The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1852-06-09
The New Tax Law.

phIIS VI 'no County' W. CdH, III HO OtldT
way, account for the complaints uttered
against the law, by this community. The
law, properly construed and properly un.
derstood, is all tina, any Farmer in the
State could desire. We firmly believe
that it is the only Tax Law, ever enacted
in Ohio, that extended "equal and exact
justice 10 the great Agricultural interests
Of the State. Heretofore, Farmers have
been oppressively burlhened by taxation,
by wing tax laws, that chartered monopo'
lies-the swindling banking institutions Of
the State, might 60 free. This gross inc.
quality no longer exists.
Wings, in certain parts Of this county,
misconstrue and misrepresent the law, in
order if possible, to render it odious and
unpopular. We hope no Democrat is sill.
ly enough to pay any regard to the misrep-
reservations and falshoods Of Whiggery.
lnsome townships, it IS claimed, that
crops in the ground are to be listed for
taxation. Such is not the case. Auditor
Morgan settles this matter, in a letter re.
Gently written TO the Auditor Of Huron
county. He says:
al feel no hesitancy in deciding that
growing crops, still in the ground, need
not be returned 10 the Assessor as person.
al property subject to taxation. At the
season when assessments are made, crops
in the ground have at least but a precari.
ious existence. They may never attain
maturity. and their value is wholly contin-
gent. Before ripening for the sickle, they
may become as valueless as stubble. 1t
would seem unjust, therefore, to subject
them to the burlhen of taxation in advance
of obtaining a reliable value"
Its also claimed, by some, that wear
ing apparel, food for home consumption,
&C., are to be listed for taxation. This is
also denied by the Auditor of State. lie
says:
"The new tax law by this department
does not require an individual 10 list for
taxation such articles of food as he has
provided for himself and family. Those
articles must however, be such as are in.
tended TO be consumed at home, and in
clude nothing that is designed 10 be sold.
This may embrace all the pork, beef, flour,
vegetables, &C., &C., which the family has
actually on hand, and intends to appropri.
ale in good faith 10 its own consumption.
This construction of the new law is nor
believed TO conflict with the intentions of
the trainers of the constitution, and until
otherwise required by competent authority,
will be adhered 10 by this Office"
Complaints are made, by a few, hat a
great number of individuals, not worth
over two hundred dollars, will be exempt
from taxation. This complaint is I'M
worthy of notice. No man, will utter
such, who loves justice and equality, and
who is willing to extend TO his neighbor
the same rights aud privileges he himself
enjoys. The man of wealth is allowed to
hold his two hundred dollars worth of
property free from tax, and why the same
exemption should be denied an individual
simply because he has the misfortune 10
be poor, is a matter difficult to compre.
bend.
Persons complain that The law compels
them to list chickens, old saddles, dogs,
&C., &C., "The law allows, to every in
dividusl, two hundred dollars worth of
property exempt from taxation; and there
is nothing 10 prevent the owner of chickens,
dogs, old saddles, &C., from including
these articles within The exemption"
We presume it was never contemplated,
by the trainers Of The law, that such arli.
Gle, should appear on the duplicate for
taxation.
We think the law when properly under
stood, will meet the unqualified approba.
lion Of every Farmer in the State. By il,
we claim, and time will prove the correct.
ness Of what we assert, that the Farmers
taxes will be greatly reduced. We ask
our Farmer friends to withhold their com.
plants, and first give the law a fair trial.
Ohio Patriot.