel o
old. suing for her convicted brothers life, W,
may humbly mtreat these mbiiers OF our dcstl
son D. exec lcit
To have giant, sifergh, lu, tyrsnnou,
To use j, ike giant -
Are we reduced TO tins Shall We sue Wher
We ought to command Must Ne intreat