Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-08-21
From the Ohio Repository.

parenuy lrrecOnclable inconsistencies!
From the Ohio Repository.
Mr.. SAxToN: In the Repository Of last week
find communication, signed s., giving state
ment of the personal properly of Stark county,
returned for taxation in 1874, As and '46. Now
as was one of those who condemned the law Of
1916, in all its shapes and forms, from its COM
without any why or wherefore,
take this occasion to say, that if that statement is
true, and cannot doubt it, | have nothing more
to say against the tax law. | have taken the
pains to ascertain the average value OF the differ
ent items of enumerated property, on which the
farmer pays taxes, and TO compare it with the in
crease brought onto the duplicate; and find that
although sheep and hogs are taxed in addition to
that kind of properly formerly taxed, the Farm
ers' taxes will be reduced considerably under the
law of 1916, as will be seen by the following
statement:
9737hOrsespoy tax on average value of $33,73
1868 cattle 1884
1871 sheep TIL
23383 hogs 1923
Now the total value of the above enumerated
properly, the tax of which is almost exclusively
paid by the Farmer, is $546,393
One half subject to taxation this year, 273,l964
Compare this with the amount on which taxes
were paid by the farmers in 1874: in that year,
1850 horses were (at $40 each) valuedat $4,000
16572 cattle (at So each) at l32,O96
Makinga total onwhichtaxes werepaid of 45O,O96
Deduct the amount the farmers pay this
year, 273,196
Leaves to be taken from farmers taxes $l76.9OO
Paid by the farmers in 1914, and which will be
charged on some other property, as Will be seen
by what follows:
In 1914 the total of moneys at interest. mer.
chants capital, horses, cattle, &c. was $718,657
Of this the farmers pad as shown above 45O,O96
Leaving to be taxed to other property, 1858, ,561
Of this sum pleasure carriages paid, 37,753
Leaving the merchant &money ylender 23O,8O8
On which to pay-being 1915, ,288 less than the
amount paid by farmers on their horses and cattle
leaving the pleasure carriages out of the ques-
ton, as they are about equally divided between
the farmer, merchant, money lender, and the in
habitants of towns.
Now we have shown that in 1916, with the ad-
dition of sheep and hogs, the farmers will pay
less tax than he did in 1874, to the amount of
,9OO-the question now comes, how is the
deficiency made up! answer, by taxing the
property of the rich: aye, the splendid watches,
piano, furniture and money of the rich, which
heretofore escaped taxation. Look at it:
In 1874, merchants capital and money at inter-
est paid on $230,8O8
In 1846 the same items pay on $4,000
Add to this personal properly not enume-
rated 81,O22
The Pianos 5I3O
The Watches 1883
We have the sum of $999 900
Subject to taxation this year, one half 499,545
Deduct amount paid on in 1914 23O8O8
And we have $268,737
More on which the capitalist, the money lend
er, and your city gentlemen will pay taxes than
they did in 1914. Now let us sum up matters as
they stand.
In 1874 the farmers paid taxes on $45O,O96
The rich men paid taxes ON 230,8O8
Total, not including carriages $68O,9O4
Difference against the farmer 219,288
In 1916, the farmers will pay tax on 273,l96
The rich men will pay tax on 499,545
Total, not including carriages $772,741
Difference in favor of the farmer 226,3
In 1914 the farmers paid taxes on 45O,O96
In l846 the farmers will pay tax on 273,l96
Difference in favor Of the farmers this
year $176,9
In 1874 the merchant, money lender,
&c. paid 230,8O8
In l846 " will pay 499, 9,545
Difference against merchants and bro
kers this year $268,737
Now is it astonishing, that with all these facts
staring me in the face, should drop my opposi.
ton to the tax aw-"AbOm face" and wheel into
the line of those who support it? | think not
and guess you'll think so too. have shown
my calculations to several of my neighbors, who
denounced the law as strenuously as did, and
they now all agree with me, that a more equal
and just measure could not be adopted. The
/ 4 =.