The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-06-28

palling. And so II goes all down the
line of personal property.
But "A rather surprising thing is
the cheap furniture with which Ma
rion homes are adorned. People oc-
cupying magnificent homes of eight,
ten and twelve rooms, i'm the choicest
locations. doing a great amount of
entertaining and generally supposed
to have the interior of their homes
furnished in keeping with the cx-
terror, are surely putting up mighty
good bun. At least numbered OF
these homes do not contain more than
StOO worth of furnture--thc tax re-
turns say SO. And the owners mako
the tax returns under oath. Its a sad
condition.
Values and Insurance.
Nor Is the condition alone found In
the homes Much other property is
returned for taxation at less than ouc-
third the amount of insurance car
rlcd on it. For instance. n man
swears on his tax return that his
property is valued at $1,000. but the
same man Is probably carrying $t7-
600 to 100000 of insurance on that
so-callcd $4,000 property
Looks like the insurance companies
are taking a long chance, but pos
siby the value of the property had
Increased in some magical manner
when the insurance was issued. Yet
the owner has sworn to II and It
must be accepted or investigated by
the board of review The latter is
being done.
So much for the FLASH" that GER
tain taxpayers are making Here's
the situation. The books of the board
Of review are open. Anyone having
the slightest curiosity may go to the
books and learn how much his neigh
Dor has returned for taxation
The returns are frightfully low.
Take pianos for Instance. They we're
returned for $50 last year and SO
tax was paid. But at the same valua-
ton this year the tax will be but so
cents. The same is true all down tho
line The result Is that there will be
big dchct and II is up to the board
get the duplicate up to n point where
there will be enough money raised to
pay expenses.
Taxing Bodies are "N'sc."
Tho board of review know. that
these values are too low; 1t knows
that man living In a $500 or $10.-
900 home has more than 500 worth
of furniture; it knows that an auto
mobile that cost $2,5OO or $4,000 last
year Is worth more than $500 this
year; II knows that the man sport
ing q magnificent diamond shirt stud
aud ring. and whose wife has doz-
en- or more costly ornaments, Is dodg-
| ing taxation when he doesn't return
these articles The board knows that
the man who returns his property as
worth $1,000 and has 1t insured for
| $4,000. has gotten tangled I'm his
| calculations and that he neglected to
make this return balance like the box
score of a ball game.
! Aud knowing these things, the
board has the power TO order tax
] PAYERS before It for Investigation In
case of an absolute refusal there Is
a method provided which involves
contempt of court proceedings. If the
individual Is not reasonable and re-
fuses to put reasonable value on
his personal property, the board may
fix the value at its own discretion,
Injustice to Fair Men.
That Is what will be done. Several
gentlemen have come voluntarily and
increased their rcturns, after think
ing over the injustice worked on the
man in moderate circumstances, who
makes fair and honest return. The
returns show what It is the shop man
and the worker who comes nearest
making the proper return.
Hundreds of taxpayers will be ask
ed to appear before the board and
explain why certain property they
are known to own Is not returned al
a fair valuation The money simply
MUST be raised and no fayoritism Is
TO be shown.
II "A shop man is compelled to "laS
orr half day to go before the board