Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-08-28
New Series, Vol. 80, No S5

with the panic of 1873 eliminated il
1884 and that there is reaction tina
, will soon change conditions if it doe
not culminate in a period of unusua
, prosperity to the farming interests
According to the records the annua
average increase of acreage brought into
cultivation was.
From 1871 to 1874 was ,797 800 acre:
From 1874 TO 1873 was 9525, 40 acre.
From 1879 to 1854 6,s41 ,661 acre:
FROM 1854 10 lSSS was. acres
Here we learn exactly the result of the
tidal wave. When it started, when il
reached its highest point and when il
began to recede. The worst is evidenly
past, and, unless other causes, not now
apparent interfere, there will be mark
ed improvement at an early date in the
condition of that great industry upon
which all others are based.
In the meantime, and while patiently
waiting for the inevitable reaction, that
seems to be already headed this way,
utilize the time in forcing such reforms
in administration of local and general
public affairs as will tighten the burdens
of taxation and lessen the demands
upon labor whether on farm or in faeto-
ry for the maintenance of the nOn-prO-
ducing classes. But it will take great
care in efforts to better the condition to
avoid nostrums that may irritate with
out healing, and propose remedies that
may intensity rather than improve the
condition.
The representatives of the farming in
dustry in State Convention few days
ago at Columbus, made declaration of
policy that in the main is reasonable and
conservative. The demands for equal
taxation on all forms of property, for 2
cent passenger fares, for the forfeiture
of unearned land grants, for as low tax
es as are consistent with good govern
ment, for protection of pure food against
the ruinous competition of adulterated
products, for the passage of the Conger
pure lard bill, and the Butterworth bill
against gambling in farm products, for
the Australian ballot system, school
books at cost, and the reduction of the
fees and salaries of county officers, ought
to meet with general and hearty endorse
ment because eminently sensible, and
calculated to better the condition of all
classes. Many of them have already
attracted the attention of legislative
bodies for several years, and our own
State has not been behind in discussing
and acting upon several of them.
In the four years l had the honor in
part to represent, in the Ohio Legislat-
ure, this great, intelligent county, the
questions of taxation, railroad fares,
purer food and lower salaries, Oc-
cupied large share of the time of that
body. Upon the subject of taxation
very large steps were taken toward the
relief of property from taxation. The
Dow tax law as amended raises two
millions Of revenue, nearly One-half of
which goes to the general revenue fund
of the State and to the poor fund of the
county, and reduces the tax upon prop
erty TO that extent.
The law taxing railroads one dollar
per mile each year when filing its report
with the Railroad Commissioner relieves
property from taxes to support that Of
fee.
The law increasing the assessment
upon companies applying for charters
creates fund of $l50,000 year, or
more, ,and other property is to that extent |
released from taxation.
Within the period named laws were |
passed that raise $3.50, 900 year for the
general revenue fund of the State from |
other sources than of taxation of real
and personal property, and l know that
but for the interference of iron-clad |
provisions of the Constitution that stood |
in the way, much greater progress would |
have been made in raising all the reve-
nues of the State from sources that can
better afford to pay, than the real and
personal property now Overburdened by
local taxation. The taxing clause of
that Constitution was in the way, and
you will find it in your way when you
to exempt the mOrtgaged land
from taxation. You ought to have
voted for the proposed amendment but
failed to do so, out of respect for the old
garment that is too small and contract
ed for the giant State that has out
grown it.
The pure food question was dealt with
in a statesmanlike way, and great pro-
gress made In that direction.
The 2-cent fare bill was wrestled with
and passed by the House, but the con-
troll of the Senate through the umbilical
cord Of free passes, and other succulent {
was too great, and the
bill was smOthered in that body. 1t will {
come later. {
You will pardon me If say that upon
he school books at-cost" proposition, L {
Introduced bill and secured its pass i
sge through the House, very much bet
,er In its provisions and more likely to t
secure the result than any bill since {
passed or now pending, because it con- t
aims provisions that will secure cOmpe- c
,ition. That l also introduced bill,
hat passed the House, but was buried l
n the Senate because of the pernicions l
practice of appointing members of the c
legislature on the Boards of Managers i
# State institutions, who become attor- '
leys for the officers of the institutions, I
hat proposed to consolidate all the in S
titutiOns of the State under one aboard I
# Managers" that men like Mayor L
of Cleveland, who had served
eyenteen years as a member of one of b
hose Boards of Managers, said would g
ave to the State over 100000 a year in n
he management and expense of those |;
Institutions. The same bill is now C
and the farmers organization C
annot do better thing in the interest &
# economy Of the State administration n
han to urge its passage. il
All of the proposed remedies in your
tate platform, however, are not of this Il
haracter, but some of them are of a q
haracter that time alone can determine "
whether they would prove beneficial OF il
therwise. Among the latter will class 81
he. demand for the regulation by law t.
f the charges of transportation, the tax a
ng of manufactured products that are Il
lready taxed In the material of which b
hey are made, and the non-taxation of e.
land.
If prices for transportation are to be
egulated by law, why not all other