The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-01-03

istration of the arduous, perplexinc an,
Ithankless duties of State Auditor. no
only elevates him, but reflects the hiph
est honor on his party. 1t is only in tn
|selectiOn of such men, modest, diliyen,
Icapable and the soul OF integrity. that
|party can make itself worthy the respec
and confidence Of the people. Ii is hap
Ipy for Indiana and glory to the De
mocratic party that Its has many of III,
same sort. We confess to hearty prid,
ard satisfaction in the exhibit made b,
the State officials, who in few days re
turn their seals o. power 10 the people
with the consciousness of duties wei. ant
admirably done. We wish. however
particularly TO cali the attention of fair
minded men 10 the record of Mr. Shoe
maker. Every step OF his Official pro
gress has been marked by wisdom anc
iar-seeing judgment, which have not on.
ly kept him before the people asa spot
less officer. but have so recommends
him 10 the adverse Legislative majority
that he ha. been called on to suggest Al,
ipropriate legislation On some of the mos
vital questions affecting the public cred
IT and the financial interests of the State.
1t Is not often that conQuering major.
ity will Listen, let alone solicit the view
of retiring officer of the opposing uar-
~. and that this has been done i. a.
much a recognition of MIR. Shoemaker
irreproachable character, a. Of his al
mirabie competence 10 AL with wisdom
ia every sphere Of his nigh calling. Ii
is one Of the good signs. among the a =
EcumU!sting evil auguries of the times.
that fair proportion OF the usually
needless msjority are growing snxious
about our very lax reysuu. sy,;.m.
This concern taking tie form OF inve.-
Itigstion brought, b. special vote oi the
present Legislature, report from Mr.
Shoemaker which EXHIBITS some of tn.
more glarinC abuses ia our Sia;e rev
'enue Gnu laxs;ion SHORTCOMINGS. Iii,
report i. supplemented by Bill pre- pared
with great bare. which the Legislature
has not only GdoIte,i, almost TO it, iipal
passage, but the Fiuance Committee
have returued s vote OF thanks 10 Mr..
Shoemaker for the skill and thorough
ness eviDcei in bis presentation OF ihe
iinsncill ills of the. Sisie add their a;,-
parent remedy.
In his "suggestions," the Auditor
suns up in few pointed para graphs,
just where the principal defects of ou:
present system lie. corporate power"
he declares, "has been extending i.,el I
in every direc lion, until is is not uasafc
10 say that q large proportion OF our
resenne- legislation has hcea controlled
or guided by il. powerful influence. So
bold and dangerous has become thi.
power, creating legislation, shaping. OF
preventing il. with equal facility, that.
in my judgment, the matter should re-
ceive the serious attention of the I.eyis-
Ia ure, and Ghstever means The State has,
for protection from these encroach;no
corporate powers, can not be TOO edectu-
ally or promptly applied
(, This IL net the worst of the business
comparing the relative revenues of the
Ststes, he makes il plain that we are
throwing away annually the revenue
that support such vast and rich common
wealths As Massachusetts and Pcnnsyl-
vanis. just look at this:
The State Of Pennsylvania, for the
year 1871, collected revenue of $6,27s.-
CSC "a, and Of this vast amount only
$499,0t2 "a WAS produced by direct tax
alton upon the body of her citizens. -
Three Of her railroads alone paid 10 the
State more than four times the whole
amount OF revenue collected, same year.
BY the State of Indiana, and was. Penn
sylvania Railroad. iei5.62s 20 Phila,le,-
phia l. Reading Railrnad, sa423l9 90:
Lehigh Valley Railroad, s1el,4i. 81
total, Sl,3l9,450 Al.
Further he shows that
"Nesrly 4,OO0 miles of railroad prom
erty in this State, Of the value Of not lcs
than $lOU,OcO,0c0, appraised and taxed
at less than $10OOO,OO0; s3.oOCOOOO less
than the railroads were appraised and
taxed in 1854, when there were ONLY l..
l37 miles of road within the State. Til,
national banks have continued from
year 10 year, and from Legislature. 1,
Legislature, to be exhempt from Just
municipal taxation, and host OF power.
ini insurance, and other corporations. are
annually carrying beyond our border,
millions OF our peoples money, lessen
ing TO the same extent the States tax.
aDies, and without contributing cen,
Of revenue 10 the support OF the Stat,
government"
The Auditor further declares that III,
real estate Of Indiana is wholly exempt
from taxation, for State purposes which
is almost Incredible. lie further direc,,
attention 10 tie anomaly of the native,
of this State paying higher rates OF in.
snrance than Pennsylvania. although
that State derives revenue from lhi.
source Of S332, 1898 60, while lndians
gets not penny In relation TO revenue
Mr.. Shoemaker shows that the presen,
system for the assessment Of taxes j.