The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-15
The State School Tax

The question Of reducing the state
schooi tax 5 cents is s plain business
question. In 1890 the total assessed valu-
alton of the state was SS57,674,3s7. A IT,
cent levy on this made q tax OF S1.372,-
279.O2 No one claimed that this was not
enough for the state to pay. In his report
for 1890 the superintendent of public in
stTuction recommended that the limit Of
local taxation for tuition be increased
from % cents to so cents, but never limited
at sny increase of the state tax. The re-
suit Of the new tax law was that the valu-
alton increased enormously. For the
present wear it Is 81, 267. 702, 342. A To-
cent levy on this would produce g OPS
323 II or 5 i}3, S5l.l7 more than was pro-
duced by the same levy in 1890. levy
of II cents wi now produce 81 1874, 1 q. 81.
which is so. 1913 So more than in 1890
The proposition now is to make the levy
ii cents. If the legislature Of 1891 had
known just what the increase of va uation
would be, it would have fixed il at that
figure.
In addition to the fact that no increase
was contem plated or desired, it is desr-
able that this tax be reduced in order to
allow provision for sinking fund for a
gradual reduction of the state debt 1t
lie under every obligation of honor and
dscsncy 10 do this. 1t is under pledge to
the people, and its speakers and its
press have defended the tax law on the
ground that il would provide means for
the gradual extinguishment of the state
debt. The legislature of 1891 began the
work of solving the financial problems
Of the state. It's system has worked we'll
IL that work to be now stopped to satisfy
the greed of a few counties that receive
more money from the state tax than they
pay in2 That Is the question. Is the
democratic party firm enough and sensi-
BILE enough TO carry out q financial pro-
gram without permitting the funds to
be sidetracked at the demand of some IN
terest or other7 Ii the legislature il to be
swerved from STRAIGHTFORWARD path by
the demands Of few counties with pad
dsd enumerations and underva ued
property, the democratic party would bet
ter retire from business
OF course 1t will be claimed that Marion
county is interested in the other d.
rectios. and il is true that she is For
years she has paid over $50 600 mere of
school tax each year than has been
reapportIoned to her. and she is willing to
do ne she has been doing. But it is also
argued that this extra tax Is paid BY
The wealthy corporations" of Marion
county, and this is not true. The princi-
pal corporations of Marion county ara the
railroads, an of these she has below the
average of the state. Railroad property
forms only o per mt of her property val
uatiOn, while for tie state il forms nearly
- per cent The tax in Marion county
falls or individuals as much as it does
anywhere. II her enumeration were
padded as Clay county's is. Marion county
too won receive more than she pays in
Marion count asks nothing but Justice,
but this matter is above local interests
II appeals 20 the common sense and JUS
tice OF the legislators. 1t appeals to
their loyalty TO the promises of their
party.
II il urOad aoainst tha pronozad raduo