The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-01-02
ASKS FURTHER
TAX REDUCTION
Governor, In Message, Says
Ten Mills Enough.
FAYORS CANAL SYSTEM

1 ATUNC OAlNAL OA LIN
Declares II lie States Greatest Single
Asset and Should Be Made Self
Sustaining Under Single Executive
Head - Renews Recommendation
For Beard Of Control For All State
lnstitutions-Wants Corrupt Prac-
tees Act Placed On Statute Books.
Columbus, o., Jan. 2.-Governor
IIarmon's message to the general as
sembly was read in beth branches Of
the legislature this afternoon. The
message was of considerable length,
but its reading was accorded the
closest attention by the members Of
the senate and house. The message
follows
To the General Assembly:
Performing the duty imposed by
the constitution at every session, |
have the honor to submit the follow
ing Information and recommends
tions. The necessary limits of mes.
sage would prevent an attempt to
deal with all the subjects which will
come Up for your action, even If pro-
priety did not confine me to those
which have come within the range Of
special study and observation, leav-
ing to your cwn judgment and CON
science those about which you are as
well informed as myself, and as de-
termined TO keep faith with the peo-
pie.
Taxation.
AS every government has to be
supported entirely by taxes, the rela.
tion between the authority which de-
mands and the citizens who pay fig
ures largely in dealing with taxation.
When the government is not founded
on the consent of the governed and
these have no voice in fixing the
amounts TO he paid or the purposes
for which they are expended, 1t Is
natural that taxes should be paid
grudgingIy. or evaded by every posi-
BILE device as a just measure Of self
protection.
But when the government has been
established and is conducted by the
people themselves, every citizen
ought to regard contributing to its
support as a patriotic duty the shirk-
ing Of which involves disgrace. Yet
many who would resent being called
disloyal do not appear to hold this
view. At any rate, they do not act
on It. The result is that those who
do and those who from their condi-
tion or the nature of their property
have not equal means Of evasion have
to pay more than their share of the
public expense, so that discomfort
mars the cordial relations which
should exist between the people and
their government
The reasons for this unnatural and
harmful condition should promptly
be found and removed. Perhaps,
even in moral and enlightened
state, there will always be some who
are mean and dishonest enough to
enjoy advantages and leave others to
pay for them, no matter how fair con-
ditions may be. But 1t would be a
grave reflection not to believe that
such men are rare and that the peo-
pie generally would lock with friend
ly eyes on contributions asked to
maintain law and order, support edu-
cation and promote the general con
venience and welfare by good roads
and otherwise, if proper conditions
are assured.
These are that the total amount
asked be reasonable, the public needs
and the general situation of the tax
payers both considered; that this
amount be fairly spportioned SO that
each citizen is to pay his share, ac-
cordng to his possessions, and no
more; and that the money when paid
is TO be honestly and capably handled
so as to accomplish the purposes in
view without loss or waste.
II Is for us to give this needful as.
surance and the way is plain. The
certainty of increase in the valuation
of real estate, to take effect in 1911,
led me to recommend at the last ses-
sicn measures to protect the taxpay-
ers by forbidding larger leyies on
their property under the new than
under the present valuation. The act
of May 10, 1910, did not go far
enough. General approval was there.
fore withheld, though the bill was al
lowed to become law for the sake
OF other good features.
! low recommend changes in that
act providing that the total amount
levied hereafter for all purposes in
any year shall not exceed the total
amount levied in 1909. The yearly
percentages of increase permitted by
that act | believe to be unnecessary.
The people who support the govern
ment have to economlze Why should
their public servants not do the
same? There will be no such in
creases in the public needs during