Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-06

corporations shall be subjected to new
and onerous burdens-the precise
character of which is not clearly de-
! fined. The Ohio Democratic platform
declares:
"Steam and electric railroads and
other corporations possessing public
| franchises shall be assessed in the
Same proportion to their salable value
as are farms and city real estate"
Now the Democrats propose o rene
dy which has been attempted before,
but which has been negatived by the
supreme court, rs ropugrant to the
constitution. The constitution is the
paramount law of the state, and tho
supreme court will not permit the en-
| forcement OF any law which may be
in hostility to it. Therefore, any fur
ther attempts to tax the franchises OF
corporations, without a further grant
of constitutional authority, will be a
sheer waste of time-a futile and
and senseless undertaking. If corpor.
ate franchises are to be taxed, the
people must consent to an amendment
to the constitution giving to the lcgis-
lature authority to enact statute TO
that effect. Until such action is taken,
fhe taxation of corporate franchises
cannot be effected
The Republican platform further de-
clares:
During the last ten years the gen
eral assembly has increased the rev.
enues of the state by forms of taxa
tion other than by levies upon real
and personal property. We favor fur
ther legislation in this direction, to
the end that the burden of taxation
upon property may be lessened, and
we denounce any scheme which aims
to cast the entire burden of taxation
upon real estate"
Under this clause of it's platform,
the party declares in favor of proper
equalization of taxes upon all classes
of property, and denounces all at
tempts to effect an indiscriminate
in order that another form may es-
cape its just share Of the public bur-
dens. Summed up. then, the demand
of the party is for general revision
of the tax laws, and an equal and just
distribution of the public burdens
upon all classes of property alike,
without any discrimination in favor
of one class of property, or attempts
to saddle upon another class more
than fair and just proportion of
taxation. The party demands justice
and equality in this, as in all other
forms of legislation. In attempting a
revision of the tax laws of the state,
the Republican party will, if entrusted
with that duty, frame a system OF tax
alton based upon an inquiry in respect
to the character and true values OF all
kinds of property real or personal,
and of the property and franchises of
corporations. to the end that Justice
may be administered to all classes CT
property owners alike. No efforts will
be made to impose a special or unjust
scheme of taxation upon corpora.
tons; such organizations will he re-
CURED to bear their just and fair pro-
portion cf the publ!c burdens, regard
less OF the kind or character CT tac.r
property or bus!rc82.
The Republican party relies uco2
its experience, capacity and ~ .f;-acLt
in the enactment and execution Of
just and equitable tax laws, and III
vitcs the confidence OF the people in
this respect. The people do not dare
ent9ust the power to effect n revision
Of the tax lows of the state to the
Democratic party, lest that party
abuse is powers, and accomplish more
injury to the state by driving out valu-
able enterprises than would be gained
by the imposition Of additional taxes.
Entrusted with the control of the ma
chi1ery for that purpose, the Demo
Gratis could be depended upon to use
it for the enactment Of some radical
O. freak legislation which would work
q lasting injury to the state, ana to
its exalted pusation-which is justly
high in the commercial world.