The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-01-20
lin Which Some Assessors
Formerly Engaged
Of Taking Orders For Goods
While Assessing Property

rhe state tax commission has is
sued an order to the effect that while
deputy tax assessors are at their
work, they cannot under any circum
stances engage in any other occupa-
ton Under this ruling it will no
longer be possible for man to use
MS tax listing job as an instrument
10 enhance his private business af-
fairs. Violations of this new order
viii mean immediate discharge.
A farmer living outside of Crestline,
Crawford county, notified the commits
sion that in the past fruit tree ped
dlers, fertilizer agents and others en-
gagged in similar lines of work edged
their way into tax assessor jobs. n
The tax listing power, this party re-
cites, was quite powerful club in
the hands of these men and was used
in their fights for business. The at
tention of the commission was called
20 the fact that, in Crawford county.
an order for goods given to one of
these assessors acting in dual ca
Dacity usually brought a little leniency
in property valuation. The WarDes
gaged in the listing of property to
participate in other employment while
performing that task.
Contrary to what appears to be the
Nidespread opinion among property
JSpers in the rural sections, the tax
commission has informed inquirers
that there Is no sections, of the code
cXempting forest lands from taxation.
The constitution authorizes the gener.
al assembly to take such steps to pre-
serve natural resources. but that body
mas not responded. A bill was in
lroduced at the last session to eX-
snlpt forests up to twenty acres, but
Il did not get into the general code.
From Seneca county word has been
brought to the commission of rumor
tH3ing widely circulated there to the
effect that appointments as deputy tax
Ffrst. from the county executive and
enual committees and second, court
nDgise officials will control appoint
snents to the remainder or the places.
The commission branded that tale as
absolutely false and ridiculous. II
pointed out that all deputy tax as
SCISSORS have been placed under civil
service by Governor Cox and that
fnerit shown in an examination instead
~ politics, Is the qualification desired.
AT the present time the papers OF
4s applicants for deputy tax asses
ssrs who took the civil service exam.
-s1aion in the various county seats on
january 3, are being graded In Co
1rNbus under the direction of the
state civil service commission. The
t&r commission pointed out that, as
ia evidence OF the fairness and non.
pareisanshlp that is being exercised.
there are about as many Republicans
ras Democrats grading these papers.
Men engaged In this work are mostly
county auditors and the others have
anp3 experience In listing property,
Nothing appears on the papers be
ing graded TO designate names OF
the persons who wrote the answers,
30 that II is Impossible for the men
sAing the grading TO be of assistance
70 any OF the applicants. The names
OF ali the applicants who took the eK-
animation are In sealed envelopes In
: the hands OF the state civil service
commission and these will not be
opeaed until after all papers are
graded. A double numbering system
nss been adopted to make identinca'
rtion.