The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-20
COLUMBUS VEHICLE TAX WILL Il
PAY Street Improvements
Simple and Effective Measure Drafted
by City Council Of the State Capital
-..Gosslp In the Lobbies at
Columbus. --
BY Der e. WILLIAMSON.
Dy DEN Es WiLLtft W. S%tNs
(Staff CorreSpondent.)

tStbH COTTetpohuehIJ
Columbus, Dec. 18.-Columbus has
adopted vehicle tax that ought to be
called to the attention Of the Canton
council. 1t is simple in text and effec-
tive as a money gatherer. A draft is
now being made and an ordinance will
soon be introduced, when its complete
details can be presented. 1t is, how
ever. not too early for Canton people
to think about 1t.
The money is to be used to improve
streets. Some teamsters have entered
objection, but they have been silenced
by having their attention called to the
fact that they formerly made only $1.50
to 81 day, when they had to haul
over mud roads, and now they make
from SO to Sc per day as consequence
of paved streets and better facilities
to get about speedily. They are a unit
now in deciding that it is better to pay
for the privileges they enjoy than to
have them taken away from them.
1t is proposed to include street cars
in the list of vehicles to be taxed, and
thus make this common carrier assume
considerable portion of the burden.
The statisticians of the department OF
public safety have figured that all
streets improvements can be paid for
out of the vehicle tax. This would GER
tainly aid Canton, where Improvements
had to stop because the board of trade
would not allow the council to borrow
$65, 900, but insisted that the amount
be cut down to the actual needs for
salary purposes. Just how wise that
was for a growing city will not be dis
cussed here, but to take its place some-
thing ought to be established that
would bring in revenue. A vehicle tax
would be great revenue producer. l.
would meet with opposition At first, but
would be popular in the end. AS sool
as draft of the ordinance Is made
here, further; attention will be called
to it, and some of its provisions will
be set forth, so that the council of
Canton may have the benefit Of such
information as may lead to the adop-
tion of a similar ordinance.
a. Sts
~
movement to keep up the prices for
livery hire. They have, substantially
entered trust and are about to control
the whole business. The ice trust here
has been fiourishing for some time, but
during this winter another combination
of Independent concerns has been
made, and the trust will be fought next
summer by trust methods. Canton'5 )
| To- ~ i,,t ut 1,
by anybody for years. though its prices
have been comparatively reasonable
A little competition might work bene-
| fit but trust is not always bad thing.
1t may operate to the betterment of a
business and may furnish its product
at cheaper rate than formerly. This
| Is a remote case, however. But, in
dealing with trusts, 1t Is always best
to be guarded, though trust, like
everything else, is not bad unless it is,
Prominent Democratic politicians are
interesting themselves In speculating
about the next presidential battle. 1t is
conceded that Col. Bryan will not be
the man that Ohio Democrats can agree
upon, because of his refusal to place
the silver question in remote posi-
tion, and the attitude of Tom John
son is attracting the most attention
It Is thought Mr.. Johnson could have
the Ohio delegation in the next ma.
tional convention for the asking, but ne
Is shy about asking. 1t Is claimed by
| hiA friends that his movements are all
directed toward the presidency, but
there is no conclusive proof.
The condition of the controversy con-
cerning Rear Admiral Schley is such
as to make Schley a formidable candi-
date. The effort to set him aside is
not relished by the people. who may
take 1t into their heads to make a
president of him. They have done just
that on other occasions. 1t will be re-
membered that district was cut out
for Major Mckinley, so he would be de-
feated for congress. and 1t made q
martyr of him. The jackanapes that
had this district fixed up for Mr.. Nc
Kinley. did 1t so that he could himself
succeed Mr.. Mckinley in congress. He
found, though, that a small Ohio legis-
lator was not considered big enough
for congressional timber, and that II
took more than wind and hemorrhoids
to make congressman, SO he was turn
ed down for the nomination. He had
made president of Mckinley, had con.
fused his party in Stark county TO,
years and had made nothing of or fol
himself, aiding with voice and vote
frequently, the common enemy, 9
notable case being last fall.
But that Is simply incidental to this
reference. 1t was recalled only t.
demonstrate that the American people
like fair play. and when a martyr II
made of citizen, he frequently devel
ops into president. So Schley Is II
be considered a factor from this time
on, though Tom Johnson is the logica
candidate for Ohio to support. TIL,
next Democratic national convention
will choose between these two for III