The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-07

ing officials to see that honest valua-
tions are returned throughout the
state.
Tax Reform.
The real estate of the whole state
was equallzed by this board at a cost
VI $46f. For 80 years you had elected
q man from every senatorial district
every ~ years as state board Of
and IT. cost the state for
this same service in 1900 upwards Of
100000; more than all the expense
Of this board In nearly 20 months OF
Its work. More than that, the values
as between counties and other taxing
districts are now really equalized.
They never have been before. though
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars have
been spent in an alleged effort to do
30. An instance or two further of this
tax reform.
Foreign corporations doing business
lh this state increased II in number
and paid S32.Ss7 more taxes in 1910
than IN 1909; increased go In number
and paid S33,6Sl more taxes in 1911
than in 1910, and paid a total in the
three years Of nearly $750.0O0. Ohio
corporations paid as fees upon their
stock issue alone In 1910. $1.215,599:
in 1911. ss2.ss0.oO0. an increase Of
nearly 31,1S5,000.
Public utilities. that IL railroads.
steam and electric. electric light. gas,
water heating. steamship, dock, oil
pipe line and such companies are re-
quired to pay a percentage upon their
annual receipts. This was formerly 1
per cent, but was increased in 1909
SO that 1000 Of them In that year paid
Into the state treasury nearly $2,116,.
900: In 1910, 1.102 paid nearly 1885,.
900. and in 1911. 1874 paid nearly
$c,Ss3,0 900.
This commission has ruled and en-.
forced the rule that a company must
pay the fee on Its outstanding stock
even though its property is eased to
and operated by another company
which pays the fee on its own stock
outstanding; both owning their right
to exist to- the state and each having
income from the property which 1t
owns or which II operates.
The public utilities corporations Of
the state under the old system In
vogue before the tax commission was
In operation were valued, all told. at
only a little more than $263. 900 900
The commission in 1911 raised that
valuation to nearly $3.50 900, or
more than 355 per cent. The steam
railroads Of the state In 1910 paid
taxes on nearly $167, 100000.
The small home owner. the man OF
modest competence. the farmer, has
carried an unfair load for nearly q
generation because the Republican
taxing ofncials have been too busy
trying to keep their hold on the Of.
Aess Of the state. The rule formerly
was SHIELD and favor" It u now
uncover and No partialty." To put
It 10 all may gst the eoss Of this tax
reform. Il ID enough - say that g..
100000 are now paid By corporations
Of the state, instead Of the owners Of
modest homes and The Hllers Of the
sod.
Agriculture and Schools.
Agriculture, under provision Of law,
Is now taught In the district schools
Of our state. The actual results in
soil cultivation attained by the best
trained minds are now brought home
to the youth Of the state. 50 that tho.
ory, practice and the experimentation
20 hand In hand In direct application
under competent instruction.
Your state school commissioner has
inaugurated q system Of district in.
spection over this instruction through.
out the state and the work has taken
hold with astounding interest. Re-
suits beyond the widest expectations
are indicated.
A nonpartisan Judiciary ballot has
been provided.
The hours of labor for female EN-
ploycs have been reduced.
The election OF United States sena'
tom by direct vote of the people de-
clared for.
Ohio's vote has been registered In
favor OF the income tax amendment
to the constitution Of the United
States.
The platform promises 6f the Re.
publican party In this state have been
for years lest and q by-word. On
the contrary. the Democrats of this
state have treated their platform OF
1910 as contract and covenant with
the people, the people at the polls ap
proved 1t and the Democratic party
through its state officials and leglsla
ture more than fulfilled the obligation
Other Things Need Attention.
There are other fields not ye,
touched that need tho same broad
high.minded attention as those re
cited In the list of Democratic accom-
plishments. 1. Tho task Of modern
highways. 2. The problem of the
states waterways and reservoirs. 3
The soil drainage of the millions oi
aCroa Of farm landa In thia atata ns