The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-04-12

year an act was passed which treat
ed these securities in class by
themselves. A tax of FIVE mills, or
| one-half Of one per cent was put
upon them. In 1896 the foreign Sc
| curities which were returned for
taxation amounted to So 1000 600. I'm
der the influence OF the legislation re-
ferred to they now amount to $780,
100000. The rate OF taxation was re-
duced from the general rate prevail
ing 10 five mills, but even at that,
the revenue increased twenty-fold
Holders of tangible property, l be-
lleve, would make returns II the rate
were not excessive. but experience
teaches us that they will not make
full returns upon this class of prop
| erty at present rates of taxation, and
/ IL is a question for us TO determine
whether we would have them make
false returns, or no returns, AMI get
no revenues. or devise some means
which would induce them to make
returns, and get the revenue proper
ly derivable therefrom.
Second. Franchises should be tax
ed. do not mean by this that ex-
cessive burdens shah be placed upon
corporations OF any kind | believe
they have escaped their fair portion
OF this burden In the past, but that
ought not TO be a reason why they
should be punished now or in the
futur9 because the holders OF these
franchises Of yesterday are not the
holders thereof today or tomorrow.
Third. All state taxes should be
abolished, All burdens of this char
acter should be as nearly local as
possible. II is the experience OF the
past that there has been a disposition
In each county to keep It's valua-
tion low In order that the burden
might be shifted upon the shoulders
OF the sister counties.
Fourth. IL is not enough TO adj
dress ourselves to the method OF tax
alton. but we must look as particular
ly after the machinery by which IL Is
To be enforced. Al present the law
requires all property TO be taxed ae-
cording to its true valuation. and
yet we have the remarkable situation
before MS OF a state auditor giving
directions to county auditors, and
all county auditors giving instructions
to land appraisers and assessors to
return property at not exceeding 90
per cent OF its valuation. The re-
suit is that occasionally some one is
found who is honest enough TO re-
turn his property at its true valua-
tion, he wakes up and finds his neigh
bors have returned theirs at 80 or
40 per cent OF true valuation. and
he cries out at the iniquity of the
system. He goes into court. He
asks that the valuation be reduced,
and one question is asked of him.
Has yonr property been taxed al
more than its WORTH" The answer
IL NO" and the court is Obliged 10
dismiss his petition, saying that Il
Is nominated In the bond" that
property must be returned, at its
true value.
} There should be some system de-
vised, such as state board OF tax
alton, permanent in it's nature. com |
posed Of men who know their busi- |
ness. There should also be county |
boards made responsible to the state |
boards and there should be appoint |
ed townhip or ward assessors who |
are fitted by experience to do that |
which the law requires OF them
That these should be appointed or
elected, as the case may be, for a
period OF years. so that they could
not be subjected to the whims OF those
whose property happens to be re-