The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-08-11
. WHOLE NO. coo.


il is certain that ilIe mercaniile commus
nifty have been less so. The total amount
Of merChani's stock listed under ills avs
erage system in 1853, was $2l 529, ,57S.
The average capital Of manufacturers,
$6,04s,S06. Now, SO far as hive been
enabled TO ascertain, both these totals are
far below what they should be. Mercsh-
tile property in the State forms, al this
estimate, abou, one twen'y.eichth part Of
the whole, and manufacturing property
but lille over one-hupdred,I! And this,
also, though Cincinnati is the largest com.
mercial city Of the west, With such q
system, accuracy, however, could not be
expected, for ] will venture to affirm that
moi country merchant in ,heState makes
twelve accurate estimates Of bis stock and
mercantile property in each year. Why
should such a system be continueda--
The balance of the industrial pursuits Of
the State make under the law but one esa
innate in the year, and that is required
to be accurate, and il is practicable that
ii should ESQ, as far as accuracy per-
ains 10 such matter. Why should d
distinction be estabIshedi tits said that
merchants and manufacturers and ttionI
led resources are shifting, changing, and
uncerlain,and ,ha, this system approaches
nearer accuracy than any other. Thib
might be true while the merchant and
manufacturer was permitted TO deduct bic
moneys and credits from his indebted
ness, bn, is not 80 now. Because il he
lists all the property he has on hand at a
given time, all his moneys and credits al
HAT time, what more can be Tequlred?--
He must, if he obeys the law, list all tho
property he owns or Processes 10 exercise
ownership over, and more than this Ohio
is not entitled to claim as subject 10 tuxA
alion. 'es
In reference 10 Bankers the tax is
really inequitab!e. IF they discount paa
per payable at thirty days after date, the
,Ox requires it 10 be listed but once, but
If 80 or ls0 days, i, enters 3 or 6 times
into the average, yet they derive in the
one case no higher rates Of discount lhun
in the other; aud the effect Of the system
is to compel short dates Of payment fUt
paper, an injury to trade certainly, which
should be left as free as possible from ins
terference by operation Of statutes othe
regulation of its own laws. Besides the
law which now exists taxes Banks on all
their resources, and ,hisis all that is prop
er, and the mode Of ascer,aining these re-
sources should work no injustice to q
Bank more than TO individuals. -
This was a view taken previous io,he
utterly unjust decision Of the us. Su>
prcme Court that Bank charter is con.
iract--a decision which no man who iru>
Iy appreciates Republican Institutions
ought to acquiesce in as just or reasona~
BILE. 1878 es7
Under the system proposed by the
Committee Of a fixed day for making fes
turns for ,axatioa by those engaged in
these classes of business, it is provided
they shall repor, on the first Monday Of
May, (as they now report TO The county
Auditor and not 10 the Assessor.) and in
the case OF Banks ,this ia the day on which
they make their pGblic sworn semi-annual
report 10 The Siate Auditor Of their coz
dilion, and the occasion upon chihsy
necessarily exhitit the Bank in its best
possible condition, because their rep,ha-
ion and their credit depend upon it.
This ensures justice TO the State, as this
statement of the Banks would Of neces-
si,y be the same as that furnished for lax
ai"n. At this time, and on :his day,
merchants almost every where have on
hand their spring and summer stock Of
goods s,and they would be necessarily com.
PEELED by the necessities of their business
10 have on hand what would be equal 10
n full average Of their yearly stock. Ia
their case the State would BY this change
secute vstice. Manufacturers business
reauons in Ohio form so sma! part Of
The whole wealth Of the State, and the
character of their business is so diversi.
fed, lha,,I shall only say that the com~
mon activity which marks all kinds OF bus.
.iness a, this period Of The year will of
course efftct theirs; and in all aspects in
which | can view the change, il would
secure uniformity in the mode, Increased
pccuracy,a more exact equality, and great.