The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-05-06
Tax Commission starts Probe.


ed an investigation to determine the
cause of alarming decreases in per
sonal property returns in various
counties of the state. These decreases
range from 8 to 33h per cent in diff
ferent townships of groups of counties.
An examination Of tax returns and in
quiries made of the local and district
assessors indicate that there has been
very complete appraisals made, and
that vast number are ludicrously be-
low what they should be. There are
whole counties in which hardly a dol
lar has been returned ON household
effects. Building and loan association
stock is subject to taxation, but little
Of it is being returned. 1t is in the
, most prosperous communities that the
tax evasion is most prevalent. The
tax commission will instruct the dis
trict assessors to lack up" the local
assessors where the returns are show
| ing heavy shrinkages. Unless this is
done the grand duplicate for the state
will show big decrease from that of
last year and the effect Of this will be
to increase taxes.
Oppose Legislative Lobbyists.
The county school superintendents
Of the state intend to try to break up
the practice of professional legislative
lobbyists from holding up" teachers
at county institutes for money for the
maintenance of lobbyists at Columbus
during each legislative session. These
superintendent have decided to op-
pose with vigor efforts to extort money
in this way from teachers at these in
stitute gatherings. In the past inter-
ested persons have been able, by
bringing to bear proper pressure, to
separate the teachers from enough
money to maintain a nice berth at
good pay at Columbus for at least one
person all the time, and to pay for the
expenses of several others to Colum-
bus at different periods under the
guise of getting laws passed for the
benefit of the teachers. Keen observ-
ers thus far have been unable to de-
tect any actual benefit that teachers
have derived from the maintenance of
lobbyists at the state capital.
Passenger Rate War Reaches Climax.
The railroad passenger rate war has
reached its climax in the assembly.
The newest phase of the fight is the
proposal of Representative Young of
Cleveland, Democrat, that the pres
60 y
creased to Ia cents a mile, and
Young now is holding this proposal as
club against the contenders for
higher fare. The bill of the Cleveland
Democrat appeared in the assembly
soon after its author had failed in his
efforts to postpone indefinitely the sub
stitute Thatcher bill, which seeks to
permit the railroads to charge 21h
cents a mile, subject to the right of
the state utilities commission to sus-
pend the increase pending an investi-
cation. The interest in the rate war
is growing more intense hourly, and
before the end of the week it prom
ises to occupy the center of the legis-
lative spotlight.
Enlistment Day for Drys.
More than 100000 cards have al
ready been sent out for enlistment
day, which will mark the firing of the
first gun in the camp of the Anti
Saloon League to make Ohio dry next
fall. The date set for the observance
Of the day is May 16 Between the
present and that date the number will
have increased to 100000 State
headquarters of the Anti-Saloon
League says it has been advised that
the circulation of petitions for names
to submit the proposal to the electo-
rate are being signed rapidly and that
it will be possible to file with the sec
retary of state any time after the 1st
Of June. 1t is probable, however,
that the actual fighting will not take
place until considerably later.
Troop Awarded National Trophy.
Troop A, First squadron, Ohio cav
airy, has been awarded the national
trophy competed for by Ohio National
Guard organizations in rifle shooting.
The troop, located in Cleveland, easily
outdistanced all its competitors. 1t
has II experts, 10 sharpshooters and
Is marksmen. The trophy will be re-
tanned one year and then returned to
the adjutant generals department,
when 1t will be given for another year
to the organization which wins first
honors. The troopers will make spe.
cial effort to win the trophy next year.
Cities Given Greater Leeway.
Municipalities in Ohio are given
much greater leeway to provide funds
for the payment of their debts by the
terms of the Jackson bill, which the
house has just passed and which is
now pending in the senate. This bill
exempts from the limitations of the
per cent tax law, interest and sinking
funds for general bonds. The l per
cent law exempted interest and sink
ing fund only to take care Of bonds
which had been issued prior to 1911.
Committee o. KS Thatcher Bill.
Railroads would be permitted to
charge 215 cents a mile for passenger
fare only on approval of the Ohio utili-
ties commission, according to the
Thatcher bill, which the house public
utilities committee reported out with
recommendation for passage. The bill
was amended by the committee so as
to provide that the state commission
shall suspend any advance over the
present rate for 60 days, during which
an investigation Of the question of rail,
road passenger rates may be con.
Quoted. The present 2-cent fare law
would be repealed by the measure.
Wage War Against DiscrIminators.
The state public utilities commission
is still waging war against the rail.
roads that discriminate against the
small shipper. The commission has
Just ordered the Baltimore & Ohio rail.
road to refund to William H. Hopple
of Fredericktown $73.79 as over.