Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-24
TAXATION.

Ii The Ono Legislature viii tnrn its at
tention to such legislation as will prevent
municipal corporations from contracting
enormous debts and recklessly squandering
the means at their disposal, it will be far
more for the interests OF the people than
for them to engage in setting up the pins
for 1880, or the-reorganization of public
institutions. Much of the business de-
preston can be traced TO excessive taxa
tion, caused by the reckless use OF money
or credit.
Mr.. A. W. LEE, our extensive stave
manufacturer, recently remarked in our
presence. that there was nothing that
would SO soon disgust man with his own
property in locality as to have to nav
rent for it. lie said it was duty of bust
ness men and tax payers to come together
and devise means to prevent and regulate
such matters.
The Blade OF Monday, had an article to
the point on this subject from which we
quote:
If the Democrats and Greenbackers are
wise-if the Republicans are wise-they
Will turn the energy which has heretofore
been devoted to financial questions to the
consideration of the matter of taxation.
Finance has ceased to be living issue
Everybody excerpts the present monetary
status ms the one which will be maintained
for an indefinite period in the future. The
occasional howls that still 60 ND from
Fia,ists are merely after birth shrieks,
Buttaxation is matter that not onIy intl-
Mately concerns every one Of us now. but
wild continue TO do so as long as we inger
on tlhis troubled sphere. We can not
unless ESe are very rich-escape its oppress-
Rsness. To employer or employee-to
owner or renter-to farmer or citizen il
comes. alike, to empty their pockets, in
crease their burdens, and diminish their
comforts which they aud their families
should enjoy. II is small comfort to saw
that we are now paying the Price of our
extravagance-that having eaten sonr
grapes we must expect our teeth TO- be on
edge. Even though this is so, it does not
help to make our burdens Fighter, Nor
can 1t hide from us the fact that rs COM
munities grow older their RaunioipAf wants
increase, and the aggregate Of taxation
must be enlarged.
What calls for the exercise of the high
est economic ability in the City, County
State or Nation is the contrivance of a
system OF taxation which will make every
man bear his due share VI the public bur
den. This IL the most enormous task that
presents itself to the Government of any
country or section. The way onr leoisla.
tors have acquitted themselves OF tbis
part OF their duty il sad to contempIate
There Is not State in the Republic with
decent scheme of taxation. A million.
aire or shrewd lawyer can drive a coach
and four through any tax statute unonl
any OF their books. There is no need of
telling any man in Ohio how lax and in
efhcisnt our laws are. The f,arfully long
delinquent ilsIS which fl the columns OF
Hle papers IN every eonnty in the State.
are mol lhe enumeration Of men who ean
1ot pay lhelr taxes, 40 much az OF those
Mhe yW moi pay theR9-men who find IL
cheaper to borrow mnney ni the county
than OF any one else." Hui this evil, great
AS It Is, Ia only dwarf alongside 81 the
gigantic one OF the Irregularities, which
leaves one man holding great quantities Of
one species of property almost free from
taxation, and saddles The expense of Gov.
ernment upon others owning smaller
amounts Of other species Of property. This
70 The eryingeVi Of the times There is moi
taxable District where tlis is moi found
as the principal source OF complaint, We
knew now is ~ our own City Of Toledo
we know that u every man here paid his
proper snare the rates Of taxation would
be from 20 to 30 per cent. less than at pres