The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-04-17
tCommunIcated.l /
TAXATION.

All proper. minded men, everywhere throughout
this State, feel and realize the Importance of
proper adjustment Of the great question of Taxa
tion, that its burdens should be fairly and eqs-
tably distributed, that every class and descrip-
tim of property should bear its just and equal
share of the burdens Of Government State, Coun
tr, Township and Municipal. The last Republican
Legislature, believing the burden of taxation to be
unfairly and unequally imposed, passed n law au-
thoriSing the Governor to appoint Commission
for the revision and codifcation of the Tax and FL
nance Laws of the State. This Commission ably
aud intolligcntly performed this duty, and pre-
scented. the result Of their labors and iuvestga-
tion, eight bills revising and rcmodelng the entire
Tax and Fiuanoo Laws of the State. The general
purpose Of these several bills were to definitely
an accurately define tho duties of the several de-
partments of the State and county governments
connected with the imposition aud collection of the
several classes of taxes. The main bill, however,
and one which more particularly concerns tax.
payers, is the one to which we propose to ask the
attention Of the reader, believing we can not do
the people great service than by attempting /,
explain to them question which intimately con
Germs all interests, and which is so little under
stood by even the intelligent portion of community
For some son or other, the Democracy, who
now have control Of the Legislature, have deter
mined 10 postpone the consideration of this ques-
tion until the adjourned session in 1862 The pur-
pose Of the proposed change Of the Tax Laws is to
bring all classes and descriptions OF property on
the Duplicate at its fair value so that every one
will DO taxed in proportion to the yaluo of his
proporty -Wprineiple so manGestly Just, that none
will be fuund to controvert IT, II this principle
can be carried out (aud there is no reason why Il
may n0te, the taxes of all honest tax payers will
be materially reduced. II will bring on the Du.
plieate large amount Of property which now
from the defects aud inperections of our Ia,
Laws, false swearing and other subterlugos, es
oIpes taxation II is proposed as before observed
to bring all property on the Duplicate at its fai
value, and by uniform value all over the State
Tho serious objection, which formerly existed
against this in the contention between dtTercu
sections Of the State to get low values, so as b
ay as small an amount Of the State tax as posi-
bic, has been so greatly diminished as to cease Il
bo longer bone Of contention. The State tax
after the revauaton, and under the Proposed chaugt
in the law, ought not Gas we will hereafter show
exceed one and half mills on the dollar. OF III,
great bulk Of the taxes now paid, fully (our-Hth
come from local taxation county, township an,
municipal.
Going back few years in the history Of ou
StAta, we 6nd that the State debt reached its high
est amount In the year lSl5, when il was slight,
over twenty millions of dollars, with the total tax
able value of all the property in the State at on
hundred and thirty-six millions of dollars. a
that time it required State tax of nearly ono pc
IN tha inf Of A
State taxes were then also heavy. In such cir
oumstaucss originated the contest between diner
sut sections aud counties Of the State, 20 seeur
low Valuations, so as to escape much Of this ta
as possible. Nav, matters are wonderful
changed. The State debt is now ouly about one
haifthe amount It was in lstS, being, in Noveu
Der, 1867, eleven millions Of dollars. The inereas
in the taxable property Of the State Is ereu MOI
remarkable than the reduction Of the debt, havin
gone up In the same time twenty-five years mn
one hundred aud thirty-six millions To eleven HUI
drSd and thirty eight millions Of dollars. Duru
this period, In addition to tho remarkable redu
ton 10 our debt, the State has maintained mo
thorough aud perfect system of public schools hl
expended for building her bene roleut institution
and State House over three millions of dollars AZ
has bOrus aud nearly paid the extraordinary e
penses growing out of the War Of tho Rebellio
During the largest portion Of this period. neludiy
the most trying period in the history OF The Stat
Il has been under the control aud mauag emont
the Republican party. The foregoing facts are
earnest and happy commentary on the policy al
aielity Of their management. No state in Il
Union has prondet record, or higher inanci
credit. Ohio six per cent. bonds, interest payat
10 currency, are above par in New York as
write. But We must get back to the purpose
this article.
From the foregoing data, il will readily be Sc
that tax which, in isiS, was required to pay
annual interest on our State debt, would, IL unpos
on the Duplicate Of this year, pay de eatirs deIt
DE iSats. Our people may well be proud Of tn
State. No accusations Of the Democracy, Of b
management, proaigate expenditures Of our st'
Affairs, by the Republican party, can be maintain
against such facts and figures. They carry tn
own VindicaiiOn, and will signally aud trump