The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-10-19
TAXING CORPORATIONS.
Record of Republican Party In
the Last Ten Years.
NILLIoNs ADDED TO REVENUES.

Tho Republican Party the Only Porty
That Has Est Dat to Compel Coroora-
sions to Pay Fair License Taxes For
the Privileges ltey Enjoy.
In the years that Mr.. John R. Nc
Lean has been living in Washington
amassing q fortune by political ma
nipulations, failure to pay taxes on his
vast holdings OF personal property and
similar means, the Republican party in
Ohio has been working to relieve the
burdens of the people by enacting laws
Il compel the corporations to pay
fs...-er G.Gre OF the burdens Of govern
ment.
When Mckinley succeeded Campbell
as governor of Ohio, January, 1892, the
state of Ohio was virtually bankrupt.
Today 1t has money in the treasury
and is in position where, with con-
tinued Republican administration, the
state levy for taxation can shortly be
reduced.
Hon. Emmett Tompkins, q former
member of the legislature and lead
ing lawyer Of Cilumbus, has prepared
a statement OF what has been done by
the Republican party in compelling
corporations to pay their fair share Of
the taxes of the state. 1t is the best Of
proof that the Republican party can al
ways be depended upon to protect the
people and deal justly, no matter
whether it is big corporation or
private individual that is affected. Mr..
Tompkins says:
Prior to 1889 the fee for fling arti-
cles of Incorporation with the secre-
tary of state was merely nominal, and,
at the best, yielded $4,000 per year to
the state. In that year a Republican
legislature raised this fee to one-tsnth
of one per cent. of the capital stock CT
the corporation whose articles were
filed. This act was afterwards amend
ed 50 as to include corporations organ
dzed under the laws of other states
which came into this state to do bus
iness, they being required to pay the
same fec as though they had been Or
ganized here. Under this original act
and it's amendment the secretary Of
state has collected from stock corpora
tions and paid into the state treasury
since the 18th Of February, 1889 and
up to September 26, 1899, the sum of
81, 433,236.3s. All this for the mere
privilege Of beginning to do corporate
business in this state.
For many years premium insurance
companies enjoyed free trade ip this
state. Not SO now. The insurance de-
partment costs the state about $4,000
per year. 1t is now the most profita-
ble department of our local govern
ment. Under Republican legislation 1t
has collected and paid into the state
treasury, beginning with the year 1889.
the sum OF $S19, ,s16.39, or an average OF
9S1,9S1.63 for each year, and the aver
age is increasing steadily. For the
year 1898 the collection was $131, ,441.48.
But in addition to this large sum these
companies pay to the different eoun
ties Of the state about $325, 900, the
amount for each county being propor-
toned to the business done therein.
'In 1894 a Republican legislature i'm
posed tax upon express, telephone
and telegraph companies. Under this
law the state board of assessors an
aually aypraise the property OF such
companies, which valuation Is distrib-
Wed among the different counties, un-
der hxed rule. there to be taxed a.
local property. The total valuation of
the property Of these classes of corpo-
rations dor taxation in Ohio for six
years Just closed amounts to $34,34S,-
1890. The average rate of taxation
throughout the state Is two and one
half per cent. Therefore, these COM
paAies have paid, or will have paid be-
fore -anuary next, into the public
treasury ts5S, S,72s.52.
"ln 1895 a Republican legislature lev
fed a tax upon sleeping car companies.
and under this law this class of COM
panies has paid into the state treasury
S17, $3.50.
IN 1896 Z Republican legislature
again called on corporations for q
fuller measure of taxation, and it pass
ed law imposing what is known as
an excise tax, and under this law the
state has realized as follows.
Electric Light Companies,$ 34,458.66
Gas Companies. ........ 5s,557.97
Natural Gas Companies. 24,377.o1
Pipe Line Companies. S7,6S7.2S
Water Works Companies, 6,G52.03
Street Railroads. ........ 1S3,174.9S
Railroads ......... -. 976,31O.93
Messenger end Signal Cos, 2,177.11
Total ...... ...... $1,334, 81
"In 1895 q Republican Legislature
levied tax upon freight line and
equipment companies and the amount
90 far collected 10 S2S. .8S2.oo.
tofa of fv,