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

sent the Following special message 10 the !
Legislature to-day. concerning the financial !
Of the State:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT., |
OFFICE OF THE GOvERNOR,f
COLUMBUS, o., April Q, 1885.
To the General Assembly,
The financial condition of the state needs
attention. 1t is estimated by the State Audi
tor that the expenditures of the State up to
the 1st day of next July will amount to
about ssOO,0OO, and that from that date until
the 1st day of next January they will amount
to about $1,50o,OOo, making n total expcndi-
turc Of $23oo,o0O to be provided for out Of
the general revenue fund.
To meet this we had on the first day of
April a cash balance in the treasury of only
about $atsOW. and 1t is estimated by the
state Auditor that our total revenues from
theta the taxes to be &c, collected in June ,v and i aii
Sl,1tU,Ol, or in round numbers the casual
deficiency of the State will aggregate about
81 100000 on December 3D. 1875.
may borrow money for the purpose of meet
ing such deficiencies, but that such indebt-
edness shall never exceed $150.OW.
1t has become necessary not only to use
but to exhaust this power and q bill has ac-
cordinglv been introduced authorizing the
oommissloners mi, Of the sinking fund to issue sue
State in that amount. The necessity for
tn step is 80 apparent It is hoped the bill
t be to the
revenues of next year to the amount of
$25O,0O0. Hence, Notwithstanding this loan.
there is imperative necessity for the strictest
economy.
hut you are invited to look further to
something more important.
Our state Is rapidly growing in both popu-
lation and wealth: the dema nds on our treas.
ury are correspondence increasing. For the
next ten years this will probably continue
more rapidly than heretofore. owing to the
fact that EN- grafton to the Western states
IL decreasing in proportion as that country
fills up and it's lands enhance In value.
hut while this demand has been increasing
our sources Of revenue have been diminish
ing. In 1ss3 the value for taxation of the
personal property of the state. as shown BY
ss i shranR to sS MI and FOR iss5 dwn sin.
died again to 500 9l3.9s8, This loss has been
made up largely BY the steady growth of the
structures. etc. but the loss was greater
than the increase last year. and the result is
shown IN tho fact that the grand aggregate
personal amounted in 1885 to but s1,G70,O79..
% 69i.2l3.
This indicates that our wants and our abil-
ity to meet them are travelling In opposite
directions, and that unless the tax rate or
the valuation of property is increased the
casual Deficiencies will continue and grow
larger without power to provide for them
because of the extreme Limitation allowed
by the Constitution having been reached
m c tire Ree
state to the amount of $75O,0OO to meet the
emergency now upon us. ,, =, :.
creased. at least not until other measures
that seem more just have been tried. The
last election indicated u desire Of the peo.
pie to
TAX THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
It is hoped this Legislature will not I'D.
journ until an efficient measure to that effect
has been enacted. Although such tax can
for the 81 9hs
nue., when collected, must necessarily be
devoted to any particular purpose. On the
Ss msy see IT. Il
| YtOught to be only equitable and just that at
least 25 per cent of the revenue 80 der we'd
% Xud Il Is e recommended re @ that any NJ la law i that
| may be enacted on this subject shall SO pro-
| vide. From this source the State would in
such event realize probably t5OOu0. to the the
! payers.
FOREIGN CORPORATIONS.
Foreign insurance. telegraph, and express
| companies doing business in this State are
| now taxed upon their gross receipts. There
| is no reason why foreign telephone. trans
portation. car trust and car eIu pment. and
not Be similarly taxed. II the policy be right
| in the one GLASS of cases 1t should be equally
| SO in the Others. and equity and justice to
the State and to the other compan es that
| laws to that effect
Tho most Important matter to which it is
desired to call your attention yet remains to
| OUR TAX LAWS.
Our tax laws are in the main, perhaps, as
wise as they can be made under the prcsen,
| iniunctions much might be said in favor OF
| exemptinH from taxation the bonds of ouI
that we aG night not tax our creait and d DR. s ve
| our securities away. but keep them at home
and pay the interest upon them to our own
people But that Is impracticable and un
The requirement OF the Constitution 1,
that all bonds, stocks. Investments, etc, al
true value in money. Our laws have beer
but it is manifest to all acquainted with oul
for all such know that instead Of q grand
duplicate of 81, $40. .U7a. s6a, we ought to have
one Of at least 3,0Oo millions, and 4oVO millions
would would more nearly nearly represent the taxable
To ascertain how and why there has beer
this failure to value property as the law re
ference on the subject, framed and sent ou
to tho County Auditors of the State certain
printed questions TO be answered. calling TO-
information rs to the per cent. at which
property. both real and personal. is appraised
In their respective counties.
These questions, with the answers thereto
| so far as received. and nearly all havt
answered. are submitted herew tn.
You will see by referring to them that
| THERE Is NO UNIFORMITY OF VALUATION
Of property, one county with another, thu
State over; hut that in disregard, II no
positive defiance Of the law, each county
seems to have an independent standard of III
own: and that the valuation OF real estate
rarely exceeds 70 per cent. and ranges down
ward from that point us low MS - per cent
of its true value, while personal property Il
valued all the way from it's full value dowi
to nOthn In fact the great majority OF thu
personal property of the State is not re
turned, but entirely and fraudulently with
held from taxat on So faras
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Is concerned, the fault is chiefly with thu
people who list their property for taxation
The idea seems to largely prevail thu
there is Injustice and inequality in taxatior
and that there is no harm in cheat ng til,
State. although to do so false return mus
be made and perjury must,be committed.
This Otfense against the State and goOt
morals is too frequently committed by mel
Of wealth and reputed high character and O
corresponding position in society.
In connection with the recent refundinl
It was disclosed that some Of the most prom
inent and highly respected men OF our Stat
held large amounts OF these bonds withOu
having ever paid dollar of tax on the same
or having In any manner reported them fol
suggested for this 10 that the bonds wer,
supposed to be non tax able, but It 10 facul
| to be patient with such 4 ella m when 1t ia I'D
vanced by men of intelligence, familiar viii
our Constitut on and It's requirements, tina
all bonds ETC.. shall be taxed.
While such men disregard and violate tn.
law. it must be expected that our tax dupli
cate will continue to decline instead OF In
crease with our growth snd development
amount OF money of which they deprive thu
State: their example In bad and fraught wit!