Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-02-06
HENpRYsRuRGH. Jan. o. ISL;

EDlTOR RSHRONlCLE.-AS you SOllCit
Locals L will trouble you with few
suggestions, which though not entitled
to the appellation, may, nevertheless
be Of service 20 y0',r :,'eiHrs. I have
reference to The execution 0, the stat
utes providing for the assessment and
collection of taxes for State and Muni-
cipaI purposes. While the law pro-
vides that all property shall be assessed
at its real value, what is the practice
Neighbor A, with property in chat
tells worth $1,000, is assessed on probably
s25OO, while Neighbor b., with the
same amount in cash, notes, stocks &C.,
is assessed at the full amount. Does
this fill the spirit or even the letter OF
the law?
In re-appraising the realty of our
State and equalizing the same by Com
pany and State boards provided for the
purpose, and, although, admitting the
appraisement to be at least 'one third
below the real value, the State Board
asked and obtained two million mar
gin, thereby reducing the already par
TALLY appraised realty about 20 per
cent, and thereby adding that much
on personal. Is it to be wondered at
that Assessors find it so difficult to get
personal capital on'the tax list, when
such glaring injustice is the rule?
Then again, in personal, a discrim-
ination is made in favor of chattels, to
the detriment of capital vested in notes
of hand, Joint Stock Companies, Com
pany bonds &C., also, cash on hand,
used to move the produce and to form
the connecting link between producer
and consumer, and to carry on the en-
terprise of the community. All such
capital, in our State, at least, is paying
double its just share of taxations, that
too, in defiance of'th statutes.
Can We not get back to a just basis
and then select such men to assess as
have the necessary qualifications, who
know the law and aoiU do their duty.
Look at the tax duplicate, see what
your neighbor is worth, see in addition,
to his farm and necessary utensils, MS
horses, his wagons, his buggies, his
carriages &C., then follow him to his
cattle yard and sheep shed, hear him
speak, not to the Assessor, but to you
his neighbor, hear him tell OF his sSC
cows, his 5000 horses, his $50 ewes and
500 bucks, also, of his notes Of hand
Bank shares, Company bonds, cash on
hand and so on, and when he expects
to buy farm adjoining; then turn to
the tax duplicate, and see if you as q
prudent man dare trust him-so very
poor!! Yet, forsooth he is an "honest
hard-fisted farmer" and all the bal.
ance of mankind are dishonest and
are trying to cheat him.
From my experience with my fel.
lows, am convinced that honesty is
not confined to any profession or class
as such, and although rather scarce is
pretty evenly distributed.
do not intend or mean personalities
yet know individuals and firms, who
boast of their unhypothecated assets
by the tens OF. thousands, when, the
Assessor has only got the tens. This
being the case in our township, it is
fair to presume that the epidemic does
not stop for township lines, 1t would
appear so, at least, so far as Union
township is concerned, since the fail
ure of the Hanauels; but more anon.
Trusting that this subject may draw
out suggestions from more competent
correspondent ard that the statutes
made and provided for the assessing OF
all species of personal property may be
respected both by the tax payers and
the Assessors, is my apology for these
desultory remarks.
i Tom PHOX.