Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-05-17

four months or so, mas passed INTO MS
tory.
So much the worse for history.
The work done by this body has
been of no credit to itself, and of no
service to the public. 1t has done only |
that which 1t was ordered to do by
Mark Hanna, and it has left undone
everything which he directed to be
SO left, and both without the slight
est regard to the welfare of the peo-
pie. 1t has from the beginning
been haunted by an insane fear of one
Tom Johnson, and its prime rule OF
action has been that Johnson wanted
measure passed; that fact, without
more, was enough to insure its re-
lection. Now it has so happened that
this man johnson did want several
measures adopted, and that they were
all calculated to benefit the masses
of the people, to relieve them OF in
equalities In the BURDENS of taxation,
TO place those burdens where they
belong and to make for Justice. econ
omy and purity of ADMINISTRATION
But, acting under this fear that If
these reforms should be enacted into
laws, it might, in some mysterious
way, promote possible ulterior ambi-
tions of Johnson they were treated
with contempt and defeated In do
ing this 1t Is quite clear that the
Republican majority played into John
sons hands completely, and gave him
the game II indeed he has one TO play,
or entertains the ambitions which his
enemies have thus nourlshed.
II was, for example, Mr. Johnson's
contention that the railroads travers'
ing the State should pay taxes upon
their property at Its market value,
instead of paltry fraction Of such
value; that because franchise is an
intangible thing, something that can
not be seen or measured in miles or
pounds, still, since 1t constitutes the
principal earning power of the cor
poratlon, and as its value is known
and traded upon in Wall Street, down
n INn nI
ought to be, just as easily ascertained
and used for the purposes of taxa
ton. The majority in the Legislature
refused to entertain this Just view of
the matter, and they took care that
no board of equalization responsible
Z to the people should have the power
to enforce and apply iI In fixing tax
Ing values. The people can thus see
that rule according to which their
own little properties are taxed Is set
aside for the benefit of the richest
corporations which enjoy the pIotcc-
tion of our laws. Aud seeing this,
they can see also who Is responsible
for this unfair and unjust discrimina-
tion against the small property owner,
In favor of the large one, And Mr..
johnson Is not the man 10 allow the
Republican party TO escape this re.
sponsibility.
The county Of CGynhogn contains
the largest city in Ohio. It's people
sent Il delegation Of their own dice
TO this same Legislature. There was
no .pretensc anywhere that they were
not constitutionnly chosen, or that
they were not entitled to represent
their community IN that body But
they We're not permitted TO do this
at all. From the beginning they wcr,
contemptuously thrust aside. and for
eign guardians were appointed TO take
charge of them, whom the people OF
Cuyahoga county did not know, who
were not responsible TO those people In
any way, but who were thus permitted
TO usurp the duties of those whom tn,
people had sent TO Columbus TO legls
late for them. And not only was the
right of the representatives OF tn,
people to act for their constituents
denied them, but IN every possibl,
way this Legislature has taken from
the people the right to order thel
own local affairs in their own way
through officials of their own choosing
TO whom they can look, and whom
they can hold responsible in case thel,
trust Is abused, and has conferre,
such powers upon boards and the like
appointed by the Governor or Judges
or some other authorities not In toucl
with the people. and whose duties ar,
wholly foreign TO the interests in
voived In the appointments. Th
Cleveland Park Board measure, an
the attempted extingushment o
Mayor Jones, of Toledo, are instance
showing the spirit which has actuate
this Legislature IN all their polio,
That spirit has been marked through