Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-10-16

most enlclent ana D3lnStAWnB HHnHeT,
notwithstanding the largely increased
duties that have been added and i'm
posed upon that office, in bringing all
the corporations under his immediate
supervision for the purpose of deter
mining the amount due on their gross
Earnings, known as the excise tax. Ho
has succeeded in Keeping the docket
clear" and has taken a hand in scru-
tin7ing every claim that has to be paid
out OF the state treasury.
The secretary of state, Hon. Charles
Kinney, who has just barely gotten
his harness on, has gratifed his most
enthusiastic admirers by the fine and
efficient way in which he administers
the affairs of his Office. He has made
some decisions on election laws that
will be used as valuable precedents in
the future.
Corporations Brought to Time.
In the attorney generals department
an equally strong showing has been
made He has finished up in the su-
spreme court of the United States much
important litigation, having placed
upon the tax duplicate of the state Of
| Ohio S1,300,000 more in valuation
against the Western Union Telegraph
company than has heretofore been
placed against this company.
This alone, incluu.ng the back taxes
for the past five years, increased the
revenue of the state and counties in
the sum of 100000. 1t will be an in
crease of tax from that one corpora
tion OF $4,000 annually hereafter. The
final winning Of the express company
cases, involving the same question,
placed them upon the tax duplicate at
about S1,100,000 greater valuation than
they heretofore had been paying upon.
This will bring into the state and coun-
tye treasures $4,000 annually more
than heretofore.
Mr.. Monnett began suit direct in the
supreme court to test the Torrens land
law, before the commissioners of the
various counties were compelled TO
buy blank forms and books which
would have cost the various counties
in the state upward of $4,000 total.
By thus testing it directly in supreme
court he not only saved multitude OF
expensive suits for private parties, but
saved the counties from numbering
their offices with a lot of expensive
| hlanlr cd =, -
would have been wholly useless after
the cases had finally reached the su-
preme court in the regular way from
the lower courts. The supreme court
held the whole system unconstitution-
al. Hence all proceedings that would
have been had under the law would
subsequently, have been declared null
and void.
Heavy Expense Prevented.
He also tested the constitutionality
directly in the supreme court by bring.
ing suit against the secretary of state
to test his right to submit the consti
tutional question to the voters of tht
state at the fall election. Had a con.
vention been called under this join
resolution passed last winter, such 6
convention would have been an ex
pense of over 100000 to the state
And ,inasmuch as the whole proceed
ings would have been based upon al
unconstitutional act, the attorney gen
eral chose to test it before the expense
had been incurred. And by agreemen
, with the secretary of state a friendly
action was begun, leaving the court t.
, pass upon it directly, and the supreme
, court by unanimous decision sus
, tanned him, and held the same uncon
stitutional and void. The secretary o
, state was ordered not to submit tn,
question to the votes Of the people un
der the joint resolution as 1t nov
1 stands.
He has also recently ordered the Bel
5 Telephone company to be placed upol
: the tax duplicates of the various coun
. ties Of the state at valuation of So
I 100000, which sum represents the valu
. OF their instruments on per cen
basis, after deducting one-third t
make their property equal in value
bank stock, railroads and farm prop
e erty.
Revenue From Bell Telephone.
8 If the county auditors and the court
: sustain this ruling, as the auditor
It have already been ordered to do by tn
It state auditor, 1t will produce an add
tional revenue to the county and stat
n treasures of $4,000 annually. Thi
gigantic investment has heretofoT
been wholly omitted from the tax dr
plicate in almost every county in tn
9 state, notwithstanding its rentals re
IS ceived for Instruments have amounte
to over $350,0OO annually, that amour
being paid out of the state to easter
T. stockholders and wholly escaping ta1
| alton.
"a The Stanard Oil company that here
a tofore paid no taxes whatever for tn
= oil shipped through their pipe line
- has been compelled to pay one-half {
per cent upon their gross receipts II
j. the crude oil shipped through the
H. 1,,4 - kIn rto ,,,I.t