Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-02

- %AN-'7-s
For tte Fres Press.
NE. EDIroR: In the last .'Picavune" number
Of interfogaiorIes are propoundea 10 me. askipp
sn answer and having been placed by portion
q my lellow-cllizens before iha public as a can
ddate for the office Of Representative, REGARD il
IS duty owe to the public to answer any and
all questions, proPounded in good faith, by any
cin2ensot Carroll county. lam not advised who
Is that asks the questions, whether he is citi-
gen oi Carroll county or not, but presuming that
helsI proceed TO answer the questions propounded.
First, am asked why am in favor of the new
tax law, which exempis bank capital from the same
burhens which lal upon the farmer and mechan-
ici answer thar am in favor Of no law that
taxes one portion Of the people unequally with
another. The only equitable system of taxation
that is practicable, is that system which imposes
burthens alike, upon all classes Of persons in pro
portion TO what they are worth. Consequently
am not in favor Of any system of taxation that
exempts bank capital from the same burthens that
fall upon the farmer and mechanic.
an also asked what measures | would a1opt
as 10 taxing banks, so as to place them on a level
with larmersi answer that the rule bv which
hank capital should be reached and taxed should
be the same that other capital is taxed bv. The
tystem Of taxing bank capital in Ohio, | believe,
has never undergone any change. That system
has been 10 tax them upon their dividends. AT
the session Of the Ohio Legislature of 1884,
when both branches we're largely democratic, ten
banks were incorporated by separate charters,
each Of which contained a provision that thay
should pay tax Of five per cent. upon their div.
idends; which banks are now in operation, and
ray tax according to that provision. And at a
later day, al the session of 1867, when both
branches of the Legislature were democratic, and
Carroll county was represented by Isaac Akin.
son, Esq, who was then democrat, a bill was
reported in the House, and supportedb by democra.
nc members, among whom was Mr.. Atkinson,
thatProposed TO incorporate number of banks,
and that the banks so incorporated should paw
tax Of five per cent. on their dividends. This
was the democratic mode Of taxing bank capital
IN 1884 and 1886. Why they have changed
ground in this particular am unable to ascertain.
Al is democratic to tax all persons in proportion
70 their properly, why did that party, when they
mad the power depart from that rule, aud tax bank
capital on their dividendsonly! Or are the dem
"eralic party now in good faith in making that OBJ
J2cton 70 the tax law! At a more recent session
of the Legislature, in 1928 when the cecbra-
Ted act was passed, known us" ]n1leys humbug,"
me system was slightly changed, for that law pro
posed tax of one half per cent. on the capital
paid in. The bank Of Stcubanyillc for tho last
SIX months, ending on the first of May, had an
average capital OF forty thousand dollars, aud
Itpald tax into the STATE treasury of one hun.
dred and eghty-live dollars. Now, had the tax
been collected according to the provisions of
Barley shumbug," it would have been one hun.
dred dollars, instead of one hundred and eighty
T,I1. ! /
pursued by the democrats when they were in
power. But as all properly is now to be brought
on the tax list, at lis cash valuation, think the
system Of taxing banks should be changed, and
bankers made pay in proportion to their capital
invested as other properly; and that we should no
longer be bound by the numerous democratic
precedents furnished Us.
In answer to the third interrogatory, viz: "As
the new tax lawis basodona cash valuation would
you favor certain classes at the expense of 9th
orsl" answer that am in favor of no law that
operates unequally, and will, if elected, support
no law that layora one class at the expense Of an
other,
In the fourth place | am asked "why am in
favor Of taxing the farmers gun" &c. an.
swer that am not in favor of taxing the farmers
or mechanics gun; but think that is an article Of
In the lastplace, am asked "why would not
tax the millions expended by the idle rich for
Jewels, gew-gaws, precious stones, gems, &C.,
worn for ornaments, as well rs the farmers gun,
bee.hiyes, saddle, young cattle, sheep, and hogsl"
answer that am in favor Of taxing Jewels and
other luxuries owned and used by the rich, and
think that it is a matter to be regretted that such
properly has so long escaped taxation; and never
until the act of lHqt winter did the lov raach thnt
kind of properly at all, and then it did not go as
fur as it should.
And now, Mr. Editor, having, in my own way,
answered the questions propoundedro me, hope
my worthy opponent will not skulk from questions
long since propounded to him, but will answer
them fairly, thai the people will understand his
views upon those matters concerning which he
was inlerrogated. JOHN BEATTY.
Harrison township, Sept. 90, 1916.
H,r yb4 Esr,