The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-10-13

A5hiuS new department. All IuO Cdt
service bureaus of the state are now
out of business, the managers only
keeping up the organization until such
time as pending cases may be settled.
Long Step Towards Reform.
With the determine
ton of the tax commission to make
separate appraisement or investiga-
tion of real estate values in the vari-
GUS counties throughout the state,
feel it has done it's best work up to
date" said William B. Poland, chair
man of the tax commission of Ohio.
I'm other states, notably those most
advanced in taxation matters, it was
quickly seen that central state board
of equalization, be it elective or ap-
pointive, could not, from cold alb
stract of figures placed before it, de-
termine intelligently what was the
relative value between one county and
another. They then devised the
method Of sending trained men into
each county to gather list of prop
erty sold within a stated period and
the prices obtained.
'It was further found that the law
of averages obtained in regard to real
estate values, just as it does in the
mortality table of life insurance COM
pany. In other words, given num-
Der of representative transfers of real
estate, with the true prices at which
they sold, the trained statistician can
arrive at a result of district values for
the purpose of assessment, just as the
actuary of a life insurance company
fixes the rate of insurance from the
mortality tables gathered.
"The public is no doubt aware that
heretofore every ten years represen-
tative was chosen from every state
senatorial district to represent his peo-
pie on the state board of equalization.
He came to Columbus with the strong
conviction that his constituents should
not bear any more of the burden of
taxation than now imposed, and less
If he could put it elsewhere, with the
result that fair equalization was lost
sight of and combinations and deals
galore were made.
Realizing the great responsibility
placed upon it in being required to
equalize the various taxing districts of
the state, the tax commission, after
careful investigation, has concluded to
adopt, as far as practicable, the
methods used in Wisconsin and Min.
nesota. In Wisconsin this system has
been used with increasing satisfaction
for ten years, and the tax commission
of Ohio is preparing to make an intel
ligent application of this experience.
Time permfttns:. we hope to go
into every county in the state and Sc
cure sufficient data to make an intelli'
gent and just equalization, not only
between counties, but between taxing
districts"
Harmon Appoints Judge.
Governor Harmon appointed Harry
L. Ferneding of Dayton circuit judge
of the circuit which includes Franklin
county, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Judge Sullivan. Ferned
ing is the Democratic nominee for the
full term. He will serve until sue
cessor to Judge Sullivan is elected in
November. Judge E. B. Dillon has
been nominated by the Republicans
for the full term. If he is nominated
for the partial term, from November
to February, and elected, he will have
to resign his place on the Franklin
county common pleas bench. In thai
case Governor Harmon, whether re
elected or not, would have the ap
pointment of Democrat to the com
mon pleas court.
Decrease Growing Less.
Columbus bank clearings, which fol
August showed big loss over the cor
responding month of last year, show
quite a gain for September over the
preceding month, and while not up to
those of September, 1909, make a
much better showing than did the pre-
ceding month. For the month Toledo
shows a gain of about 100000; Gin
cinnati loss of $2,OO0,OOO, despite
the fact that the Ohio Valley exposi
tion continued over most of the
month; Cleveland had gain of So,
100000; Dayton gained about 100000
Moving Picture Men Organize.
Permanent organization was eff
fected at meeting of the Exhibitors
league held here. 1t will take steps
Immediately to bring into the fold all
the picture exhibitors in Ohio. One
reason for organization is the need
picture men feel of combination
against the powerful film exchange
combinations. Another reason is the
insurance question. Exhibitors be
lieve they are being robbed under
present insurance premiums and want
to take some action to assure them
selves a square deal.
To Sell Fruit by Weight.
After November /. acting under res
olution adopted by the Retail Grocers
association, all members will sell by
weight fruits and vegetable9 and
everything else now sold by meas
ure. This action was taken as a
means of fighting the market man,
whom the grocers charge with film
fiamming the public by short measure.
Members of the association are con-
fldent that dealers not IL the associa.
tion will be compelled to sell by
weight when the public has been ed
ucated ur to buying by tha. method.