The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-20
THE LAWS DEfIED.
Recent "R eform" officials Con.
duct In Cleveland.
CH o STATUTES SET AT KAUGHT.

Addition Of s2o,ooo, 900 to the Grand
Tax Duplicate, and Good Work Go
Ing Ahead, Does Not Save Cuyahoga
County Board of Tax Review From
Johnson's Attacks.
What crimes are committed in thy
name. o, Reform" says the Cleveland
Press independently in comment upon
the fact that the first official act" Of
Johnson's reform board of commits
sioners for Cuyahoga county was the
adoption of a resolution making the
meetings OF the board secret" That
this resolution is in direct disobe-
dience TO the laws OF Ohio. does not
seem to have counted with the ''re-
formers" Home rule" is their Tom
Johnson idea. meaning that the state
has no rights that the county need be
expected TO respect.
Pretty soon follows a still more sig
nificant defiance by the Tom Johnson
men OF the laws of Ohio. For nearly
two years Cuyahoga county has had
at work a board of review made by
the state law, the final authority in all
matters OF assessment and taxation in
that county. II was carefully selected
and has been doing diligent and Ell
cient work. as best proved by the fact
that its labors have added 500. 1000. 900
to the tax valuation of the county. The
members have become experts and
their work is going forward right
along increasing the returns OF
assessed values uron personal prop
erty made by individuals and corpora
tions. That II has been carefully done
Is shown by the fact that the courts
have not changed any of their figures.
All was moving serenely. Public en-
dorsement OF their efficiency was gen.
eral and manifest. Even Mayor John
son. It was thought. approved most
heartily of the board. and gave II great
credit for its work.
Then came in the new Johnson board
of commissioners of Cuyahoga county.
One OF their earliest acts was to vote
TO cut the salaries of the board OF re-
view 20 SIS a month for each man.
Anyone can see the utter absurdity Of
such a move. Men who are in the
least 1T for such duties in Cleveland
and Cuyahoga county. will not look at
| such great responsibilities for any
| 5000 a year. and no 5000 man would
| be fit for the job. In fact. j. B. Molly
| neau. Robert Simpson and F. A. Sar-
| stedt. comprising the board of review.
| were all appointed and accepted Office
| with salary Of $500 each per year.
| Evidently this move was made TO
| drive them out of Office by paying
| them less than the wages given TO
| their clerks and messengers. At an
| expense OF $4,000 for two years they
have added over $40 .OO0. 600 TO the tax
duplicate. so that action cannot be ex.
| cused on that account. II is a question
whether what has been done Is legal
but IL will not drive the men out OF
Office at this time.
A still more important feature sas
come up. Not only does this action by
the Johnson county commiss soners
seek to deprive the county OF the
services OF men who are most efficient
and expert in the matter OF locating
those who are delinquent in their ia,
returns. but IL will deprive the public
of any form of authority in Cnyahoga
county which would have power to re
wise any returns which might be made
Johnson's county auditor might at
tempt this. but he will act upon per
centage to be divided between him and
the tax inQuisitors. This extra ex
pense is saved by the board of review
that the Johnson machine has at
tackled. What was the object? Wa:
there fear that they might call in Ton
L. Johnson to explain his tax returns
like other men have had to do. and eel
why his sworn return OF s13.T55 il
1903 should be sufficient for thesfor
tune of several million dollars ofiMT
johnson, particularly since he is no
known to have a dollar invested in an.
Ohio enterprise. or in any form tha
would exempt him from the person;
return for taxation of his entire pro
erty?