The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-31
DEMOCRACY A TAX.

The Heavy Burden Inflicted on DeKalb
County by the stand and Deliver Party.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
AUBURN. Ind, Oct. 30.-No question before
the voters of Indiana is of deeper concern than
the question of taxes. Not because the peopie
are unwilling to furnish sufficient revenue to-
meet the State and local expenditures, but be-
cause the burden OF taxes has been nnequally
distributed through a tax law which has dis
turbed valuations in every county in the state.
All OF the work OF old boards of equalization has
been lost. Greater inequalities in the valuation
of property exist now than ever before in tho
history or the state. The people OF DeKnib
county feel this probably as heavily as any othec
county in the State. and they are In the right
mood to rebuke the party which was the author
OF tho law
The taxes for DeKaIb county for 1891 were
S26,671 higher than they were under the old
law. This true when the county had al l.
324 less money for county purposes. The Dem-
ocratic County Commissioners. acting under the
advice OF tie chairman 0I the Democratic state
central committee. reduced the county levy be-
low The re2uiTeMeISS iqr county parpo,es and
The obligations Oi tie county had 10 De met,
and Notwithstanding the county debt has iil-'
creased annually at the rate OF ABOUT 1000 for
the last tive years, the Democratic Board
OF Commissioners increased the coun-
ty levy % per cent. at the Sop
tember term OF their court The error made
last year under the direction or the Democrats
committee must be met next year 10y an increase
or SlOtZOU over lDe taxes OF last Year.
makes q tota! increase OF the taxes under this
''wise and benefcent law of S42.776 in two
years for DeKalb county alone. This too, when
q Democratic county debt is piling up on tho
same plan the State debt, at the rate OF nearly
$1,000 per year. The people tired of such
management OF the county finances and wilk
rebuke IL Nov. 3.
BY careful examination of the records in tho
auditors Office II is concusiveiy shown that tha
high local taxes. as well as the State taxes. ara
due TO the administration OF Democratic
officers. The County Commissioners arc
Democrats. and the county tax for
1892 Is SI2.733 higher than for 1891.
Every member of the boards OF trustees for
Auburn and Garrett are Democratic, and tho
taxes for these two towns are S3.6ll highef
than In 1891 and $l3, ,23- higher than in 1890.
This is true. while the railroad tax for the two
towns is more than 81 600 less each year than 10
was under the old law. The Republican towns
of Butler and Waterloo have increased their
taxes only 1896 for 1892 over 1891. and cnly
SIS, 200 in the two years, and S9l7 OF this In
crease falls the railroads Butler has q fine
system of water-wOrks TO show for extra ex-
pensc. six Democratic trustees OF the county
raised their levies, while only three Republicans
did the same thing. Every combination we ara
able 10 make in this county puts tie burden OF
blame on the Democratic party for the higher
taxes. And this is true on the fairest basis pos
siblc, and where all Of the figures are given.
There Is bat one way o. get better management.
and that Is 10 take the responsibility for the man.
agement OF affairs out of Democratic hands
Nov. - e.