The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-10-24

portunlty to Spend Peoples Monsy.
Taxation to BE Theme Of Discus
sIOn-stOriss Of Politics and PoIiti.
clans.
Columbus, - Especially - The next
year will give Ohio another taste of
annual sessions" OF the legislature
1t was not so long ago that 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 cleo
tions. The legislature that met two
years ago will 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 thrcshed 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 1t Is the revenue"
proposition that will prove stumb-
ling block Just now there is no call
for increased revenues. merely a re-
adjustment of affairs, a 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 q raid
on the treasury, and to protect that bal
ance will give the state officers plenty
to do this winter. Almost every men,
ber 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 taxpayer 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 a
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 II 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, il 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 moi
be decreased Nay! Never in the his
tory of any commonwealth have ex
penses been cut down because reve
nues we're less, but they are always in
creased with a rising revenue!
Somebody who now pays heavy take!
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 o.
Wellsville. Ohio. He said: "The rate
cite in WellsVille, 4.S, is the rate fol
the coming year Some people nigh
make capital out of it II they knew
that 7-10 of per cent. had been added
since the town went dry" BY th'
''some people" Banker Firestone o
course referred to the opponents Of {
county local option bill.
II looks as II the legislature will b
sure to adopt resolution authorizing
the submission to the voters Of prop
osition to amend the constitution so a
to permit Of the classification Of prop
erty for taxation. The Tax Commits
hion. body appointed by the gover