The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-03-10

COuBl ebS uui iu6 Lne Speclal session,
Dut 1t 1t should appear a reapportion.
ment bill is not to be enacted Ohio
Legislators ale likeiy to Iedlstrict the
staIe under the 1900 ratio of repre-
sentation.
The proposition to do away with
the expensive machinery necessary to
De put in opel alton under existing
statutes to get property ON the tax
duplicate-the multiplicity of assess
ois, boards, more boards and wheels
within wheels-by having the state
tax commission appoint a deputy tax
commissioner for each county, to see
10 1t that personal property is put
on, is taking well with the members
of the legislature and with the peo-
pie generally. The record made by
the tax commission in dealing with
corporations and others the laws with
relation to whom the commission ad-
ministers, has made it the logical
commission in which to lodge this
authority. Governor Harmon favors
this plan. 1t is necessary that assess
ors be appointed instead of elected.
All taxing officials in every section of
the state, basing their judgment on
experience, agree on that point. The
change must be made effective before
the next assessment of personal prop
erty is made. Appointive authority
lodged in county boards would make
of such officers county officers. Such
officers must be elected. They could
not be elected till 1912 and could not
take Office till 1918. Meanwhile the
10 tax rate would be on trial, with
out having effective machinery to get
the hidden wealth out from under cov-
er in operation. Appointment by the
tax commission makes of these offic-
ers state officers and makes it possi-
BILE to put them to work Immediately
after the bill is passed and signed by
the governor. This point has been
made by Representative Edwards, of
Cleveland, author of the bill, and is
being recognized by his colleagues. A
commission like the present tax COM
mission, with it's record of honesty
and efficiency, would put such a law
in operation in manner that would
drive the tax dodgers out in the op-
EN- and relieve farm property and 9TH
Ell visible property of the burden it is
obliged to assume under present laws.
The Senate committee on prison
and prison reforms, of which Senator
Frazier of Richland is chairman, has
acted favorably ON bill by Senator
Shaffer providing for the building of
a women's reformatory. In the agi-
tation for improving the methods of
dealing with men and boy derelicts,
those of the opposite sex, deprived of
their liberty, have been neglected.
The Shaffer bill will undoubtedly pass
and then women and girls, when TAX
ell in custody will face conditions
which will have a wholesome instead
of baneful influence.
o.
The senate finance committee has
approved Senator Dore's bill, which
provides that realty of manufacturing
and other corporations used in their
business shall be listed as real es-
tate and not at, personal property for
purposes of taxation, In the past cor
porations have escaped taxation on
much of this property, and the Dore
bill will close up All avenue of escape
to tax dodgers. The feasibility of the
10 tax rate bill depends largely on
the ability of assessors to get person
al property on the tax duplicate. If
the legislature enacts all tax bills on,
the administration program, the 10
tax rate measure will be success,
for ample means will be provided TO
get all personal property.
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