The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-13

Masters OF state Oranges United In
View That Time 10 Ripe to Abandon
System Based On Guesswork In
Favor Of More Modern and Scientific
Methods.
Inasmuch as farmers suffer more
from an Incorrect tax system than
others, their views on the question Of
tax reform are of particular interest.
Agricultural leaders IN various states
are carrying forward campaign Of ed
Gcation that will lead to the adoption
of constitutional amendments that
will enable the people to secure a sys-
tenn that can be adjusted to meet mod
ern conditions The following express
sions indicate the trend Of opinion
From the Secretary U. 5. Department
Of Agriculture.
Washington, ID. c.. Jan. IT, 1908.
Mr. +. A. Derthick, Master Ohio state
Grange, Mantua, Ohio:
Dear Sir--l have no hesitation in
saying that ! believe the people Of
Ohio through their legislative repre-
sentatives are entirely competent 10
enact such laws as will do justice to
all citizens interested in the raising
OF money by taxation.
Very truly yours,
JAMES WILSON, Secretary
From Master OF the National Grange.
The primitive idea Of taxation, that
every form OF property should be
taxed equally, appears to be gradually
giving way to the sounder view that
taxes should be SO levied as to yield
the greatest amount of revenue with
the least possible injury to productive
enterprise. 1t is now beginning to be
realized that the methods of taxation
80 long in vogue have been largely
matters Of guesswork, and that it is
time that our systems of state and
local taxation should be reformed and
placed on a scientific basis. Farm
products should in my judgment be
exempt from taxation. IN. j. Bachel.
der Master National Grange, before
the National Tax Conference, Nov II,
1907
From the Master Of the Washington
State Grange.
"The attempt 20 tax all kinds of
property by the same rule has in all
times, and in all countries, imposed
heavier burdens upon rural districts
tLan cities. and In large degree has
measured the tax to be paid each citi.
2Cn by tflc amount Of his consump-
tion, rather than by the opportunity
he enjoys to acquire wealth under the
protection of the state. When, as
chief executive of the State Grange in
the State OF Washington, first called
tne attention Of the patrons to the de.
aTabiity of adopting Il new method
by our state, | had TO point out that
the provision I'm our state constitution
which requires the uniform assess
ment and taxation of all property In
the state at an equal rate barred the
way, and that progress In taxation was
impossible so long as the constitution
forbade al changes. 1t was necessary,
therefore, to inaugurate a campaign of
education having for It's object the
essential constitutional amendments"
C b. Kegley, Master Washington
State Grange.
From r. A. Derthick.
"FiftysiX years ago the trainers of
our constitution fixed therein the uni.
form rate ON a property value, binding
their own and future generations. The
tether Is too short to meet existing
conditions let us cut it and under
proper restraint have liberty to go far
aiiold in an effort to reach the millions
Of intangible property now withheld
because Of the irou-clad uniform rate
for all classes of property. II Is my
deliberate opinion that there should
now be lodged in somc department of
the government, directly responsible
TO the people, authority to revise cur
system of taxation from time to time
as changed conditions, necessity and
experience suggest "-9efore Ohio
! Tax Commission, June 3, 1907.
From Judge Henry M. Hugeins, HUE
boro
II am in favor OF the proposed
amendment TO the constitution of Ohio
relating TO taxation. The provision OF
| the constitution which provides a rule
Of taxation seems to me to be based
| upon economic fallacies, and expert
| ence has shown that II lowers the
Sorals Of the people, The law and
| the practice in the matter of taxation
in this state can hardly be worse, -
Henry M, Huggins.
From n. p. Miller, WesterVile.
- am inclined to credit the law
makers Of the past half century and
| the men entrusted with the admins
tration of the laws with as much wis
| dom and patriotism as the members
Of the constitutional convention OF
| 1851, yet the experiences of over half a
century have shown the taxation sys
tenn then devised impractical and un
| just in theory and administration,
see no reason way | should not have
| as much confidence in the wisdom and
| patriotism OF the present and succeed
| ing generations as In the past genera
I tions. II seems to me unWise and un
| inst for one generation TO make laws