The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-07-24

some or the OhlO cities. III private
concern we're compelled TO pay every
year on its debt a sum approaching 80
per cent OF It's income, IL would not
long remain out Of the hands of a re-
ceiver, and yet, official statistics dis
close this deplorable condition in
many places. The following munich
palities are paying yearly in interest
and sinking fund charges, the percent.
ages of their gross tax revenue, as In.
dicated
Per Ct
Columbus, Franklin county ......... 80
Toledo. Lucas county ............, 81
Dayton, Montgomery county ...... 4s
Akron, Summit county ........ ~
Newark. Licking county ........... 81
Norwood, Hamilton county ....... IS
Alliance, Stark county ........... 40
Findlay, Hancock county .......... A
Massillon, Stark county ........ A
Piqua, Miami county ............ Al
lronton, Lawrence county ......... AZ
THIN, Seneca county ............. 4s
Fremont, Sandusky county .... 40
Fosto1ia, Seneca county ............. A
BarDerton, Summit county ........ so
Delaware, Delaware county .... 4s
salem, Columbiana county ........ Al
Niles. Trumbull county ........... 50
Benefontaine. Logan county ...... 60
Norwalk, Huron county ........... 4G
Wellsville Columbiana county .... 48
Defiance, Defiance county ..... So
Washington C. H., Fayette county,. 40
Welston, Jackson county .......... 43
Ashland, Ashland county ...... Sc
Sidney, Shelby county .......... e1
Wooster. Wayne county ...,.... SO
Nelsonville. Athens county ........ so
Troy, Miami county ................. AZ
St. Marys, Auglaize county ... 81
Athens, Athens county ........ 65
Wapakoneta, Auglaize county ... II
Ravenna, Portage county .......... 81
Bowling Green, Wood county . Al
Delphos, Allen county ......... 81
st. Bernard, Hamilton county ..... so
Only those cities carrying 40 per
cent or more are shown. No matter
to what length the principle of home
rule for cities may be adopted, GER
tainly the state is concerned in the
solvency and financial good faith Of
municipalities, so that there is reason
for much felicitation that through the
sovereign power of the state, tax
law has been devised that averts
financial chaos In many of our cities.
1t Is not denied that in a number Of
| instances municipalities have permit
ted suits to be brought by creditors
ami judgments to be given by the
courts. This results in tax rate in
excess Of the prescribed 10 mill linn
itation. Some contend, and doubtless
with ample propriety, that in many in
stances the municipal expense is due
In part to extravaganza and caprice
Why Reduction Is Possible.
A reduction in the state tax rate is
rendered possible this year because
we have an intelligent and efficient tax
listing system. Courageous perform
ance of duty by the listing officers
a thing unknown under the elective
system-has resulted in hundreds of
millions of dollars in personal prop
erty going on the duplicate this year
| for the first time. That every dag
nosis of the past was sound, Is demon
strated by the vastly greater increase
in personal property in the cities. In
Montgomery county the increase on
personal property in the townships Is
| II per cent In the city of Dayton it is
100 per cent
real estate is less than l per cent,
while stocks and bonds increased 10
per cent, credits 30.6 per cent and
money 1873 per cent.
In Allen county real estate inreased
IA per cent, credits 224 per cent, and
stocks and bonds 20S per cent.
In Licking county real estate in
creased 3.2 per cent, moneys 39.5 per
cent, credits 465 per cent, stocks and
bonds 276 per cent.
In Delaware county, real estate in
creased less than 1 per cent, moneys
32 per cent, credits 261s per cent,
/ stocks and bonds SO per cent.
In Portage county, real estate in
creased 1.9 per cent, moneys 24.7 per
cent, credits S.S per cent, stocks and
bonds S2SS,7 per cent.
In Cuyahoga county the personal
duplicate, exclusive of public utilities,
banks and incorporated companies,
increased GIL per cent.
The work Of listing property in the
state for taxation having been practi-
cally concluded, we should now dedi-
cate our efforts to the all-important
task of conveying to the people the
relief a beneficial system makes pos
sible. The state should take the lead
in the reduction Of the tax rate, de-
pending upon vigilant public opin-
ion to compel the same action in the
counties, municipalities and town
ships. With a duplicate showing an
| increase of approximately one billion
dollars, and with a substantial reduc-
tion in the state rate, then the rate
should be cut in every subdivision Of
Ohio. Honesty in the return of prop
erty for taxation should be rewarded
by like careful regard for prudent
expenditures by those in public sta
ton. That there is an awakened con-
science in the state on the subject of
taxation is undenied, and it should
not he chilled by policy of diSburse-