Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-29
Lower TAXATION KEYNOTE Of
GOVERNOR HARMON'S RECORD
REDUCTION OF 1896 MADE IN FAVOR OF OHIO FARMERS AND HOME
OWNERS CORPORATE PROPERTY HOLDERS MADE TO CARRY THEIR
SHARE OF TAX BURDEN BY SHIFTING PART OF TAXATION FROM ND
VDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS

Columbus, O., December 2S.-ohio
farmers and home owners are now
paying $73S5,S13.5O less taxes each
year, while there has been shifting
of several million dollars in assess
ments from individual property own
ers to the corporate property holders.
These reforms were brought about by
a complete revision of Ohio tax laws.
which was done as a direct result of
recommendations and persistent eff
forts by Governor Judson Harmon.
The taxable values of all Ohio prop
erty belonging to public service cor
porations have, in the present year,
been increased one billion dollars.
These ere the potent figures, which
Gov Harmon has to refute the charge
that he Stands pre-eminently as the
candidate of the corporate interests"
The answer to the fling that he is
a railroad lawyer of the Morgan group
is found in the fact that the Morgan
railroads in Ohio will pay taxes upon
about $150,000,00O more property than
ever before. The appraisement of all
Ohio railroads for taxation has been
increased from $166, ,599 to $780,
100000. This is an increase of $413.-
-
53O,401 to railroad properties alone,
something that would not be expected
from man with a desire to serve
railroads stronger than his purpose to
serve the people By taking into con-
sideration the fact that the 1911 vel
uation of the Pennsylvania system
alone is $1S,469,441 In excess of the to-
tai appraisement for q alton of all
Ohio railroads in 1910, one can as
certain how inadequate was the tax
values placed on these properties here
tofore.
To answer the charge that their
candidate is the representative of big
business, Harmon lieutenants can go
to the grand tax duplicate of Ohio and
obtain figures showing that the proper
ty of the so-called big business" in
terests, other than public service cor
porations, have been increased one
billion dollars. All these charges
were hurled at Gov Harmon in the
1910 Ohio campaign, but he answered
all of them, and the people Of Ohio
indicated they did not believe a sim
gle one of the charges by giving him
a 101 900 majority vote.
To get into line those skeptics who
assert that Gov. Harmon is not pro-
gressiye enough to suit them, the
Ohio executive has a list of bills en-
acted at the 1911 session of the Ohio
Legislature. that for progressiveness,
are the equal of any Legislative pro-
gram to the credit of any governor in
the United States. There were enacted
bill providing for the Oregon plan of
nominating and electing United States
senators by direct vote of the people;
providing for the election of all Ohio
judges and candidates to the 1912 Ohio
constitutional convention on non-par-
tisan ballots; a strong corrupt prac-
tices act that will make vote buying
in primaries and elections a danger
Gus undertaking Qt also provides for
publication OF primary campaign ex-
penses before election and of election
expenses otter the election; gener-
al reform Of Ohio election laws to pre-
vent corruption and fraud; ratification
of the proposed income tax amend
ment to the federal constitution;
public utilities bill more far-reachfng
and more efficient than the New YorE
act championed by Gov. Hughes; a
workingmen's compensation act that Is
said to be of more benefit to working
men than any similar act in the coun-
try; a limited initiative and referen-
dunn for cities; a reorganization OF
the managing boards of state institu-
tions. so that the business of caring
for the states unfortunates was taxi
en- out of politics; the plan of depos-
iting public moneys under the COM
petitive bidding plan; shorter bali
lot. by abolishing 256 offices and trans
ferring these duties to other officials;
a nine-hour work day for employed
women; a low tax rate law and
back to the farm measure that pro-
vides for the teaching Of agriculture Ia
all Ohio country schools.