Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-13


While the gentleman from Coshocton (Mr,t
had, thrown off all guise, and
had declared that his object was to event |
ually tax all bonds, he (Mr. WOLF thought |
the amount of the bonds could be fairly |
gotten at, by going to the repositories. to-
find how much interest had been paid out. |
He thought the bill an outrage to the loyal |
people of Ohio. 1t was putting the screws
down very closely to compel the people to
open up these matters TO township as
SCISSORS. 1t was all " buncomb." The
bouds were not tstaxable,r and any attempt
to tax them was unconstitutional. He de-
MED the right of any State to tax the
United States bonds. He did not believe
the war could have been carried on with
out the issue, of these bonds, and 1t was
wholly unjust to tax them, when 1t was
always understood that they were not to
be taxed. He. would ask the gentleman
from Butler (Mr. Hughes) what he meant
Mr.. HUG HES said that loyal commis-
sion had drawn up the bill tor statistical
purposes, and his bill was attached to and
aimed to carry out that purpose.
Mr.. WOLF-Then the gentleman will
vote for my amendment to strike out the
bonds? So ee.sr. ll,9i iGf'r s-r f5,li 9f
Mr.. HUGHES-Thar is the principal
part of nv bill, ...,,i:,,.. .-t,
Mr.. WOLF-That bill enables the asses
SUI W DuG Jn6 'ISCTStCS W JU6 UOnunOiQeT.
1t grinds the men VINO furnished the m Dney
to carry on the war, and without whom the
war must have failed. II this bill is pre-
paratory to taxation of bonds as is alleged,
he would vote against Ii, because he be-
lieved it unjust in its provisions. He did
not think it would be any very great eyi.
dence of Ohio's generosity to show in these
zens owned that were exempt from taxa
ton. l - i.eifl.t'. sI'5ijf Ti
Mr.. HUGHES asked why he wanted to
conceal this sinformation from the people OF
OhiO-the honest taxpayers?
Mr.. WOLF said he did not want to con
ceal the matter. He opposed the bill be
cause he believed it was ultimately the il,
tention of the majority to tax these bonds
He was not willing to make such state
ments under oath. because it gave the as
SCISSOR too much power to inquire into th
private affairs of the people. sff-. s.t ss..,-s
Mr.. PENNISTEN said he could not Sc
why the gentleman from Hamilton shoul :
be so much opposed to this bill. This is 5:
matter of great Importance to the peopl
who are pay ing the taxes that make up tn
interest for these bonds. The men VIII.
furnished the money to the Governmet pro
flied extrayagantly upon the sum investe,
i'm the bonds, for which the people are now
taxed to pay the interest. 1t is pigh
that the people shall know what amount Of
profits these bonholders are reaping off or
the public while their bonds remain untax-
ed. When these things are laid open to the
public view there will be shaking of the
dry bones Enormous profits have been
made-ore dollar i'll gold had bought two
dollars in bonds. While the soldier lost
his life the bondhOlder was drawing his
gold upon his investment. Nobody com :
planned when the assessor Investigated the
affairs of the soldiers widow; while great
cry was raised because the rich bondholder
was compelled to show up his accounts.
He want ed the till to pass as it now read.
Mr.. LEWTON added a further amend
ment, to strike out all Legal tender notes
and other money exempt from taxation."
He thought this was proper, because be
could not tell what money was exempt
from taxation. He understood a Court in
Cincinnati had decided that qreenbdckS were
exempt from taxation, and he knew of no
such law. SIP ~ e.Ii itsf
Mr.. HUGHES said the Auditor of State
made up the lists of taxable property, and
all moneys not put in by him should be re-
garded as the money meant in the bill.
Mr.. LEWTON thought the difficulty
would not be removed in that way; he
thought all moneys not returned for taxa
tion ought to be included as statistics.
Mr.. SCOTT, of Hamilton, opposed Mr..
Lewton's amendment; his general objec-
llOIl W bIlt Ulll NdSy IL WAS OD6LllIlS dll IlC
hou ses in Ohio to thieves and pickpockets.
by giving them information they could not
otherwise obtain. That class of men could
easily find them by this bill. 5.f. .3 .fz
Mr.. HUGHES-Are not the same means
furnished to find out how much money men
have on hand by the ordinary rules OF as
sessment? Xaat fiui7 - -47!E.
Mr.. SCOTT-That may be true, but the
banks will not take these bonds for safe
lao an6 aFnrd, inf RI
housebreakers. A-'5 t&-ii. = .fiiI
Mr.. BALL said no man could have pene-
trated danger at distance better than his
friend from Hamilton. He did not know
why that gentleman should shrink back
with SO much timidity from such a show
ing. He did not think any body would be
hurt by giving such statistics. The gen
tleman from Harrison was for striking out
legal tenders. The law provides that all
national currency shall not be taxed. He
was willing to let the courts decide all these
questions. He wanted these statistics. He
wanted to know what Ohio is worth, as
we'll in bonds, as in horses, cattle and the
like. y = >
B Mr.. THORNHILL thought the people
of Ohio had right to know what PROPERTY
was taxed and what was not taxed. He
cede their right to know this. The gentle
man from Hamilton was very much alarm
ed lest the bonds might be taxed, and had
declared this was the opening wedge to
such alaw. Suppose it is. Is there any
thing unjust in this /? Is it unjust
that every man shall pay his due proper
tion of the taxes of the country? Ii to
escape taxation is the test of loyalty, then
old Ben Butler was the most loyal man in
the Union, for he had stolen almost every
thing he could get his hands on. These
bonds were bought at about 80 per cent
on the dollar.
Mr.. SCOTT, of Warren-I will ask the
gentleman it he desires to tax bonds that
are expressly exempt from taxation?
Mr.. THORNHILL-I will ask the gen.
tleman ii he is in favor of making every
taxes7 c3 1 r'
Mr.. SCOTT-I will answer the gentle
man when he answers me. -ss
Mr.. THORNHILL thought there were
Yankees on that side of the House as well
as on his side. In his opinion, the working
people of Ohio kept the wheels of govern
ment moving. 1t was Just to them that
every class of property should bear its just
proportion of taxation. This bill did not
propose to tax bonds or legal tenders. Its
object was to procure statistics upon al
the subjects mentioned therein. So far as
he was concerned, he wanted the bonds
taxed; and he denied the right of Congress
to exempt them from taxation. i1s1 ~
The poor man worked on the streets
along the highways, and at all other occu
pations, to pay the taxes. while the ''na.
bob " was seated behind his counter, or in
his bank, almost free of taxation. w.
The gentleman from Hamilton feared
there was 'cat in the meal-tub." He
was of the opinion that the gentleman was
very anxious to conceal cat OF larger di-
mensions; but he { Mr.. Thornhill) was de-
termined to exhibit all its spots aud its tull
size before this matter could be settled.
Mr.. HUGHES, of Butler, was surprised
that his little bill had created so much ex-
citement in the House. The only object o
the hill was To obtain the amount of nron