The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-14
TIE TAX Law AND LOCAL LEvIEs.

In it's vain efforts to find tenable
ground of defense for the present tax
law, the Sentinel points with pride to
tho alleged fact that in many Demo-
cratic counties local taxes have been re-
duced more than State taxes have been
increased, thus, it is claimed, reducing
the aggregate amount of taxation. No
doubt this has been attempted in some
counties, in accordance with instructions
sent out by Chairman Jewett, of the
Democratic State central committee,
shortly after the law was passed. In
these instructions, which were sent in
the form of q secret circular. dated ut
the rooms of the Democratic State GEN.
trail committee and addressed to local
committeeman throughout the State,
MIR. Jewett called attention to the fact
that "by the operation of the tax law
passed by the last Legislature the as
sessed value of property has been large
ly increased in almost every locality
in some instances it has been doubled"
The circular continues:
lt certainly was not the purpose OF this
law to actually increase the amount of
taxes TO DO paid by the people. Ii Is at all
times the policy and endeavor of tho Demo-
cratic party to reduce taxation. Great care
ought. therefore, to be observed IN leyying
county and other local taxes to see that
the former rates of taxation are reduced
enough 10 avoid the payment of an iu-
creased amount of taxes simply on account
of tho increased assessment 1t is conf
IDENTITY expected that Democrats charged
with the fixing of tax rates thrOug ont tho
State will. when this matter IS called to
their attention. act promptly and In sucl a
way as TO reno,e all danger of the people
having to pay more taxes because of this
recent tax law.
This circular was an attempt to miti-
gate the severe operation of the law and
to alleviate the blunder which the Dem
ocrats had made in nearly doubling the
assessment and adding 80 per cent. to
the levy. If it is true, as Mr.. Jewett
said, that cit is ut all times the policy
and endeavor of the Democratic party
to reduce taxation" it siGnally failed of
reaching its ideal in this case.
No doubt the circular had its effect.
There are q number of counties where,
in accordance with its suggestion, the
Democratic officials reduced the local
levy below tho living point for the pur-
pose of creating q temporary false i'm
preston that the aggregate amount of
taxes had not been increased. Wells
county is one of these. In that county
a considerable reduction was made in
the local levy. and it was cited as evil
dence that the new law did not neces-
sarily increase taxes. Right on the
heels of the reduction, however, the
County Commissioners borrowed $780,
600 at interest to meet deficit caused
by the insufficient revenue, and now tho
township trustees have had to incur
additional Indebtedness. The Bluffton
Chronicle says:
The rascally conduct of our county off,
GERS. who have not been trying to serve the
people rs they were elected to do. but have
been putting In their time In vain effort
to serve their party at the taxpayers ex-
pense. is attracting attention all over the
county. In addition to bonding the county
TO the tune Of $4,000 in order to create the
impression that they were tightening the
tax-payers' load. they have compelled the
trustees to go out and borrow money of
private individuals. paying per cent. in
terest. in order TO meet the expenses. Add
borrow to the $1,000 already borrowed by
the county and the probability is the coun-
~ officers will have to bond the county for
sl5, 900 or $50, 600 more to mako up this ears
deficiency.
Here is practical result Of the dis
honest trickery of the Democrats in cut
ting down local levies-an actual in
crease of $4,000 in the bonded debt of
single county. with n prospective in
crease of $4,000 or $4,000 more. and
not cent of taxes levied tn meet the
indebtedness. Such barefaced trickery
as this may deceive the people tempo
rarily, but it cannot be for long. When
debt-paying time comes tho people will
in State affairs Democracy is q tax.