The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-12-26
The Achievement Is A Tri-
butte To The ThriftinesS
And Conscientious Efforts Of
Democratic Administration
To Perform Duties Entrusted
To 1t By The People

W., DeC. u6 uedlLuy
condition of affairs in the state capi-
tol can not be better set forth than
by referring to the enormous surplus
in the state treasury.
At the close of business Dec. is,
the total cash balance in the treasury
was $6,S06,371.92. This is within
few thousands of dollars of the big sur
plus, which was placed in the state
treasury during the administrations
of ex-Governors Herrick and Harris,
largely through the enforcement of
the $1,000 liquor license tax. Though
considerable money will be paid out
the first of the year, the states share
of the Dow taxes will come in then
and will likely set new high water
mark.
In 1909 and 1910, the first two years
of the administration of Democratic
governor and state treasurer, the ap-
propriations of the Republican legis-
latures for those years exceeded re-
ceipts more than million and half
dollars, and on July 26, 1911, the bal
ance in the state treasury was reduced
to only $2,971,11726.
A loss in liquor tax and abolishment
of convict labor contracts also helped
to lower the treasury balance.
The increase from that amount to
the enormous balance on Dec. Is this
year was brought about without the
aid of the liquor license tax, the ma
jority of the counties being dry, and
the settlement for the liquor tax in the
wet counties not coming until Dec.
25th this year. The achievement is a
: tribute to the thriftiness and conscien-
tious efforts of the Democratic state
administration to perform the legal
duties entrusted by the people to it.
The records fail to disclose a closer
collection of the excise tax than has
been made this year, when that duty
was performed by State Treasurer
Creamer. The total excise tax certi-
fed for collection was $4,000, ,324.32,
and of this amount only $4,000 re-
mains unpaid. When the RESPONSE
bility for making the collections of
corporation taxes was divided among
state officers, busy with other duties,
the delinquencies reached many thous-
ands of dollars each year.
Last Friday, being the last day for
the paying of the excise tax, the re-
ceipts aggregated $1,059, 1921 2.16-prob-
ably the largest single days receipts in
the history of the state.
Before the present administration,
former State Auditor Guilbert made
these collections and the money was
first paid into the Capitol Trust Bank,
which was owned by Mr.. Guilbert
While there the funds earned no inter
est for the state. Subsequently Mr.
Guilbert would draw a check on his ac
count at the bank in favor of the state
treasurer, thus transferring the states
money from his own bank to the state
treasurer. 1t took from one to eight
months during the Guilbert administra-
ton for this tax money to reach the
state treasury. Now the money is di-
rectly paid into the state treasury
: A few hours after the balance for
Dec. 18th, 1911, had been announced,
the state depository board met, Sc
lected several banks as repositories,
and the same day they were notified
of such action and arrangements were
made to place portions of the treasury
surplus in them where the money will
earn interest for the commonwealth.
Taxpaying time has arrived, and
farmers and home owners are wonder
ing what makes their 1911 taxes so
much lower.
The Smith one per cent tax limit
law, which Governor Harmon obtained,
despite the opposition of fighting Re-
publican minority in the state legisla-
ture, Is the cause.
For years Republican legislators
ridiculed the governor and all Demo
Gratis who advocated the enactment Of
the low rate law. After it was passed,