Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-12-20

Taxation to Be Theme of Discus
sion-Stories Of Politics and Pollti.
clans.
Columbus, - Especially - The next
| year will give Ohio another taste of
| annual sessions" of the legislature.
1t was not so'fong ago that the state
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 cleo
| tions. The legislature that met two
years ago v i'll meet again this coming
/ winter-that is, the personnel will be
the same.
1t 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. OF course,
that will be thoroughly threshed out
this winter and then, if 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 it is the revenue"
proposition that will prove stumb-
ling block. Just now there is no call
for increased revenues, merely 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
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 raid
on the treasury, and to protect that bal.
ance 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 will 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 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. OF this sum, two
million goes direct to the state and
the remainder to the counties and
cities.
1t is suggested that If 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. OF course, If the revenues
were 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 taxes
would have to pay more. Mr.. R. w.
Firestone, 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
I cite in Wellsyiile, AS, is the rate for
the coming year. Some people might
make capital out of 1t If they knew
that 7-10 of 1 per cent. had been added
since the town went dry" BY the
"some people" Banker Firestone of
course referred to the opponents of a
county local option bill
It looks as If the legislature will be
sure to adopt resolution authorizing
the submission to the voters of prop
osition to amend the constitution SO az
to permit Of the classification of prop