The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-09-19
TAX DISCUSSIONS
Farmers Have a Parliament On
0hiO's Tax Laws.

The farmers Of the state are con-
vinced that Ohio's taxation system Is
wrong At the last meeting Of the
State Tax Commission, the agricultur-
lists appeared before that body to urge
reforms. After the prepared addresses
were delivered and which have been
published in these columns, those
present entered into animated discus
sion of the subject.
Il have listened all the afternoon"
said C. M. Freeman, Tippecanoe City.
Secretary National Grange, and have
not changed my mind a bit. do not
believe we are a state of perjurers.
believe We are honest and that our
government is not a failure. | would
never put my hand to a document that
says, We have found a state Of per-
Jury and are going to legalize it,"
DIR. w. l. Chamberlain, editor of the
Ohio Farmer, replied, I'VE have
failed for Sc years to tax intangible
property. 1t seems to me that we
farmers could agree after this long
trial that the plan We thought would
work, but never has worked and
never will work as long as you try
to tax money at 100 per cent, and
other property at 80 to 40 per cent
OF its true value. We have fought 1t
out on this line for Sc winters and 56
summers, and We want a change. We
want wise commission that will ad-
just the details of taxation, and shall
tax all tangible property once and
prevent double taxation. | don't say
our government is failure, but
wouldn't 1t be well to change our base
and take a new line of attack"
Facts stop arguments" said Mr.. T.
A. Derthick, of Mantua, Master Of
Ohio State Grange. THE entire coun-
ty of Cuyahoga returned in 1905 $62,-
100000, while in the banks of Cleve-
land alone there was deposited about
$500, ,OOO. 900. Mr.. Bradfute called atten-
tion to the fact that Preble county
paid on a larger personal duplicate
than Cuyahoga or Hamilton"
Mr.. C. p Dyar, Marietta: Energy
and determination are good things,
but If we amend the constitution and
do not attempt to assess notes, mortg-
ages or any stock we would have
ample opportunity for all enthusiasm
and energy to get fair valuation on
the tangible property Of the state"
do you think it wise to legislate
into the constitution limitations to
the classification of various kinds of
property" asked Attorney General El-
lis of DR.. Chamberlain.
J DR.. Chamberlain: Il do not think
we can legislate any more wisely for
the people 80 or so years hence than
our fathers did for us. Generally
| speaking, | do not believe 1t wise to
legislate into the constitution"
H. P. Miller, Sunbury: Three bases
Of taxation have been in operation.
First, the theory that government ex-
lists for the protection of property,
therefore the general property tax,
against which all are protesting today
and confessing its inefficiency after
an experience of Sc years.
Second, that the government exists
for the individual, hence the poll tax,
and the propositions for income and
inheritence taxes, with all their costly
machinery for collection of funds.
Third, natural wealth. the coal, iron,
oil, gas in the earth, timber on the
land, the possibilities of the crops in
the earth. By going directly to the
natural sources of wealth the cumber-
some machinery of collection is done
away with. All here this afternoon
have tried how to get more things on
| the duplicate. I would exactly reverse
that and reduce the subjects and take
those which. are the natural sources Of
all our wealth | would favor a non
| partisan tax commission whose busi-
ness 1t is to know the expenses for
the state. They know the amount Of
property by a frequent appraisal and
COulu G6ldDIlSH q IdIc " nCSL LuS
needs. Remove the obstacles to scien.
tific system of taxation, reduce the
| cost of administering not try to get
intangibles for they will lie about
them. Get the natural sources of all
| our wealth.
would favor a more frequent ap-
praisal. My farm lying near the town
is more valuable than If five miles
away. An electric road would increase
its value. This tract north Of the
statehouse was gotten by man by
chance. The capital and the city were
built, not through his work, but
chance. Society has increased the
value of his land; he has no moral
right to all this unearned increment.
1t belongs to those who made it valU-
able, society. Let him return to society
something of the value it has made
in the shape Of taxes.