The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-06-24

Nominated For Lieutenant Governor
state depository law was enacted much
, Of the public funds was put In favored
banks and interest paid and not ac'
counted for After its enactment the
money was placed on deposit In banks
In some OF which officials themselves
were stockholders, at IL per cent In
terest on active accounts and 2h per
cent on inactive accounts, while the
same banks were advertising for money
and Offering 20 pay other depostors
per cent, and all the time that this busl-
ness was being conducted In this way
the state treasurer was without proper
books OF account
Business Methods and Economy.
Under the leadership OF Governor Har-
mon, Democracy has insisted that the
business OF the state shall be conducted
on modern business methods; that tho
public affairs shall be economically ad'
mnistcrcd. In 1890 the total expenditures
OF the state amounted to S3,4S4, SOC. In
1900 they increased TO $4,9O4769. and in
1908 tho expenditures amounted TO the
appalling sum OF Ss,194,493. What benz
ents did our people receive from the
state during 1903 that they did not have
during the year 1890?
The total Indebtedness Increased in
1908 over the year 1907, S13,l56,l6S The
local indebtedness, and by that l mean
the Indebtedness OF counties, cities, In
corporated villages, townships and school
districts, in 1896 amounted to $4,000
212s6. In 1908 1t had increased TO $780,
1867 making a net Increase within IL
years OF 81, 110,44i14.
Is not Democracy justified in asking
why this vast increase in the amount OF
the state expenditures, and are we not
concerned to know the reasons for the
Increase OF the local Indebtedness, and
10 command that better business meth
obs and economy shall be introduced IN
every portion Of the public service? And
yet when our governor asks that the af-
fairs Of our public institutions shall be
pllced in charge OF a central board OF
trustees, who shall give their undivided
time and attention to the affairs of thosd
Institutions, his request is ignored for
the simple reason that 1t would enable
him TO reorganize them, and perhaps by
that m ans displace some Republican
oniceholders. l have no objection to
partisanship, but l protest against the
sacrifice Of the state to party advantage.
Reforms In Tax System.
Since the adoption OF the constitution
Of 1851 Ohio has had the so-called uni
form rule of taxation. It requires "all
moneys joint stock companies or other
wise, and also all real and personal prop
erty," to be taxed according to a uni-
form rule and at its true value In money.
At first blush 1t may seem right In the
ory In practice It is anything but just
or uniform. 1t is bad IN its conception;
II has been worse in It's administration.
Under II we have had high taxation and
low taxation, double taxation and no
taxation. Real estate is open to public
view and none Of It escapes. Much OF
the tangible personal property is con-
ceaed IN factores and stores, and most
Of it escapes. For years the state au-
dilor, in violation Of the constitution and
laws of Ohio, instructed county aus
fitors, and they in turn instructed the
assessors and decennial appraisers, 70
make their returns at not exceeding GO
per cent Of the true value thereof The
result IS an utter disregard Of all law, ct
all uniformity, and has led to the gross
est inequalities.
In 1870 the entire return OF the state
for taxation of moneys, credits and in
Vestments in bonds amounted to $780,
273, $50; in 1908 they amRJnted to Sl4o,-
4975S2, an increase Of u7ly $4,223, 1922,
when every observing man knows that
during these years this class Of property
has doubled, if 1t has not trebled or
quadrupled
In 1870 the merchants Of the state rec
turned for taxation stocks valued at
$50. .42o. .sO4; in 1908 their returns only