Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-03-15
Auditor Morgan and Rank Faxes.

The people of Ohio are indebted to the
promptness and decision of Auditor Morgan
and Treasurer Breslin, in enforcing the law !
in relation to Eank taxes. The wbig doc !
trins is, that the law by which the Banks
were taxed upon their profits. was @con-
trsct," and that there was no power in the
State that could compel them 10 pay taxes
she same as the people. Had the wbig Of
6cials been left to execute the law and whig
judges to define it, the people might have
waited till dooms day for justice to be done
in this matter. But the following Report
shows that the work is not yet 6nished.
lie has got the sbull by the horn" and if a
stop is not put to its goring the people, it
will not be MIR. Morgan's fault:
In HoUsE-February 10, 1852.
AUDITOR OF STATE's OFFICE, ONO.
COLUMBUS. February 9, 1864.
SrR:-Fur some days pus,, have had
upon my table certain resolutions Of the
House OF Representatives. calling for in
formation concerning the taxes assessed ON
each OF the several banks oil Ohio, under
the ac. Of March 81 1851. Without
awaiting the preparation Of foil answer
to these resolutions, | deem it proper 20
transmit TO You the accompanying state
nent Of the taxes assessed, under said nc.,
on the loans of the Ohio Life Insurance
and Trust Company, in the several coun>
ties Of The State, and TO sugges. the neces
sily Of providing more prompt ard effi>
cient mode Of enforcing the collection oil
said taxes than now exists.
AS will be seen, by reference 10 the table
herewith transmitted, the Trust Company
stands charged with taxes on the duplicate
Of all the codnties in the State, except four.
teen. In every instance, these taxes re-
muin willfully unpaid, and the county
treasurers. being unable 10 fod property
liable 10 distress, are forced 10 relinquish
the ir claims. or resort 10 unusual, expen.
sive and unnecessary remedy prescribed in
The law Of March 2i, 1851. To permit
these taxes to go uncollecled, would be rs
impoitic as unjust; whilst, on the other
hand, to attempt their collection by the pro.
ceeding authorized in the &c, above referred
10, would require distinct chancery suit
in each of the seventy >lour counties; nnd
thus not only subjsct The law to The oppo-
site construction OF different courts, but
bring upon the counties bill Of costs.
which in many cases, would exceed the
amount Of taxes to be recovered.
In view Of the above considerations, /
would respectfully submit 10 the wisdom Of
the Legislature, the expediency Of al once
passing an act making it the duty of the
State Treasurer, by himself or deputy. to
collect, at the Trust ComPany's banking
house, in Cincinnati, the entire tax Of 1851
assessed against i, on the duplicates Of the
several counties Of Ohio. A law Of this
cha rac,er will avoid useless delay, uncer'
tninty and expense, and though summary
in its appearance, differs nothing in spirit
or operation from the one which hos a.
ready brought o,hor banking insii.u utions in
The State To- practical acknowledgment
of the supremacy Of the laws.
Respectfully,
WM. D. MORGAN, Auditor.
Hon JAMES C JOHNSON.
Speaker Of the House OF Representatives
Here follows list Of II counties in which
the aggregate taxable property Of this mon
ster monopoly amounts to 81. .922 $50 40
and against which taxes to the amount O
SAL ,5O7 66 are assessed which remain
unpaid.