The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-02-18
COLUMBUS LETTER

Columbus, Feb. 12-Of the 1T bills
now before the general assembly
there is one that oVershadows them
all in it's importance to you-its ulti-
mate Importance.
This is the bill introduced in the
senate by Walter A. Alsdorf, a mem
ber from Johnstown, Licking county
He is a grain dealer, when at home,
and a democrat. This measure
creates state tax board of three
members, wiping out the seven state
boards which now have to do with
the assessment and equalization of
taxes of public service corporation
property.
Railroad properties, as you know,
are now assessed by boards of couR-
ty auditors. These county auditors
know more or less about the value OF
this class of property and they as
sess it more or less conscientiously
and more or less adequately. Your
own county auditor knows as much
about it as any of the other 81 audi
tors so if you want more complete
information talk with him and then
make your own deductions.
These boards of county auditors
are wiped out by this Alsdorf bill
and the assessment of railroad prop
erty is placed in the hands of this
proposed state board; express and
telephone properties are now assess
ed by state board. The valuation
fixed on the properties of public ser,
vice corporations will be apportion-
ed back to the counties, the appoint
ment being based on the amount of
the various properties within the
borders of the various counties.
Under this scheme of taxation your
county may get more from these
sources than it now gets or it may
get less; that depends on the state
board.
The hope and belief of the auditor
of the bill and of Gov. Harmon, who
will give 1t his support when GER
tain amendments have been made, is
that a material increase in the tax
valuation of public service corpora,
tion property will be the direct re.
suit of its operation.
AS the bill now stands it provides
that the state board, in determining
the value of these corporations, shall
be guided by the market value OF
their stock. That rule, rigidly ap
piled, would mean a tax on fra
chises. Such a method, Gov. Har
mon says, would work unfairly
against some of the weaker corpora
tions, not that he is opposed to tax
ing franchises, or that indefinite
something represented by the differ
ence between the physical value o.
public service corporation and iti
/ ma r.IyA hut hA f,1x
wise to hold tn. b 4rd down to 4
particular method OF valuation.
If any method were to be prescrib
ed for the guidance of the board hC
would prefer that 1t be along the
lines of the gross earning route. AL
advanced thinkers" on this subjee
approve the latter method but man!
of them believe that the other Nigh
often be fairly employed.
Because of the governors attitude
this feature of the bill will be strick
en- out and the board will be left free
to determine valuations by any meth
cd it likes. II may go at the subjee
scientifically or 1t may go out AM
take drink and then come back ant
make '''~- some county audi
! tors Go.
This change In the original bill
may not be important, to your wa.
Of thinking. but there's another sug
gested, and likely to be made, Il
which you may take deeper inter
est. It relates to the terms OF III,
members of the board. The bill a
drawn provides for board of thre'
TO be appointed by the governor 70
terms of two years each Thi
would bring the appointment or re
moYal of the whole board withil
every gubernat0rial term.