The Washington herald., 1915-04-02

ports show n total of operation of $14. 496,
$40 rs in excess of revenues received.
Without regard for that condition we
now propose to increase this cost by still
more new laws to decrease train lengths.
increase crews. rearrange caboose car
laws and pay day change.
After collecting taxes from these %
roads in 1911 on their property values. In
amount of 81 6iS.5Is we then say to them
as a state that VIC do not care how much
they have lost. but we do demand and
collect from them a second tax. called
an excise tax, of sSr 713. for which
tho state makes absolutely no return to
the companies In service of any kind.
That kind of revenue for the great state
Of Ohio Is not taxation. II is blood
money. the collection of which is forced
by might alone. 1t amounts to a tax of
per cent. on the necessity these COM
panics were under to lose S1i.i96,3e0 in
1914. Not content with this ss44.291 col
lected as excise tax by the state frorp
these % railroads. the state increases the
valuation of their property for taxation
for 1914 over 1912 by s12. 756, 10. adding
that much more loss to the operation of
these roads. and to this Nature added its
toll by flood loss upon the railroads Of
the state, amounting to about 10000.
Worse Than James Boys.
To the regular valuation OF existing
taxable property and assessment OF the
regular rates of taxation we have no
criticism. We are all subject to this.
trough the property we possess may
bring in profits that these roads do not
experience. or our losses may be like
theirs in proportion. But for the State
to levy n second tax. such as its ex-
else tax. is more abhorrent than the
holdups OF the James and Younger broth
ers. To the road that Is working on a
profit. this tax does not do material in
Jury. however unjust it may he. But to
tho road that is losing money. that tax
is iniquitous. because II absorbs the
capital invested in the road by citizens.
If there is necessity for or equity in
the levy OF such an excise tax. it loses
all the right to exist when failure is
mad" to levy il upon the net earnings.
inStcad of upon the gross earnings. From
e. G?3,4 taxes levied upon railroads in
1879 TO 50 55.SJl collected in 1914 in Ohio
is a mighty heavy item of expense added.
The cost of government in Ohio is
mounting Up to high figures. From
81 500 0,0 in 1907 it grew to SIC. 200 in
1912 and has increased each year since.
From 81 Il per capita in 1902. it had grown
in 1872 to s15.45 per capita and is higher
today. From 1902 and it's bonded debt,
less sinking fund assets of $ll2. 5+5. oS5, the
state of Ohio. its counties. cities. town
ships and school ditrictS. had increased
by 1913 to s2Sl.52J. lSi, making the public
,iebt of every human being in the State
siI % in 1913 as compared with S6.+5 in
1902. And when the records OF f9l4 are
checked up and averaged. they will dis
close "A still greater collection of tax and
= still higher bonded Indebtedness. and
the ncWspapcrs of the State in their
for this year show no tendency
toward decrease. but ore of Still greater
Increase than experienced in 1914.
These are the burdens that are bearing
down with great severity on business. ,
not only Of the railroads we have re-
(erred To. hut to all lines of business.