The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-27
Columbus Journal.
Grave Dancers In
Taxation Amendment.

Many good citizens are advocating
the tax amendment to the constitu-
tion under misapprehension of the
results that it would produce.
The more the taxation amendment
indorsed by the recent Democratic
State convention is studied, the
clearer becomes its possibilities for
evil to the miDd of thoughtful man.
To empower the legislature to
classify all subjects of taxation and
place some classes of property on a |
lower rate of taxation than others,
as this amendment contemplates,
would bring to this city each, winter
the biggest crowd of lobbyists ever ::
seen in Columbus Every -interes t.
affected would pay we'll to turn leyis-I
lation to its advantage and unprt,r-.
edented efforts would be made ro.,
bribe lawmakers. The tempta eior
to corruption would be increased. ten
fold.
1t the general assembly were ul-
timateiy controlled by the represen-
tatives of the rural districts, It fs
not reasonable to believe that they
urged on by their constituents would
| reduce'the rate of taxation ON farm
property below the limit OF fairness,
or that they wonld remove it aItr :
gether? On the other band, nd
there is more danger of this .un.
pose the moneyed interests Sc, .ured
control of the Legislative Would
they not lay The heavy burds unor
land owners and zsiminize = 20 t.re,
to be paid upon stocks and bonds anf
other similar property4
If this proposed amG 5,.,+ xer
Incorporated in ehe. 5, ,t.,s org.ni
law, every lesislatua' . incited b
rival lobbit.s. wGruB hs snli, int
warning tSSapns,s .,cb WORKING fo
, Sc hsn ln"sa' Such condition
wouio nor hsh for the benefit an
pronI oi'oh'o'' 1t would be duplic;
tion On a lang rsc,le of the very II,
satHiae s'' condition that prevaile
1of nltSF Irs under the old const
tuition.
Ihe lendment in question go
aAesge' ner too far. To classify pc
sonaa property for taxati'
IS eS thing; to classify all forms
TAX .ble holdings is another. II
I" .mer step would he a wise on
: , ome forms of personal property a
taxed 100 heavily, and a measure
. relief not only would be in the int
est Of justice, but undoubtedly wou
result in anincreased tax duplica'
since. with a levy which
re people would consider fair, the
US would be less tax lodging. But
discuss ion of this subject is besi
&c tie point in this campaign.
ne The Democratic candidate for I
i"- COVER norship and the boss of his p;
'es ty is an .ayowed single taxer. 1T
'eu any chance he should control
ier next legislature, the adoption of
lse taxation amendment would give h
IN the chance he Graves to inaugur;
"h a close approach to the Henry Geol
the system in Ohio. He would force
great bulk of the taxes upon the Ia
mas owner, and, if he remained in poI
sln long enough, such a tax system wo
ers practically destroy the private OF
nts' ership of land in this state. ]
property would be confiscated,
nat Tom Johnson had his, way. I
TO is the end for which every man v
nat votes, on Nov. , for the Democra
our nominees for, the Legislature and
the the taxation amendment is work.
doubtless many good business u
not do not appreciate the fact.
rleo Taxation reform must come
by the uniform selection of com
tent and hoaest taxing officers.
turn must not come through a sche
ry fraught the sucn dangers as
;om- pending taxation amendment thrs
pof ems.
n of