The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-09-05
OHIO FARMERS
Tell Tax Commission What Tax.
alton Reform They Want.
MANY CHANGES DEMANDED
Most of the Representatives Of Agri-
cultural Interests favor a Con-
StitutiOnaI Amendment.

mission of Ohio was something of a
farmers day" The Representatives
of the great agricultural interests of
the state were invited to appear be.
fore the commission and discuss tax
alton. The meeting was the most sue
cessful OF all of the good ones held so
far, and the farmers showed that they
understood the big subject. From
time to time the discussions of the
agriculturists will be run in these
columns
F. A Derthick of Mantua, Master Of
the Ohio State OR nge, said:
1t Is conceded that agriculture bears
both realty and personally tax, be-
cause the land and personally can all
be gotten, while the city tax is prln-
cipally realty tax.
like the New York plan. Each
taxpayer is given a pamphlet contain
ing the valuation and assessment of
every other taxpayer in his zone.
From the directory it is learned that
John Jones lives at No. Sixteenth
street. No one goes there to see John
Jones, or calls him up. 1t is assumed
that If he lives in that environ
ment with all the privileges, he
is worth at least $4,000. They
send him this notice: Dear Sir
You are assessed on valua-
tion of $4,000 and your assessment
is so much. II not satisfactory call
and see u.s." If nothing is heard from
him they move up on the valuation till
he protests. The tax rate in New
York city is LAT against per cent in
Columbus and 3.15 In Cleveland.
To avoid double taxation in mort.
cages Minnesota enacted a mortgage
record tax which went into effect May
l, 1906. The first day about $4,000
was collected, from the registration
fees Of one-fOurth of l per cent In one
county alone, while for the entire pre-
vious year less than $4,000 was col
lected under the uniform rate. After
paying a registration fee the mort
gage was not further taxed. thus
avoiding double taxation so far as
mortgages are concerned. The State
Grange has for years pronounced
against double tax and favors release
OF tax on mortgages.
While | would rather see, If it could
be brought about, all private property
taxed, yet If it is not feasible or prac-
ticable would protest against pick
ing out certain forms of intangible
property for exemption, as was done
in the case of municipal bonds. II
one class Of intangible is exempted,
let all classes be exempt also. | be-
lieVe that corporation bond may
be more properly exempt than a mu-
nicipal. The corporation bond, say
those who favor exemption of such
bonds, is simply deed. Why tax it?
Go to the road; that is the property.
II you tax the bond and tax the road
that Is double taxation. | can see
some justice In that With the munich
pal bond the thing which 1t represents
can not be taxed and it escapes also.
1t Is claimed that the difference
would be made In the price of bonds,
but experience has proven otherwise
Even if little were saved in the pre-
MUM 1t would be made up in the rate.
DR.. Chamberlain's argument of ex-
pediency Is good one, think With
a tax of 3. Is and interest of per cent
the Clevelander is not going to list
his money on deposit In Mt. Vernon
the tax is per cent and the interest
8 per cent; he is punished a dollar for
being honest. In Bellefontaine the
banks pay 3 per cent and the tax is 4
per cent. How are you going to get
this money on the duplicate The
constitution Is irOnclad If it is re-
turned it is struck with the uniform
rate.
Under the uniform rate in Maryland
the city OF Baltimore returned $6,OOO.-
900. whicn yielded a revenue of 500
900. With flexible rate 100000, 900
was returned, giving an income Of
100000.
The question of distribution is quite
as important as collection of funds.
earnestly recommend the enactment
Of law providing for a uniform sys-
TEN of bookkeeping for each depart.
ment, with annual auIiting by expert
accountants. With this system hon
estly and earnestly enforced there
would not be need of a franchise tax
II such a system is not provided |
would favor franchise tax
1t Is far easier to point out ineuual-
tiles than suggest a panacea, and
whoever assumes to point out the un-
erring way to a sane and perfect sys-
TEN of tax revision in all its details
Is encouraging us to pursue a Will-'o.
the-wlsp. Taxation is creature of
growth. Students of taxation say
there is embedded into our constitT-
tion an insurmountable barrier to a
Just system-the uniform rate-and
there Is now in the hanCs of the tax
alton committee of the house a bill
which provides for the classification
OF property, Whether the constitution
shall be SO amended is the burning
question of the hour. The Grange has
not yet pronounced on this pToposI.
ton. Our 500 lodges, ranging in mem
bershin from 20 to 400. are studying
the question diligently, and presume
the next State Grange will take some
position At the last session bv unan-
lmous vote. the State Grange declared
its willingness to cooperate with all
other interests In promoting such a
revision of our tax system as would
be Just and fair to all classes. AS
Master of the State Grange | would
not undertake to speak for that body
till it has declared its position. What
/ say is the result of my personal con.
victions and upon my own RESPONSE
bility. Our constitution was born
more than half century ago and or
dained to meet conditions existing
then. This revGred document is con.
fronted by conditions of which our
fathers never dreamed. 1t is my de-
liberate opinion that there should
now be lodged in some department of
the government, directly responsible
to the people, authority to revise our
system Of taxation from time to time
as changed conditions, necessities and
experience suggest.