The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-17

most efficient organization, any part
Of which could be removed by the
first act Of neglect, the thing would
fall OF it's own weight. I assumed re-
sponsibility for the law. I assume re-
sponsibility for the results. Call this
organization what you will, machine
or otherwise, the one thing which in
the final analysis will interest the
public is what has the result been,
good or bad? Corrupt or clean? Eff
eient or otherwise2 II dtsreputable
places have not been put out of bust
ness, II gambling houses, barrel
houses and road houses have pot been
deprived of their licenses; II the laws
have not been enforced, then tho
blame must center upon me. | repeat
that it is the result, and not the
method. in which the people are ia
terested.
To Tighten Tax Burdens.
1.-THE same holds true on the sub
| feet of taxation. From the earliest
day of history public officials have
! hesitated to change taxation laws.
When assumed the oath of Office IN
| the statehouse knew what every
unprejudiced person in Ohio fully un'
derstood and that was that the sys-
tenn of listing property for taxation
was a plain travesty on human intelli-
gence. We first made careful inquiry,
not only into conditions in the state,
but OF the surveys which had been
made by past administrations and the
recommendation that had been sub
mitted by commissions composed OF
men of unquestioned sincerity of pur-
pose and ability. II would have been
much easier, so far as my regime is
concerned, to have done nothing on
the subject of taxation. There was
nothing to be gained except what we
knew to be inevitable controversy
and temporary condemnation.
Some will say that the purpose was
patronage, and yet every man in Ohio
whose head sits squarely on his
shoulders knows that patronage is q
distinct liability to any ADMINISTERS
ton and not an asset. 1t was appar-
ent that for the most part public util-
ity companies were on the duplicate
in sums approaching their value; that
real estate, farms and business insti-
tutions had been listed much higher
than they were in the past in order
to give effect and success to the
Smith law; and yet IL was as plain
as day that hidden property, amount
ing to untold millions, was not being
taxed.
Just 400 Years Behind Time.
"The old system had failed Cover
nor McKinley's commission recon-
mended that ii would never be q sue
cess; Governor Harmon stated 10 the
present general assembly that the
plan OF elective assessors had tailed
everywhere. The only official docu.
ment published by the state called at.
tention to the fact that the system
was the same as that which prevailed
in medieval times--four hundred
years ago-in Europe. What is gov
ernment for except to insure equal
/ ilEHNb6 w nat ~ tHC luhtNiOh VI q
government official except, among
other things, to see to it that the cost
of maintaining government shall be
apportioned to every man as he de-
rives his benefits under the govern
ment
III the present governor of Ohio
recognizing, as he did, that the Smith
law would not live IL the present sys'
TEN Of listing property for taxation
we're continued, had not performed
his plain duty, he would have deserv
ed the contempt of those who had
honored him. And the taxation law
must be administered with the same
frmness of hand and certainty OF
control as the liquor license law. Tax
listing officers must be under obliga
tions to no one in the local subdi
vision. The Warnes law is now be
ginning to show its meaning and its
purpose, II the same percentage oi
increase in personal property which
has already been shown continues
the personal returns exclusive OF
those made by corporations, will
amount to the tremendous hgure OF a
billion dollars in Ohio this year; and
II the tax rate in 95 per cent OF the
counties is not reduced, then the fault
lies with the officers who have beer
elected by the people and not those
appointed by me.
Confident Of Result.
~ have no fears as TO the result In
Ohio. know that the dominant
thought OF our people is progressive
] recognize that between now and the
autumn days the wisdom and benefits
OF our progressive and Humanitarian
laws will be apparent. But II by any
combination of circumstances the
present administration in this state
should be defeated and they should be
signing interests will use that resul,
in its pressure and persuasion on the
Legislature as plain indication that