The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-01

governors defense and says, with de-
| licious assurance:
It will not avail the democratic party to
| charge the governor with inconsist- ncy-
of which, as we have clearly shown, he Is
not guilty-in the hope of thereby escap-
ing the odiun of having failed to meet the
demands OF the people in the matter OF
salary reform.
When it is remembered that the Journal
itself vigorously opposed the adoption of
any fee and salary bill which should affect
persons already elected to office; that it
denounced the governors veto on the
morning alter it was perpetrated, and
that the republican platform of 1890 ex-
pressly declared for a fee and salary law
TO take effect at The close Of the official terms for
lrhich elections hare been made at the time Of
its endctmelt-when all this is remembered
the cheek Of the Journal in denouncing
the democratic press for dwelling upon the
governors unblushing inconsistency as
sumes monumental proportions.
The New Revenue Law and Tax Levy.
1t was to be expected, of course, that
the republican demagogues would make
every possible attempt to manufacture
party capital out of the revenue law
passed by the last legislature and the tax
levy for state purposes authorized by that
body. These demagoGues care nothing for
the interests OF the state and nothing for
the general welfare OF the people, and are
willing to sacrifice both in order to make
few votes Tor the e. o. p. at the next
election.
The fact about the new revenue law is
that it will not work a hardship to Any
taxpayer or woman in Indiana. No per-
son who has, in the past, made an honest
return of his property for taxation will
suffer any inconvenience from the new
system. But it viii hit the tax dodgers OF
high and low degree very hard, and no
doubt the law will be very distasteful to
them. But it was the intention to make
it so. As a rule the farmers, the small
Iradesmen, the wage-earners and persons
generally of limited means, have been
taxed on the full value of their posses
sioDs under the old system. The provis-
ion in the new law that all property shall
be assessed at its true cash value, "being
the price which could be obtained for
said property at private sale, will not bear
severely upon these classes, but will bring
many dollar out of the pockets OF the
wealthy men OF the cities, note-shavers,
mortgage sharks. spectators. rich corpo-
rations, etc, that have been in the past
systematically evading the law, conceal
ing their property, and resorting to all
manner OF fraud and trickery. to false
swearing, bribery and other like
crimes in order to escape their
just share OF the public burdens. The law
will not reach all of these high-toned
scamps, many of whom occupy front pews
in the churches on Sunday, and are al
WAYS in state Of apprehension lest work
| ingmen should violate the laws aud dis
turb the foundations of social order. No
law can be devised under existing condi-
| tons which will reach all of these fellows.
But the new law will catch a majority of
them. And they will squeal, OF course.
But no honest man will find the new svs-
| tenn oppressive.
As to the increased tax levy for the sup
port of the benevolent institutions, no citi-
zen who possesses spark of patriotism
or public spirit will complain of it. Its
necessity was conceded by everybody who
was familiar with the facts. II was not
a necessity that grew out of extrav-
| agance or corruption in the admins
tration of state affairs, but it was due 10
| the great increase in the population of
the state, compelling the establishment
| and maintenance of a system of public
| charities commensurate with the growing
importance OF Indiana and its rank in the
/ great family of American commonwealth.
The fact is that the levy should have been
increased years ago. Taxation for state
purposes in Indiana has for years been far
below the average rate in her sister states.
1t has been below the necessities Of the
state. The legislature of 1889 was criti-
cised by the republican press, and not
wholly without justice, for its failure to
increase the levy. Governor HovEY, in
his last biennial message, recommended
an increase. The new levy will not be
seriously felt by taxpayers. 1; is but a
drop in the bucket compared with the
burdens imposed upon the people of In
diana by Ton REEDS billion dollar con-
gress for the enrichment of mil owners
and steamship jobbers. Furthermore, it
is not likely to be permanent. If the new
system of assessment proves as successful
as it promises to be in bringing out OF its
hiding places property which has hereto
fore been escaping taxation in Indiana,
there is every reason to expect that the
next legislature will be justified in reduc-
ing the rate to - cents or less.
OF course the demagogues will continue
their attempts TO excite discomfort among
the people of Indiana regarding state
taxation. But we have no fear of the re-
suits. The people will not allow their
attention to be diverted from the burdens
needlessly imposed upon them by Tom
REEDS billion dollar congress by
any such transparent devices.
While we are upon this subject we i'm
prove the occasion to say that in the opin-
ion of TIE SENTINEL the new revenue
law, excellent as it is. would be a still
better measure, and even more accepta-
BILE to the people, had the provision orig
| inally adopted by the house. seDaratiup