The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-25
An Attempt to Escape.

VI all the pltlIul Sneak6 Tn AT the journal
has ever attempted the worst is the one it
undertakes in regard to the increase of
local taxes in republican counties. The
democratic platform charges an increase
six counties controlled by republicans
1.-THE Journal says forty-seven), and in re-
ply the Journal saws "the democrats have
a majority of the boards in ffty-four
counties and the republicans in thirty
eight" What of it? The question is
what did they have when the assessment
was made, not what do they have now
that the tidal wave of 1890 has had its
work completed by tho seating of the
officers elected. Republican boards of
commissioners made the levies In forty
six counties, and are responsible for the
local taxes paid by the people. They can
not escape that responsibility by any such
transparent trickery as the Journal at
tempts. 1t might as well face the truth
first as last.
The Journal does the democrats a SER
vice by calling attention to the circular
issued by Chairman JEwErr Just before
the levles were made. This circular was
not only sent to democratic officials, but
was published in republican newspapers
throughout the state, and thereby brought
to the attention Of republican officials Tho
might proftably have needed its advice,
for it advised exactly what was the right
thing to do. Note tn Q words:
1t is at all times the policy and en-
deavcr of the democratic party to reduce
taxation. Great care ought, therefore, to
be observed in levying county and 9th er
local taxes to see that the former rates OF
taxation are reduced enough to avoid tho
payment of an increased amount of taxes
simply on account Of the increased assessment.
That is good democracy. good citizen
ship and good sense. No one wanted
local taxes increased simply on account of
the increased assessment. and yet some
officials might have increased them with
out realizing what they were doing if
their attention had not been called to the
matter. The democrats almost universally
needed the warning, and reduced their
levies 80 that the local taxes would be no
greater than last year. On the other
hand the republican officials increased
their local taxes without any excuse or
justification. They were not only warned
by the publication OF Mr.. JBwETT's circu-
lar, but also in nearly every county promi-
nent citizens and taxpayers called on
them and protested against any increase
of local taxes. What was the result? In
the forty-six counties controlled by them,
in addition to the 5000, 900 of state taxes
called for by the tax law, and concerning
which the republican press has made
such an outcry, they deliberately levied
over 81 100000 more OF local taxes than
they did last year, making a grand total
of increased taxation more than three
times as large as there was any need for,
not to mention the increases made by re-
publican officials in democratic counties.
This infamous outrage is absolutely
without q parallel in the history of any
civilized country, and it is as insulting as
it is unjusti6able. To take over 81 $780,
600 unnecessarily from the pockets of the
people is bad enough, but to ask them to
believe that the new tax law did it is
reflection on their intelligence that de-
serves TO be resented. We do not believe
that people of Indiana are fools. We
think they are able TO understand the
difference between a state tax and local
tax. And We think that when the votes
are counted in November these rspub-
hcan tricksters will find that they have