The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-03-06

state nave Deen coming 10 columbus
to argue before the Joint taxation COM
uittees of the house and senate,
against the bills introduced at the In
stance OF Governor Nash, who Is seek
ing to carry out laudable scheme to
separate state from local county tax
es. His Avowet aim is to lessen the
tax burden of the people of the coun-
ties. The Arst OF his bills provides
for q tax OF two and one-half per cent
on the gross premium receipts OF
fraternal and benevolent societies.
Tho second raises the tax on old line
insurance company premiums from
two and one.half to three per cent.
The third places a tax Of one-tenth
of enc per cent on the au'
thorized capital stock of all the pri.
yate corporations organized under the
laws OF Ohio. The fourth provides
for an increase OF the excise tax now
levied upon steam railways from one
half OF one per cent to ono per cent,
and makes the law apply to all other
corporations of 4 euasi-pubhc nature,
like telephone and telegraph compan-
ses, gas. electric light and the like.
The governor has several other bills
all intended to increase the revenues
of the state and reduce those receiv-
ea by the counties, but these bills are
the ones on which the visiting delega-
cations have principally talked. The
most important meeting held by the
Joint committee was in the senate
chamber Tuesday night when delega-
tions from Cincinnati. Dayton, Toledo
and Clevela I'D were heard, Charles Z.
Lewis OF New York representing the
New York Life and the Equitable Life
Insurance companies, stated that the
proposed Increase would fall directly
upon the people holding policies in in
surance companies; that 1t was plac-
Ing 4 burden on widows and orphans
and would eventually make insurance
no expensive that poor men would not
he able TO lay aside any of their saw
tnKs to provide fund for their fam
tiles after their deaths.
JOHN NJ Pattison, president OF the
Union Central Life Insurance com.
pany, of Cincinnati. declared that o
tax on the premiums of insurance
companies was barbarism. az II made
Q man pay taxes ON the dollar that he
paid to some other mans widow. The
only reason for taxing them at all is
of the etate, the expenses OF which are
$4,000 a year. His company now
pays S80,0e8 in taxes 70 the state ev-
cry year. II the proposed increase be-
came effective his company would
have 70 pay $4,000 year and that
would mean an increased cost to those
who invest their savings In insurance
policies.
Ex-Representatiye Charles Grimm Of
Toledo. headed \ delegation from Lu-
cas- county to protest against the bill
90 levy q tax on the capital stock of
privats corporations. Ex-Governor
Bushnell OF Springfield added his pro-
test against the passage OF this bill.
ID. w. Dow, 4 big Toledo merchant.
served notice that II the bill was pass
ed his company would leave the state
and threw many Ohio men out OF en-
Sioyment. After over dozen repre-
sentative Republicans from various
seetions OF ths state had spoken Sen.
oh If ka
nittes asked Mayor Tom l. Johnson
Of Cleveland what ne thought ~ the
governors measures. Mayor Johnson
said:
This Willis bill to tax the author
tzed capital stock OF private corpora
lions In Ohio. and It's neighbor. the
Cole bill. which proposes to levy an ex.
else tax OF one pee cent on the gross
earnings Of Quasi-public corporations
ere two Of the worst bills I have ever
read. In my limited knowledge Of leg
tslRtlve affairs. | have never seen any
thing so unjust. This Willis bill Is per-
nieious and outrageous II purposes To
oppress and harass the very people
who are the blood OF the commercial
ffe Of our state. II would crush OF
drive beyipd the borders Of Ohio ths
manufacturing and commercial com
paAies, to foster which should he one
OF the highest duties oi the legislature
The Cole Dilt 10 levy . trlfiinE excise
tax on the great public service corpora
tons is ineffective and insufficient. II
ts positively silly In what IL lacks II
tends to work almost as great an in
justice On the people Of Ohio as does
the Willis bill The Willis measure, II
" becams law would impose the
aane amount u taxes on stock Of Z
corporation worth $40 share As I,
would Gn stock worth 5000 share
Two companies have the same
amount ~ Authorized capital stock
ahd the state would require that they
pay An equal amount u tAxes regard.
less Of :hs tact that one may have only
80 per cent OF its stock paid IL oT that
tts stock is worth in the market S9C
less per share than It's face value. whilt
the stock of the other company Il
worth 500 per share more than itI
face value.
''Taks tive farms side by side. They Ar,
eOmpOssd of A. equal number OF acFOs si
RreuHa. but the enc 10 meadow land, Piol
aud festlis, while the ether 10 hillside land
0tsny aDd snDrsduetiVe. would you TAI
SAsm for SSsai amounts or according \
fAsir value In the mArkets ! caAnot fol
the life sf 4e understand hsw any ihtsili-
GsAt. f1ir-min n4sd nan can Justify such {
ensasuFs as tails. II weuld tax poverty. foI
fhs poorer the corporation the heavier the
burdsn, ana II becomes heavier In proper
eisA as tho couieany becomes poorer. just
- long ~ Il 10 Akls n aAxnA .an ith 6asi