The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-30

10 some other source. How can they
claim the one and escape the other2
For almost 20 years the Republi-
cans have had control Of the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial branches
Of our state government except for
the few months that Governor Patti.
son served and the present admins
tration Of Governor Harmon. and for
so years have had control of the ex.
ecutive and legislative Offices since
the war, except for a period Of about
10 years.
Taxation.
During all this time the constitu-
tlon and laws have required a return
Of all property at It's true value. The
state officials, particularly the state
auditors, have encouraged Irregular.
ties by lax administration until very
little property. unless by accident,
has been returned at its true value
The burdens have been unequal
They have weighed most heavily
upon the farmers and the small
home-owners.
At the second session Of the legis-
lature in 1910, under the force of
public opinion, some relief was grant
ed Tax bills we're introduced by a
Democratic member, as well as by a
Republican member. The law pro-
viding for a tax commission was
passed May 10, 1910. 1t embodied
some Of the suggestions of Governor
Harmon, but not all Of them. A tax
commission was appointed under this
law, and though 1t has only been in
existence for a comparatively few
weeks, it has already added TO the
tax valuation of some of the public
service corporations millions of dol
lars, and they will now be compelled
to pay some of the taxes which they
have heretofore escaped by reason Of
the laxness of Republican state Of
ficials.
The tax rate throughout the state
has varied in the several localities
from l per cent to Z per cent. Gov
ernor Harmon demanded that a max
imum rate of 10 mills should be pro-
vided for. A law has been passed
limiting the rate to Is mills unless in
creased by special vote of the peo-
pie, and both parties have pledged
themselves to limit this rate by fu-
ture legislation to 10 mills.
Funds of the State.
Under Republican administrations
state treasurers, without any author
ity of law, placed the public funds
in private banks when they should
have been in the state treasury. AT
ter the depository law was enacted,
the state treasurer continued to give
out his money to favored banks at
less rates of interest than they were
paying to private depositors In 1908
this money was distributed among
148 banks. No books of account |
we're kept in the treasury showing
where this money was deposited, or
in what amounts, and the treasurer
depended wholly upon the certificates !
of deposit, letters and loose written |
memoranda for his records. They |
refused even to let this money out at |
competitive bidding until a Demo
cratic treasurer Mr., Creamer, volun. |
tarily called for bids. AS a result |
he now receives on active accounts |
from 2.5 per cent to 2.55 per cent in |
terest, where his predecessor receiv- |
ed only 1.5 per cent interest; and on |
inactive accounts he now receives at
the rate of 81 to Al per cent, where |
his predecessor received only rs per |
cent, and yet when the governor |
asked the Republican general assem-
bly, TO provide that competitive bid
ding for the states funds should be |
compulsory, his recommendation was
ignored.
During the year 1909, with an aver
age daily balance of 97,5S4.11 less
than 1t was during the fiscal year
1908, the state has realized $2O,284.S6 |
more interest than it did during the
year 1908.
Suits are now pending under the
direction of the governor to collect
pOGO,OUO luIGlG0I ICCGlNSu Ou publ4C |
funds by former treasurers, and not
accounted for to the state. IL is an
old principle Of law that the trustee
can not personally benefit by his
trust, and it is confidently expected
that the recipients of these large
sums will be compelled to disgorge.
Really Something New.
Great frauds have been discovered
in the department of public printing,
and at least one offender is now pay
ing the penalty in the penitentiary.
The board of public works seems
to be honeycombed with extrava.
gance, If with nothing worse, and we
are confident that the searchllght of
truth will show more in this behalf
than the public is aware.
And vet Mr.. Harding says the