The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-08-17
UNIFORMITY IN TAXATION,

Is the rule in Ohio, prescribed by the
Constitution of the State. All our stat
utes providing for the leyying and col
lecting Of taxes for State, county, school
and other purposes, keep uniformity in
view.
To the end that uniformity may pre-
vail, and that all property may be taxed
according to its true value in money,
the greatest care is taken. After the To-
cal assessors have made their valua-
tiOn, boards of equalization sit in judg-
ment over the returns, diminishing
where too high, and increasing where
too low. All this is done that taxation
may be uniform; and that all property
shall pay according to its true value in
money"
The indirect tariff system, by which
the General Government obtains reve-
nue., is more difficult to make uniform,
especially when the aim is to protect" :"
that is, benefit some at the expense of
others. Under the protective tariff sys-
tenn then, the object is not equal, or uni
form taxation, but the reverse, other
wise it would not protect" the favored
few.
Under our State system of direct taxa
tiOn, the object is to have all property,
and every business, pay its just share of
taxes. Merchants and dealers of all
kinds are required to make returns on
which taxes may be assessed. Even
travelling merchants, peddlers, and auc-
tiOns as well as all others travelling from
place to place to transact any business
temporarily, must be required to pay a
fair share of tax.
Travelling companies, then, engaged
in the amusement exhibition business,
may be taxed moderately, in order that
uniformity in taxation may prevail.
Other people doing business pay-why
not they? They come to, and do, make
money off our people, and should con-
tribute trife toward the payment of
the public burdens. To the credit of
these exhibition troupes, let US say, we
have not heard of their complaining.
They would, as a rule, rather pay to the
city authorities direct, than be plum
dered by the owner Of the hall.
Suppose, for moment, that it was
optional for a city Council, either to tax
fairly each travelling amusement COM
pany under an ordinance, or take an
annual license from the owner of the |
hall, and let him tax each company at |
his pleasure: would not the former plan |
be more fair and just?
When John Ellsler, in Cleveland, |
owned his hall, and had there a regular |
and full company of performers; carry |
ing on the amusement exhibition busi- |
ness as permanent arrangement, there |
was prOpriety in granting him an an
man, and paid his annual tax like others. |
But with travelling companies, remain |
ing only night or so in place, the |
case is different. There is no good rea-
son why these companies should be |
handed over to an outside party, to be
feeced as he may think proper, even if
that party does own hall for which he
charges them a good round sum.
CantOn's City Council should recon-
slider and undo their unwaTranted and |
hasty action of last week in passing the |
5chaefer license scheme at his dicta-
tiOn. 1t was the yeriest and meanest |
piece Of barefaced jObbery ever exhibit
ed in our town! 1t was got through by
'cheming trickery in some, and lack of
irmness and manhood in others.
One would suppose that Council en-
gagged in projects that will increase our
,ity debt near one hundred thousand
lOllaTs, would be careful of the. reve-
lues. Instead of that, they have thrown
way a revenue of $500 OF more a year
or the sum of $50! This is the fair and
,lain way to state it; and the citizens of
anton, without respect to party, so un-
erstand it. We assure these gentlemen
# the Council, the end of this outrage
s not yet. The people of Canton have
'assed upon it once, and they will
gain.
At the election in April the action of
he former Council in passing the
show ordinance last winter,
vas triumphantly sustained, and none
now it better than some who maneu-
cred and voted for the job last week.
hey should know that confidence is a
liant of slow growth, and when once
Ost is not easy to recover.