The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-06-05

cast a slur upon some Of ourheavy CAPT.
talists. by charging that they could vote
for schools aud school houses aud receive
all the glory therefor without expense
astheir money was Invested in Banking.
This was upgenerous. We know of but
one or W persons, that are connected
wan The Bank, who tnok an active pat
IN he establishment Of our exec lent
school system, and without having any
children Ia receive the benefits of this
system they pay more taxes upon their
real estate and personal property il this
city, than Col. Medill would pay, if he
put all his property upon the duplicate
for iaxation. This he did not do. aud
positively refused to list certain stocks
which are not exempted by Ohio laws,
when called upon by The Township AS
SCISSOR. We take il for granted that he
has such stocks, MS he did not deny the
fact. If he had none, it would be the
easiest matter in The world to say so.
But we are not done with showing
what we anuot but style The Colonel's
insinceriiy. He Processes to have great
regard for the farmer and appears really
Unhappy because no has an idea that The
bah%s are nnt properly taxed. Now
suppose Banks ATE taxed as he wishes
theni who will suffer by III As the
Hooking Valley Bank is now taxed, il
pays III State lakes what is equivalent tn
eleven mills on The dollar, which is fDur
or five mills more than the farmers Of the
county pay. 1t Of course goes into The
State Treasury, bu: relieves the farmer
from paying that much. which is about
the same as if il were divided between
the county andState, SO far as the farmer
is concerned. Now what would Col
Medlll. wh" loves the farmer, have as
the rule of taxation. Instead of ten and
eleven mills. he would have the Bank pay
for county and State purposes. Blk or
seven mills on the dollar, and then an adj
ditional sum Of ten or twelve mills for
city and school purposes. This no doubt
would relieve him. being a resident Of
tho city. but would it be Of any advan.
tage tn the farmer Of Fairfield county?
Bat this is not all. The farmer who
mas five hundred or a Thousand dollars
invested in the Bank would be compelled
to pay lei "r twelve mills upon the dollar
of this cal iIaI for city aud school purpos.
e., for which he would have no e%quiva.
lent. He caunot send his children 10
here, aud yet would be- compelled
IL pay for the school in his own district
aud the schools in the city Of Lancaster
Call you this faiI2 1t is moro than fair to
Col. Medill, because his property would
be relieved from q portion of taxation
which 1t is required To pay, being in the
CITY, but 1t would be very unfair 10 the
person living out of the city. who hap
pens to have stock 10 the Bank.
Now which is equal aud exact Justice
in this easel If it be possible, let men
for a moment lay aside their p~rejudices
and examine this question fairly. If an
individual in the city owns stock ia q
let him be taxed upon it as any
'lber individual in the city. liza farmer
n Greenfield township owns stock, let
lin be taxed as other farmers in that
owuship are taxed. If the Bank have a
urplus, let that be taxed IN the place
where the Bank is situated. Bank stock
$ like money, notes, &c aud should be
axed as they are.
One word more upon this subject. and
til hits hard, we cant help it. 10 arrive
1t the truth in this matter. we must learn
what tho truth is. A law was passed by
he last Legislature requiring Banks to
ist their property for taxation. Wheth
that law is constitutional or not, we do
~, now Intend to inquire, Our present
Banks we've established under a law pas
led prior to the tax law. aud under their
are required to pay six per cent.
ipon their profits, This provision had
'een placed in oil charters. whether Lo.
or Wings granted them. 1t was
lie common rule, except in this instance
was one per cent higher. The prupri
iy OF the provision We shall not argue.
opinion Ut what is right in this mat.
is stated above. But the law If last
inter was passed, anJ we may as well
here that 80 far as we know, Banks
10 willing To DO taxed fairly as other
roperIy, as soon as they are assured thq'
law providing for this will be fixed |,
nd they not entirely loft at the caprice ;
an accidental majority. When called ,
pom by the Assessor, the officers Of the
'ank without hesitation listed their prom
n.y. only claiming tina, they should have $
he benefits of fair adjudication of the