The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-10-31
Will Be Deeply Interested In
Work Of Legislature.
TWO SESSIONS WITHIN YEAR
Lawmakers VIII Have Splendid Op.
portunity to Spend Peoples Money.
Taxation to Be Theme OF Discus
slon--stories Of Politics and PoIitl.
clans.


sion--stories OF Politics and PoIitl.
clans.
Columbus, - Especially - The next
year will give Ohio another taste OF
annual sessions" Of the legislature.
II was not so long ago hat the state
legislature met regularly. Recently
biennial sessions have been the rule.
There will be a session IN 1908 and
another in 1909. because Of the recent
separation of state and local elcc-
tions. The legislature that met two
years ago will meet again this coming
winter-that is. the personnel will be
the same.
II is likely that the subject OF taxa.
tion will be one Of the leading matters
under discussion, both at the 1908 ses-
sion and 1909. The legislature will be
asked to allow the people to vote upon
an amendment to the constitution
which will permit of the classification
OF property for taxation. or course,
that will be thoroughly threshed out
this winter and then, II It is submit
ted and adopted, the next legislature
will enact laws under the amendment.
Taxation, OF course, is simply mat.
ter Of getting revenues to pay the ex.
penses Of townships. cities, counties
and state. And II is the revenue"
proposition that will prove a stumb-
ling block Just now there is no call
for increased revenues. merely a re-
adjustment Of affairs, more equit--
able plan of assessment and collection.
The state treasury now has big cash
balance-but the legislators can put a
hole in that in hurry If they are per-
mitted to do so.
Governor Harris and the other state
officers are already worried about that
balance. Cash on hand invites a raid
on the treasury, and to protect that bal
nnce will give the state officers plenty
to do this winter. Almost every men,
Der Of the legislature has some scheme
that will require the expenditure OF
money or the lessening Of revenues.
Many want new state institutions; 9TH
ers want additional state departments:
some want taxes reduced and others
propose bills which will make such
changes in the existing order of things
that the taxpayers will quickly feel
the effects.
The governor Is worried about the
finances of the state. At the legisla-
tive reunion he discussed this feature
OF his administrative cares. He talked
of expenses. proposed demands and
cutting down revenues and he said
that he did not see how revenues
could be reduced with the state
pledged to policies that wilr require
more money than is spent even now.
Taking the governors remarks as
cue, state officers have been looking
into the future. Many Of them pro-
fess to see danger in a county local
option bill. According to the reports
from Auditor Of State Guilbert's office,
something like nine million dollars are
collected annually from the saloon in
terests Of the state. or this sum, two
million goes direct to the state and
the remainder to the counties and
cities.
II is suggested that II a county local
option bill should be enacted into a
law a large number Of the counties
would vote dry" with the result that
the states revenues would be serious
ly affected or course, IL the revenues
we're reduced by the passage Of coun-
ty local option law the money for the
maintenance Of municipalities and
state would have to come from some
other source. Expenditures would not
be decreased. Nay! Never in the his.
tory Of any commonwealth have ex-
penses been cut down because reve-
nues were less, but they are always In.
creased with rising revenue!
Somebody who now pays heavy taxer
would have to pay more. Mr.. r. w.
Firestone, a banker, who appeared be.
fore the State Tax Commission, told
OF rise In the tax rate of the city Of
Wellsville. Ohio. He said: The rate
cite In Wellsville. 4s, 10 the rate for
the coming year. Some people might
make capital out Of 1t II they knew
that ITO of per cent had been added
since the town went dry" BY the
some people" Banker Firestone Of
course referred to the opponents Of .
county local option bill
II looks as II the legislature will be
sure to adopt resolution authorizing
the submission to the voters OF prop