The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-08-08
Tell Tax Commission What Tax
alton Reform They Want.
MANY CHANGES DEMANDED
Most Of the Representatives Of Agri-
cultural Interests Favor a Con-
stitutiOnal Amendment.


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 TIL e the discussions of the
agriculturists will be run in these
columns.
F. A. Derthick of Mahtua, Master Of
the Ohio State CIR nge. said:
II 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 1t is learned that
John Jones lives at No. Sixteenth
Jones. or calls him up. II is assumed
that if lie lives in that environ.
ment with all the privileges. he
is worth at least $4,000. They
send him this notices: Dear Sir
You are asses sed on valua.
tion OF s50,000 AMI your assessment
is SO much: II not satisfactory call
him they move up on the valuation till
he protests. The tax rate in New
York city Is 1.47 against 3 per cent in
Columbus and 5 in Cleyelapd.
To avoid double taxation IA mort.
cages Minnesota enacted mortgage
yeeord tax wnic.i went into effect May
!, 1906. The first day about $4,000
was collected from the registyetion
fees OF one-fourth of / per cent n one
county alone. while for the entire pre-
vIous year less than $4,000 was col.
leeted under the uniform rate. After
paying . registration fee the mort.
gage was not further taxed, thus
avoiding double taxation so far. as
MORTGAGES are concerned. The State
against double tax and favors release
e.While J would 'ssjS Father sec, II it could
be brought about, al private property
taxed. yet II Il is not feasible OF prat.
ticable l 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,
Jet all classes be exempt also. | be.
Ueye that a corporation bond may
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.
IL 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 little were saved in the pre-
Dr. Chemberlaihls ayg1rAept Of ex.
pe6isnsyo is . good ono, thlpk. With
Q @k az 10 ghd interest OF per cent
" playelanuey is not going to list
u Ey H 1 per c' cent and ID the he lnterest nesToa
& kef Cent? b s punished a dollar Tor Tor
b1lRg ho9est Id Bellefoltaine the
BE- SsIs Ras per sss Usat vsn and .as As tat is
tins poney on the duplicate The
cedsttupop is irpncled. If 1t is re-
tdrned 1t Is struck with the uniform
rate.
Under the uniform rate in MARYLAND
the city OF Baltimore returned $4,000.
600, which yielded revenue OF 500.
900. With flexible rate $100. 900. 900
was returned, giving an income Of
The question of distribution is quite
es important as collection OF funds,
] Earnestly recommend the enactment
OF law providing for q uniform sys.
tenn OF bookkeeping for each depart
ment, with annual au lifting by EXPERT
accountants. With this system hon.
estly and earnestly enforced there
would not be need Of q franchise tax.
II such a system is not provided /
would favor a franchise tax.
II is far easier to point out ineoual.
HnQQAQf
whoever assumes to point out the un.
err1ng way to sane and perfect sys-
tenn OF tax revision In all its details
y encouraging us to pursue a wili-'o.
the-wisp. Taxation Is a creature of
growth. Students of taxation saw
tnere Is embedded into our constitu-
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 hin
which provides for the classification
OF property. Whether the constitution
shall be so amended Is the burning
question OF the hour. The Grange has
ton. Our 500 lodges, ranging in mem.
bershiD from 20 to 400, are STUDYING
the question diligently, and I presume
the next State Grange will take some
position. At the last session by unan.
!mous vote, the State Grange declared
10 Willingness TO cooperate with all
other interests in promoting such a
revision of our tax system as would
De Just and fair to all classes. AS
Master OF the State Grange / would
not undertake to speak for that bodv
till 1t has declared its position. What
say 10 the result OF my ISrsonal con-
yletions and upon my oHh resbonsi.
bility. Our constitution was born
pore than half century ago and or.
uained to meet conditions existine
then; This revered document is con.
ronted by conditions OF which our
fcthers never dreamed It js my de.
Nbsrate opinion that there should
pow be lodged In some department ol
tne government, directly responsible
20 the people, authority to revise our;
system OF taxation from time to time
% chenged conditions, necessities ma
experience suggest, q
The equitable assessment Of pev.
sonal property. much the larger Dor.
tfOn nf wbfch to In