The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-01-14

amending the constitution SO as to
give the legislature greater power
of taxation than it has at present.
AT nearly every session the same
old joint resolution, differing mere
ly in phraseology, makes its appear
ance. The present session is no
exception to the rule, Representa-
tive Bgittain having introduced u
joint resolution differing somewhat
in language from the proposition
the pople voted down abQht three
years ago, but having the Same gen
eral purpose, and being. identical,
word for word and letter for letter,
with the proposed amendment
which a little over one year ago
was defeated, receiving 08, ,4SS votes
less than enough to adopt it. That
the exact scope Of the proposed
amendment may be comprehended
we give the section Of the consti-
futon sought to be amended, the
amendment voted down by the
people in 1889. and Mr.. Brittain's
proposed amendment, identical
with that which was defeated in
1891. Artical II, section 2, of the
constitution is as follows:
"Laws should be passed taxing by
uniform rule all moneys, credits,
investments in bonds, stocks, joint
stock companies or otherwise: and
also all real and personal property
according to its true value in mon
ey: but burying grounds, public
school houses, houses used eXclus-
lively for public worshid, institut-
ions of purely public charity, pub
lie property used exclusively for
any purpose and personal property
to an amount not exceeding in val
ne $500, for each individual may,
by general laws, be exempted from
taxation; hut all such laws shall be
subject to alteration or repeal and
the value Of all property so eX-
empted shall, from time to time,
be ascertained and published as
may be directed by law. The fol-
lowing pr oposition is the one
which was subm tilted to the people
and voted down in 1889:
The general asse mbly shall pro-
vide for the raising of revenue for
the support Of the state and local
government; but taxes shall be uni
form on the same clase of subjects.
Burying grounds, public school
housdS, houses used exclusively for
public worship, institutions of pure-
ly public charity, public property
used exclusively for any public
purpose, and personal property to
an amonnt not exceeding in value
5000 for each individual may, by
general laws, he exempted from
taxation and the value of all prop
erty so exempted shall from time
be ascertained and published as
may be directed by law.
The Britain proposition is given
below in full, it being renewal of
the defeated amendment of 1891.
"Laws may be passed which shall
tax. by uniform rule all moneys,
credits, investments in bonds,
stocks, joint stock, companies, or
otherwise, va all real and person
al property according to the true
value thereof in money. In addi-
ton thereto, laws 'may be passed
taxing rights, privileges, franchis-
es and such other subject matters as
the general assembly may direct;
but hufyfng grounds, public school
housess houses used exclusively for
public worship, institutions of pure
ly'public&harity, public property
used exclusively for any public
purpose, and other property may,
by general laws, be exempted from
taxation, and the value of all prop
crty so exempted shall from time
to time, be ascertained and publish
ed as may be directed by law"
The legislature has now ample
powerby the state if that power is
properly applied and the laws
strictly enforced. The Britain re-
solution, If adopted and incorpor-
ated into the constitution, would
enlarge the Legislative power to
dangerous point. 1t would be dan
geIous in that il contemplates