The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-07-10

tSee Ely on Taxstion In American
states and cities. p. 496.
II 10 worthy Of note that only seven
states In the union have lower state tax
,levies than 0ur own. ss now fixed, and
that the republican states Of Illinois and
Ohio, immediately adjoining NJ on
Ieither side. have rate OF IS and 20, re-
|spectively, compared with our IS cents.
REPUBLICAN BEQUEsf.
IL was the misfortuue or the democrat
lie party when Il last came into power
10 this state to inherit sn interest bearing
debt Of 5000 O00, nearly. and utterly
inadequate facilities In the way or educa.
tional, benevolent, penal and reforma-
tory institutions. To-day We have al
these institutions. adequately equipped
and we'll supplied with efficient govern
ing officers. and state tax levy lower
than al other states in the1 union, save
seven.
But, Il is agreed. that even II the six
cents additional levy was necessary, and
Was wisely created, there should have
been repeal or reduction OF the state
school levy Of IS cents. It 70 claimed
that the appreciation in values under the
new law will produce too much tuition
revenue, with . 16 cent lew. Let ne
seo. Suppose that under the new law
property will be increased for tax pur-
poses ~ per cent This will be eouiva =
lent to school levy Of "a cents on the
basis OF former assessments. We have
had Law in force since June s, 1867,
(See X. s.. 1851, secs. 4,469 and Al7O)l
authorizing school officers to make To-
cal levy not exceeding Is cents on the
500, In addition 70 the l6 cent state
levy, which tax 10 known % the local
tuition tax. In those townships or
school corporations which have avsiIedl
themselves Of this law, to its limit. they
hsve bad school tax OF II cents Tor tut.
tion purposes, state sud local. It will
be found. upon examination, that nearly
alI the townships and school corpora
tons in the state have maintained local
tuition levy Of from 10 cents TO Is cents.
the limit So that the average levy forl
tuition purposes. heretofore existing. has
been largely in excess OF the highest
amount that can possibly be collected
under the ststs levy alone, on the basis
Of the new appraisement II Il is found
upon comparison Of the new appraise-
ment with former ones tha. he state levy
Of 10 cents will raise sufficient revenue
for tuition purposes without local levy,
then u will Be the duty Of the local or
dcers 70 see that the local levics are re-
mitfed entirely. This can be easily as
cevtained and readily adjusted.
II our republican friends assert that
the tax law OF 1891 discriminates In "a
vor OF corporations We answer that III
taxes their franchises, compeIs them 10
disclose and give in for taxation all their
property, tangible or intangible, pro-
vidcs Tor county assessors and state tax
commissioners, whose duty Il is to com
pei them TO pay taxes as the poorest citi-
zen. And the same legislature adopted
: proposed amendment to the state con-
stitution. providing for the taxation Of
the gross earnings Of corporations. III
they assert that the law requires all pro-
perty 10 be assessed Ct It's true cash
vaiues we anewer that only the tsx.dod
ger and Iaw.broaker IL iurt thereby. III
they aseert that the state levy was In
creased Scents on the 500 We ask them
70 point out the man who complains or
paying 8 cents on every 800 worth Or
property he owns for the support OF the
institutions OF the state. II. atl
he same time, the corporations and tax
dodgers are taxed sufficiently 70 lower
he local tax rate to ~ amount equal to
Ihe cent increase for state purposcs.
ENFORCE THE Law HONESTLY.
Ia -Onc,uSion Vurtlomen norss.;y ~.