Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-08-12
4 VOLUME OF FA CTS
Address OF HON X y COWEN
} ~ ElfcfDrg N BtimOni Counfy.

EfFN ~. 80 ANH = NV ~ .
u proper 20 submit suin- remarks in relation
tu dat measure To correct some OF the many
errors HAT have been prOpagutgd COuCcmiug
n. | um not disappointed that vigorous ell
forts have been made against this law. The
experience OF the past must be wholly loStup-l
ON those who could indulge The hope that the
maiign splut oi party would not attempt TO
excite prejudice against those who passed H..
Every where throughout the United States.
might have been heard, In l-l2. tl. prcdic
ttuus ol ruin from the Tariff ol that wear,
which near four years of trial has proved TO
br "a most %salutary aud eniueuuy bcuviCcut
measure. From The same source We are luli
OF the blighttng effects that would follow from
the passage oi the Bank law OF lSiJ, 50 gen
crafty Called for b. ihc people ot ONO. Sd we'll
approved 10y the triul we have had of ~, and
by public opinion. IN like manner wc were
toll that the Tax Law OF 1913 was oppressive,
Slj tyruunical, aud It's operation iaisihcd by
all such predictions. - we are again told.
by .he ~lmc political sccrs, that the lax Law
OF 1916 is "a very "Pandon's box which is
to bring distress upon the country, AMI wiring
huul cdrucd money from the poor and dcstI-
tuta Tor the benefit OF the sons of aiilucucc.
dill not give my support To this law with
ont consideration, and not unul was well
satisfied that it was much more equitable Ia
its provisions than the laws repealed by it,
Fully satisfied of this | felt confident, as | do
now, that "a just and iutcligeu, people, upon
reelection and examination. would understand
ami approve the law.
Iti, proper. in connection with this meas
urr, 90 look at the financial operations Ia.
Ohio, loI a lew wears. | have prepared a Ia
BILE, which is herewith published, showing
many facts which viii, | trust, be interesting
10 those DESTROYS of understanding tie past
history, aud present condition OF our finances.
In December. 1874, when the members of
the General Assembly met at Columbus, the
funded debt OF the state was Sl9,Ii7,i o7. aud
there were temporary liabilities in addition
of considerable amnunt. Our currency was
composed almost wholly of the issues of the
Banks ot other States, and the people al.
most unanimously dcmtndiug a good banking
system. Our State debt had grown from a.
bout 81. j1O. 900 in 1886, 10 9,lI7,i-T in
lSil, AMI at that rate, Tor that time. OF about
Sl,7j0.O00 per year. For the six years pre-
ceding, the State had incurred a debt aycra-
giug about S220Oo0 a year, 20 pay uc inter
est upon The funded debt.
Atan early period ot their session, the mem
bers ct tho Legislature Of 1913, resolved TO
Stop the increase at oar State debt, md TO pass
d law 90 authorize and regulate Banking M
Ohio. Most al that session was occupied in
i]rJning. and passing The Bank law OF lSI3,
which has Obtained favor with the people at
the State, though some OF our politicians have
set their hearts upon ITS repeal.
TOaucst the growth of the debt of the State,
il was very clear, from the history of the past,
that a greater sum must be raised by taxation
than had been done iu former years. Should
thi, be- done by bringing upon the list for tax
alton property not heretofore taxed, OF b. M
creasing the levy upon the property before lis
ted Tor nxalion2 This was tie question pre- [
sentcd tor decision. I'm 1913. II was thought {
proper TO provide by law Tor subjccting Other a
property to a part of the bIuhens of taxation.
mtlrr than to raise a larger amount from the s
property listed uulsr then existing laws. I
Thot legislature, though fully satisfied that
the gross inequalities OF valuations OF real aud
personal property, under the laws then in
force. required a remedy, did not think prop
or TO undertake that work, and left il ior their
suCCyssnr-.
The legislator. OF 1886, thinking, with
chat ol l-lt-j. that thg State debt should nos
bc inrra. u, and satisfied tIatthtrc were mil s
lions of lyiIar, worth ol property which bad a
never been, aud which Iid Doe taxed an ,
that property was mos. nequi'ably valued ,
toT taxation. went So wofh ia earnest TO frame q
a new Ga, INV. After much deIibemtion. and ,
gnat labor they passed tine act under con,ida ,
ration. Is Trainer, are not vain enough 20
suppose II perfect. They viii be dIsdppoiut-
ca 1t. upon trial, amendments al importance
should not b. suggested. Bat | now believe,
as / dad when | cast my vote ior thc bill. that
IL was as good a lax law as could Doe louul in
any SLATE '' u's u"'ol' ANA much Deter 'han
any 'N'i i' i'I,' 'h emo
"I".r't F''"''P." """ ",C''tS ~ INC LHT
Under former laws Tor lrVlln@ taxes, lhe
p'"g'''| made subject l9 taxation was sPeu
h''.I. nain'd aud ail oih,i property was cN
'inii. ne NiiltuIly OF describing each, aud
'''it hind Oh property 50 as TO preclude aI
'H'".' on evasion ia ',I. great indeed i' Is
Nu"il imlil'll''h't me law OF 1910 pro-
'Id's Tor ldAInt ''aIl property, whether real
OF personal wi'Hin u'ia State aud the moneys
anl CIRCUITS '' p''san, residing '.trrlh, except
'llh a.? la expressly exempted. loIloNs
'htl "'' properly 'a i'A'D'r' unless There o. an
express az hlpb'l 10y law ms sNlI'o inc