The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-23
From State House
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Columbus, o.. Nov. 23.-Stusents
OF political affairs assert that they see
an attack has been made by state
Auditor Fullington and other Republi
can leaders on the State Tax Commits
sion, on the competitive bidding plan
for awarding deposits of state money
and on the state highway depart
ment. The attack upon the three was
concealed behind statement charging
the state administration with extrava- :
gance I'm increasing salaries I'm these
three departments and a few others.
IL viii not be an open fight against
the three departments, but bush
whacking affair with the salary in
creases as a weapon.
The increases were made to take
care of additional work brought on
by reorganizations in the different de-
partments. In each instance there
was strong demand for the changes
In policies which were regarded as re-
forms.
The opening volley was in the form
OF statement by Fullngton setting
forth list of salary increases in all
the old departments of the state. The
state Tax Commission, created I'm
1910, necessarily comes in the list.
The attack by Fulllngton on this COM
mission was to be expected. for that
body is compelling the corporatinos
to pay their taxes. No longer will
1t be possible for Republican leaders
to permit these corporations to dodge
their taxes in exchange for big cam
paign contributions The State Board
of Tax IL R0u1iGQfnn nf "a
ton, ex-offcio, was member, for
merly had authority to remit taxes
upon these concerns, and thus the
corporations were put under obliga-
tions to members of the body. The
people will not permit Burlington or
any one else to destroy the State Tax
Commission, body that has lowered
the taxes of farmers and home owners
over $7,000,000 per year, and has i'm
creased tho revenue of the state from
special corporation taxes many thou
sands of dollars annually.
1t also is easy to see the cause for
the attack on the competitive biddlng
plan for awarding state money. For
years Republican state treasurers
loaned the funds to banks and pocket
ed all the interest earnings. The old
plan was full Of graft and corrup-
ition. State Treasurer Creamer, who
took the lead in the movement for
the competitive bidding plan, has
merely rearranged his office work to
take care of the additional work re-
quired to make awards under the new
system, and now Fullington and
others are attempting to use that as
club to destroy the only honest plan
for depositing money.
The attack on the reorganization
of the highway department was a dl-
rect slap at good roads enthusiasts,
who worked for years I'm vain when
Republicans were I'm control, to OBJ
tain such rearrangement of the
Highway department that the work
of improving the wretched roads OF
the state could be carried on more
iexpeditiously. and with a higher de-
gree of efficiency. Good roads enthusi
asts will not stand for any inter-
ference with that department. and
Fullington will learn 1t to his sor-
row.
The people will readily see into this
plan of Fulllngton and other Re-
publlcans to destroy some of the big
reforms by holding up to public view
few inconsequentlal salary in
creases. In each instance the new
clerks that have been employed in the
departments have assisted in bring
ing in new revenues from 100 to 500
times greater than the amount of sal
AIRY increases.
In two state departments alone, the
state board of public works, and the
state board of health, many positions
were abolished, and the saving Is far
in excess of the total increases in all
state departments, which has been
made to raise the work in them to
higher degree of efficiency. In stats
Treasurer Creamer's office the in
crease in revenue under the competi-
tive bidding plan exceeds the total
salary increases in all departments.
That certainly is good business. The
people like that kind of work.
The State Tax Commission has