Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-06-21
LOWER TAXES IN 8
Increase in Personality Dupli-
cate Means Lower Rate of
Taxation Next Year
Personal VALUATION RAISED
Increases Give Promise Of the Addl-
tion Of Several Hundred Million
Dollars to the State Tax Du-
pllcate-Figures Not Yet
Complete.

Complete.
mbus.-Enormous increases in
the valuation of personal property re-
turned this year for taxation give
promise of the addition of several hun
dred million dollars to the state tax
duplicate and promise possibilities of
further reduction In the tax rates of
the state. The state tax commissions
figures on assessments are still far
from complete, but there Is not
county that has been heard from
where there has not been an increase
In valuation.
Under the Smith act no more money
can be raised for carrying on govern
ment than was raised in 1910, except
that growing municipalities are allow
ed three per cent increases. This be-
ing true, every dollars worth addition
means lower rates for property now
on the duplicate.
There are probabilities that in
creases will be made on incorporated
companies, though they were supposed
to have been rated fairly high last
year. In two directions there is room
for expecting additional returns.
When the tax commission established
the precedent last week by fixing the
valuation for taxation on the earning
power for the patentee 1t paved the
way for the addition of many millions
to helduplicate of the state. The pos
sibilities of the situation are only
family outlined when 1t is recalled
that one concern was raised from
$270,000 to more than s1.00O,0OO.
The state tax commission has asked
an opinion from Attorney General Ho-
gan on the question of iron ore. The
commission has found several million
dollars Of ores owned by great corpo-
rations stacked up at points along the
lake. Some of it has been there for q
number of years and is believed to be
held against possible shortage
through strike in the ore fields. The
owners say it is in transit, and the at
torney general will be asked to say
whether they are right.
Increases in the tax duplicates may
be counted on from another source If
indications are borne out in the valua-
tions to be placed on public service
corporations and railroads. The com
mission will announce no tentative
figure this year, but 1t is finishing
work on railroads, and additions are
said to be in sight. A great part OF
these flow from increased earnings,
but the larger part are due to natural
increase and extensive betterments
made on number of Ohio roads dur
ing the year.
This years figures on individual per,
sonal property returns convince the
commission that honest effort to list
property will be successful. Conse.
quently special attention has been
made to prodding up derelict officials
Where officials have gone ahead with
their task with determination to sue
ceed the figures speak for themselves
No better instances could be cited
than Cleveland and Cincinnati. Cleve
lands personal duplicate, as shown by
assessors returns, jumped from SIS,
100000 to $25,OOO,0OO. while records
truly remarkable were made by vii
lagos in Cuyahoga county. The in
creases were from 40 to 100 per cent
In Cincinnati nearly double the du
plicate of last year is expected in 1912
and 1t may make possible slight re
duct:cn in the tax rate if expenses are
held down. In nearly every instance
where big increases are reported Off
cials have said they tried to follow ou
the state tax commissions instruc
tions to the letter. and quite generally
the taxpayers found no fault.
With the exception of few of the
smaller rural counties there is scarce
ly one which does not show an increase
of at least $1,O00,000. The average fol
the entire state is expected to be close
to $S,0GC,000. Washington county, o.
average size, adds an even million
Huron county adds three-fourths al
much, although 1t is a much smallel
county. Seneca adds as much, and II
contrast little Trumbull county addet
$4,000,000, and the officials are still un
satisfied Lorain county added $4,000,
900.
Sunday Excursions viii Be Resumed
The New York Central lines, Nicke
Plate, Baltimore & Ohio, Hooking Val
sey, Norfolk & Western, Toledo &
Ohio Central and Cincinnati Hamilton
& Dayton railroads have assured Al
torney General Hogan that 1t is thei
purpose to resume excursion susines
at once. The officials of The LAX
Shore have announced 1-cent a mil
fare for single day excursions.
More Money Is Needed.
The next legislature will have to ar
propriate sum of money to cover tb
expense of the work of Ohios fourt
constitutional convention, In excess G
the 5000 900 which was originally mr.