The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-04-14

Fourth National BANK ................. Iz,Iy
citizens Savings Bank. ............... SO,7T
National Exchange Bank. ."....... l@,!67
Commercial National Bank. k........... lf3dM
First National Bank. E:,sS
Total. ..... .......... .s8sl l,47s
1t is recommended that the law governing
the taxation of private banks be carefully
revised so az TO prevent such manifest IN
The incorporated banks OF the State natur.
ally regard this as wrong, and they have &C.
cordingly been resorting to the courts for
relief against 1t, and in almost all cases with
success. the courts having held that such In
equalities should be relieved against. "A
number of such suits are now pending in the
northern part of the state. In an important
sense they involve the entire tax dupl cate,
for they have been Instituted ns test cases,
and, IL successful, the result will be to lessen
the tax valuation of our property many
millions of dollars and throw our W hole svs-
TEN into such confusion as to produce the
tornev General with the approval of the
Governorand State Auditor. has employed
suits. and everything possible will be done to
successfully defend them. An appro pria.
ton should be made TO defray the expenses
of such defense, including counsel fees.
RETALIATION OF REAA ESTATE.
II is obvious that so long as the present
valuation of real estate stands great injus.
tice will be done to ali whose property is
tS ne State VIII contiHue T unable to mect The
public demands without embarrassment.
II is recommended. therefore. that a reval.
uation be had ut once. instead of waiting for
der that this may be done in such way as
to secure a full and fair appra'sement, It is
recommended that there be constituted
State Board of Equalization. consisting of
eight members, not more than four of whom
shall be of the same political party, to be
appointed by some suitable authority, from
the electors of the State. to hold their Offices
for fixed term, and whose duty it shall be
to supervise. as well as revise and equalIze,
the valuations to be made. The number
menti Oned js thought to be large enough to
enable each of the leading industries of the
State to he represented: and 1t the same
time not too large for efficient action.
1t is also thought men so selected will have
the interests of the whole State more in mind
| than If they should be elected to represent
some particular d strict or locality, In which
| to act as though their highest duty was to
secure the lowest possible valuation for their
| respective constituents.
1t is further recommended that the duties
of equalization now devOlved upon the Gov.
ernor. Attorney General, and State Auditor
| as to bank shares, and on the Attorney Gen.
eral. Treasurer of State, and State Auditor as
| to railroads, be transferred to and imposed
/ and the same State Board. and one only, for
| the equalization of all classes of property.
1t is further recommended that In all cities
| having a Board of Tax Commissioners it be
| made the duty of such Board to appoint oil
| the assessors and appraisers.
| ltis confidently believed that II such legisla
ton can be had as is here attempted to be in
dicated, the tax duplicate can be SO increased
valuat ons can be so equalized as to secure
| uniformity and justice for the whole State
and that the rate OF taxation can be ma
| terialy lessened to the great beneft Of all
revenue. Respectfully submitted,
| j. B. FORAKER, Governor