Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-06-05

OF manufactured goods III store Oy an
ingenius evasion of the law refuse to re-
turn one dollar of all their value for tax
alton. And thus it is that the farmers
of Ohio, with land values greatly depre-
ciated, and the price of farm produce
steadily declining, are groanlng under
an unjust and inequltable proportion OF
the taxes that fhe State imposes.
If the Farmers Alliance accomplishes
the good work it has set out to perform,
its power and influence will be felt not
only in the halls of legislation but in ev-
cry political organization in the State
and in the nation. Not, as | understand
it. in breaking down existing parties, but
influencing nominations and shaping the
policy of all parties in the interest of
honest government, economical admin
istration and reduced taxation.
Mr.. J. Denham continued the dis
cussion, relating the story of the farmer
and the lark; was in favor of the farmer
taking hold of public matters taking a
part in politics, not as farmers party,
but to make themselves felt in existing
parties by taking part in primaries and
in smashing states.
Mr.. R. f. Giffen opened the discussion
of the topic, The Salaries of our County
Officials" He did not share in opinion
that extravagant living was the cause of
hard times. The income of the farmer
was reduced, while other people-law-
yers, doctors, professors, officers, etc,
kept their salaries up to war prices.
Salaries Of all kinds from the govern
mental to township offices were away
up. They must come down, he declared,
and they will come down if we are true
to ourselves and our posterity. High
salaries lead to gross corruption in our
politics, said the Speaker, who presented
statistics from the State Auditors report
of 1888, showing the salaries of the
Belmont county officials for that year,
and expressed the belief that they should
be reduced oDe-half. The reason for
high salaries was found in the fact that
the law making power was left in the
hands of professional politicians, and
the county officers associations, which
meet annually or oftener in Columbus,
came in for share of the responsibility
for extravagant salaries by the statement
that they meet there to study the law
and the profits, but that their chief bus
iness was to study the profits.
Hon. VIM. Bundy stated that he had
given the subject much thought when in
the Legislature, and was glad that it was
being brought to public attention: the
Alliance should pay strict attention to
public salaries.
W. S. Barton differed with his farmer
friends, and thought that public servants
were not paid too much, and really that
some officials did not get pay commensur-
ate with their responsibility. So far as Bel
mont county was concerned, two-thirdS
of those who had represented the county
in the Legislature had been farmers, and
helped to make the laws, fixing the
present salaries. He wanted to know
what they were thinking about in max
ing fight upon their public servants
who performed their duties according to
law, and admonished them to "Let 'em
alone"
J.B. McMechan said, ave would take
every cent allowed by the law" and that
if there was fault it was in the law.
What was needed was an equalization
of taxation. Corporations and manu-
featuring establishments do not pay
their just amount of taxes. These
should be reached and compelled to
contribute.
Remarks were made by Henry Frasher
and C. II. Arick, after which the Alliance
adjourned to meet on Thursday, Aug. %.