The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-01-03
SENDS MESSAGE
TO LEGISLATURE
Governor DGVOtes COnSId d,rablo
Space to Tax Question.
SUGGEST FURTHER REDUCTION

Expresses Great Faith In Present
Canal System and Suggests Method
For improvement Along Business
Lines--Asks Enactment OF Meas
ure to Prevent Continuance OF Cor
rupt Practices as Revealed In
Adams County Probe-Renews For
mer Re commentators.
Columbus, o.. Jan. z.r-Senators
and representatives This afternoon
listened to the reading Of Governor
Harm9n's message to the general as
sembly. Although q document OF
considerable length, II was given the
closest attention o. the members
present. 1t follows:
To the General Assembly:
Performing the duty supposed by
the constitution at every session. I
have the honor to submit the follow
ing Information and recommends
tions. The necessary limits OF a mes
sage would prevent an attempt to
deal with all the subjects which will
come Up for your action, even IL pro-
prlety did not confne me to those
which have come within the range OF
special study aud observation. leav-
ing to your own judgment and con
science those about which you are as
well informed as myself. and as do
termlned 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 be paid or the purposes
for which they are expended. II is
natural that taxes should be paid
grudglngly, or evaded by every poss.-
bie device as Just measure of self.
protection. pe
But when the government has been
established and IL conducted by the
people themselves. every citizen
ought to regard contributing to its
support as 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 Ia that those who
do and those who from their condi-
ticn or the nature of, their, property
have not equal means of evasion have
to pay more than their share OF the
public expense, 80 that discomfort
mars the cordial relations which
should exist between the people anc
their government.
The reasons for thls unnatural and
harmful condition should promptly
be found and removed. Perhaps.
even In moral aud enlightened
state. there viii always be some who
are mean and dishonest enough to
enjoy advantages and leave others to
pay for them, no matter how fair con
dit!ons may be. But II would be O
grave reflection not TO believe that
such men are rare and that the peo-
pie generally would look with friend
ly eyes on contributions asked to
maintain law and order, support edu-
catlol and promote the general con
venience and welfare by good roads
and otherwise. H proper conditions
are assured.
These are that the total amount
asked be reasonable. the public needs
and the general situation of tho tax
payers both considered; that this
amount be fairly HpDortioned so that
each citizen Ia to pay his share. ac-
ccrdlng 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 needfu AS
surance and tho way Is plain. The
certainty OF Increase In the valuation
OF real estate. 10 take effect In 1911.
led nee TO recommend nt the last SEES
sicn measures to protect the taxpay-
ers by forbIdding larger levies on
AhhiA lAbHNlAy tlit hOM NHuh
under the present valuation, The act
of May 10. 1910. did not so far
enough. General approval was there
fore, withheld. though the bill was al.
lowed to become law for the sake
OF other good Natures.
4 aow recommend changes In that
act providing that tho total amount
levied hereafter for all purposes In
any year shall not exceed the total
amount levied In 1909. Tho yearly
percentages OF increase permitted by
that act believe to be unnecessary,
The people who support the govern.
ment have to economIze. Why should
their public servants not do the
same? There VIII be no such In.
creasss In the publio needs during
the next four years. In my opinion,
and. II there should be. general re
trenchment IN present expenditures
is an ample resource to sneet them.
x,.M M araatn. Iuauatrx. Ia, ,,o,.