The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18
VIII the "Journnln Dare 2

age to tell the truth about the new tax
law, complains that in answering a cor
respondent who asked what the levy for
state purposes was, we did not tell him that
the sppraisement had increased iron
| SS43, 4S3, 466 in 1890 to S1,249. SO7, 1893 in
1891" The SENTINEL has published that
repeatsdly-or rather the fact that the
| appraisement had increased from $751;
674,3S7 to 81 ,254, 9l1, 1885, The readers OF
The SENTINEL have been aware Of that
fact ever since the result was officially
sscertained. They also understand that
the increased appraisement and the addi-
tional levy OF cents for the support of
the benevolent and reformatory institu-
tions will make an increase of something
over a million dollars in state taxes. That
has been fully explained. The SENTINEL
believes in publishing the full and exact
truth, and always does go. If any of its
readers are misinformed they have no
| one to blame but themselves. But as the
Journal manifests a belated interest in
facts, we will suggest few glowing truths
| concerning the new tax law which it has
not printed, and which it does not print
nor attempt to answer.
It complains that the increase of ap-
praisement makes an increase of $3.50, 900
of state school taxes. Has the Journal ever
explained to its readers that all this money
is returned to local officials for support of
the common schools, and that the state
does not receive one cent of it2 Has it
ever explained that the state school tax is
the basis OF our school system and that
local tuition taxes are levied to fill out W hat
is lacking from the state apportionment?
Has it ever informed them that when
the state school tax is increased the local
school taxes should be reduced in the same
proportion, and that the increase of the
state school tax would make no increase
of taxes if local officials did their duty?
Not at all. 1t has steadily tried to create
the impression that this was an increase.
OF state taxes, and it will continue to re-
peat its shallow lie until the campaign is
over and it learns that the people have
more sense than it gives them credit for.
Take an illustration. Here in Indian
spolis the schools will receive about $685.
600 more from the state than they did last
year. Did the republican school board
decrease the taxes in proportion? Oh, no.
They increased the taxes levied by them
from Sl39,0l3.S6 to $252, 7Os; that is to say,
Sl13,0l3.S6. That is the way they did
their duty. They will collect $171. o13.S6
more than they did last year. They have
increased taxes in Indianapolis that much.
The total increase of taxes in Indianapolis
Is $685., AS, and the republican school
board made more shan one-half OF it.
Will the Journal dare to print that fact?
Moreover, this increase by the school
board was unnecessary. As the Journdl
says, "1Iere tDds no necessity for anu increase
in the school reUenues" The democratic
legislature did make an increase of state
taxes for the necessary purpose of meeting
state expenses, and it provided system
by which the burden OF the increase fell
upon corporations. The entire state in
crease in Marion county ia $3.50, sos. sc, and
of that amount sos, 344.02 is an increase on
railroads alone, and most, if not all, of the
remainder falls on banks and other cor
porations. But for every dollar of neces-
sary taxes that the democratic legislature
put on corporations the republican school
board of Indianapolis put an unnecessary
tax of $l.30 on the people. Does the
Journal dare to print those facts? Does it
dare tell the whole truth about this school
board which has become a stencil in the
nostrils OF the community? Will ii even
tell who gets the interest on the school
funds2
Further, this scheme OF increasing
local taxes has been carried out by re-
publican officials all through the state.
The forty-six counties under republican
control were required to raise 5000, 755.l3
OF increased state taxes They made
an increase in local taxes of 81 1885,
265.fl, or in all an increase OF 81 1866, 030.S4
three times as much as was necessary.
Not only this, but in every county under
democratic control republican township
trustees and town boards did the same
thing. Take, for example, the democratic
county of johnson, in which the increase
of state taxes was SlO,7SS.SS, but in which
Tue Sobai iuCtSdso Wa6 OH So-o.fOt hilu iOOk
at the increase made by republican
officials:
Republican trustee Clark townships 1861 0S
Republican trustee Franklin township 2,122 "a
Republican board town of Franklin. S,658 -
Republican board town OF Edinburg. 3,777 s.
Republican board town of Greenwood 217 SO
Total republican inoreass..........-$11,43 7 IS
But these townships and towns will re-
ceive at least S., 700 more of state school
funds this year than they did last year,
and should have reduced their taxes by
that amount, and therefore they are rails
ing $40. 1888, unnecessarily, more than
they did last year. Will the Journal dare
to print the facts as to this infamous
conspiracy of republican officials?
Will it dare to tell its readers that this |
wanton and needless increase OF local
taxes. made By republican officials every |