Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-10-28
FORAKER'S MESSAGE.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TAXES RE-
DUCED.

And If His Recommendations are Carried
Into Legislation, Farmers Taxes Will
Be Reduced Ons-Fourth at Least-Dsm-
ocratic Testimony.
The demagogy and reckless disregard for
the truth exhibited in the assaults on Gov
ernor Foraker's special message on taxation
by John Mcbride and the Democratic exscu-
tive committee in its campaign documents
entitle them to the banner for miscellaneous
and inconsistent lying. They start out by
Inisrepresenting the message, and then abuse
the distorted image of it which they them
selves set up and which no one who reads the
message would recognize as bearing any
similarity to it. Governor Foraker in this
message said that the rate of taxation should
not be increased He did not recommend an
increase in the valuation of real estate, but
did recommend an equalization Of values to
make the valuation uniform throughout the
state Should his recommendations be fol-
lowed, and foreign corporations, the liquor
traffic and personal property pay their full
share of taxes, the taxes of farmers would be
reduced fully one-fourth.
He called attention to the necessity of re-
vising the lcvs governing the taxation Of
banks and to the offenses of some rich men,
who do not list their personal property at its
full valuation, but at much less, or fail to
list it at all, and thus do injustice to poorer
men, who list their property, and to owners
of real estate, all of which is listed. The re-
valuation of real estate suggested was ex-
pressly stated by Governor Foraker to be for
the purpose of equalizing values and not to
increase them. Governor Foraker closed his
message, which everyone should read, ss fol-
lows: at is confidently believed that if such
legislation can be secured as is here at
tempted to be indicated, the tax duplicate
can be so increased as to approximate our
real worth and that valuations can be so
equalized as to secure uniformity and justice
for the whole state, and that the rate of tax
alton can be materially lessened to the great
benefit of all, while the state will be afforded
an abundant revenue
If the Democrats cannot understand the
message now, they could last winter, when
it was sent to the legislature, and they then
commended it. The Cincinnati Enquirer,
the leading Democratic organ of the state,
then said editorially of it: THE message of
Governor Foraker to the general assembly
on the condition of the state finances may be
set down as the most commendable thing he
has done since he entered state politics. In
his message on finance and taxation he has
ignored party lines and addressed himself to
the legislature in the interest of the people.
There is nothing extremely profound in the
document and possibly the ideas are not orig
inal with the governor, but it is a plain, bus
iness-like statement of the points and de-
serves the attention of all the people.
Governor Foraker has avoided party bum
combe.
He says in his message "our state is rapidly
growing in both population and wealth
The demands on our treasury are correspond
ingly increasing. For the next ten years
this will probably continue more rapidly than
heretofore. owing to the fact that emigration
to the western states is decreasing in proper
tion as that country fills up and its lands be-
come enhanced in value He goes on to show
the steady decline for several years in the
valuation of personal property-a decline
which has not been balanced by the the in
crease in realty, and says: "This indicates
that our wants and our ability to meet them
are travelling in opposite directions, and that
unless the tax rate or the valuation of prop
erty is increased, the casual deficiencies will
continue and grow larger without the power
to provide for them.
"The governor does not favor an increase of
the rate of taxation but wants the liquor
traffic to pay $500, 00O toward the support of
state government, advocates taxation of the
gross receipts of foreign telephone and car
companies, etc, and dwells on the great loss
of revenue resulting from evasion or positive
violation of the laws requiring the return of
bonds, stocks, credits, etc. He also calls at
tention to the shocking lack of uniformity in
assessing property in the different counties
The governors theory appears to be that by
compelling the proper listing of personal
property and making fair and uniform
valuation of realty the state will have abun-
dant revenue even at lower rate of tax
alton"
Allen o. Myers, in his correspondence in
the Enquirer then, also commended the mes
sage.
So much for the Enquirer. At the same
time the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Demo-
cratic organ in Northern Ohio, editorially
commended the message and said: "a state
of affairs has come about that requires
prompt and intelligent treatment to avert
serious evils, and the members of the legis-
lature ought to give Governor Foraker's sug-
geStions very careful consideration
The Cincinnati Post an independent paper,
said of Governor Foraker's message; "He
shows that real estate is burdened with more
than its share of taxation because SO many
of the holders of taxable security hide away
their bonds to avoid taxation. The gov
ernor makes a strong appeal for the rights
of farmers and other owners of real estate. n