The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-05-08
Tax Equalization.


the city of Canton has suffered and is
suffering at the present time; for over
drawn funds, for refunding bonds and
ali the train of evils that follow in
the wake of an insufficient treasury,
the News Democrat offers simple
and expedient specific. This specific
is nothing more or less than read
justment of tax values, a general boost
Of corporation assessments. The cure
Is guaranteed if directions, which shall
be given In this paper during the next
few days, be carefully followed.
1t is plain proposition of equity
that the big property owner should
pay tax in the same proportion as his
poor neighbor. But he doesn't. The
more money a man has the less pro-
portionately he is obliged TO pay out
as revenue. A plain laboring man.
who by thrift and industry manages
to buy modest home is promptly us
sessed upon the basis of sixty per
cent. valuation, while the citizen with
thousands Of dollars worth of property
usually manages to squeeze through
upon a fifteen or twenty per cent. as
sessment.
But the individual tax dodger is not
.the worst enemy to fair distribution
Of tax burdens. The corporations are
tho institutions which have the va
rious municipalities of this and 9TH
er states on the hip. For years the 9
corporations have made returns which
nave been utterly and absurdly false
and yet the people have sit supinely
by and allowed the thing to go on.
pies rights in this particular has
arisen in recent years. That cham
pion is Tom Johnson and to his efforts
people OF Ohio look for redress. The ef-
feet of JohhsoEs crusade is already
being felt The auditors Of the state
in whose hands rests the valuation Of
the railroads are no longer mere tools
in the hands Of the corporations. Some
of them have had the stamina to act
for themselves and the effect upon
railroad taxation is already apparent
But it is only one step in a long and
tedious journey. 1t is merely tend
cncy of the times. There is much
more to be accomplished and much
more will be accomplished before the
end OF this decade.
The News-Dcmocrat in late years
has raised its voice again and again
against the rank injustice Of it all.
rhe paper has shown in its true light
the basis upon which the taxation
figures are compiled first for the POOR
man and then for the rich one. 1t has
tried to emphasize the vast discrimi
nation which is practiced year after
year. Elsewhere in this issue are
given the figures indicating the valu-
alton placed upon the steam and elsc-
tric railways in Stark county al the
last sessions of the auditors. 1t is not
necessary to repeat these figures he.e
in order TO point out wherein their
fragrant unfairness lies. To any man
with a fair sense OF value and pro- or
,ion they speak eloquently of the in
Justice which is annually perpetrated
upon the honest taxpayers of the COM
munity.
And it may not be amiss in this con-
nection TO say that the News-Dsmc-
crat is the only paper in the broad
county of Stark that dares tread up
on this precinct Of tax equalization.
IT IL forbidden ground to other publ
cations not only of Stark county but
with few exceptions, of the entire
state. The eason Of this is that news
papers are bought pretty much the
same as auditors are bought. Their
contracts with the various
railroads are so drawn that If they
are good they are rewarded and IL
they are bad" they are turned away
empty. So the great majority of them
are. good" and in consequence the
weaQons OF the press which should be
welded in behalf of the common peo-
pie are turned against them and ar
rayed with the corporations. The
News-Democrat has no corporation
Strings TO 1t and is free to speak its
mind upon this as well as all other
matter touching the welfare of the
public. All OF the figures obtainable,
which tend 10 throw any light upon
the tax dodgers OF the county and city
viii be reproduced in these columns.
TO this end the paper soiicits com
municaticns upon this subject. Spe-
ot, Of,