Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-02
DISTRICT TAX ASSESSOR.

Mr.. Harry Jameson received a tele-
gram Wednesday notifying him of his
appointment as District Tax Assessor
for Fulton county in place of DIR. G..
b. Tuthill and summoning him to Col
umbus at once. Mr.. Jameson left
Wednesday evening so as to be in
Columbus at 9 a. m. Thursday. Mr..
Jamesons appointment is one of 102
appointments made as the sequel of
the defeat of the BETTER Bill as an
emergency measure last Wednesday.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote
of % yeas and II nays, the required
two thirds to make it an emergency
measure. The vote in the house was
66 yeas and as nays failing of the
necessary two thirds by "a votes.
This action killed the bill and. it fol-
lows that the assessment of real and
personal property for 1915 will be
made under the Warnes Law.
Governor Willis attitude in. the
matter and the motives which led him
to this first drastic action of his ad-
m~inistration is set forth in the fol-
lowing letter to the State Tax Commits
sion.
The clear command of Ohio citi-
zens last November demanded the i'm
mediate repeal of the Warnes tax
law and its expensive, un-American
taxation machinery. For several
weeks this administration has. en-
deavored quietly but with all the legi-
innate powers at its command to
meet this demand. Obstructive tao
tics of a machine-led Democratic
minority in the legislature this even
ing have defeated the BETTER bill,
which was designed as an emergency
measure to fulfill the pledge given to
the people. We have done our best to
save for the people of Ohio in. the COM
ing IL months more than $4,000 of
useless expense connected with the
operation of the present law (Warnes
law. +.
From we'll authenticated, sources it
is learned that the minority action has
been largely dictated by the desire
that the immense patronage provid-
ed by the Warnes law should be left
in the hands of Democrats. who were
practically alone recognized last year.
The majority party of Ohio has sub
stantially no representation in the
taxing machinery of the state.
l know of pressure brought to
bear to defeat the BETTER bill by
Democratic district assessors. who
hoped thereby to continue their posi-
lions. Frequent reports have come
from time to time that designations
were to be rendered in order to en-
barrass this administration at critical
times within the assessment period,
and that the present district tax as
SCISSORS were to form the nucleus of
a referendum organization to further
imp sc the burdens of the Warnes
law upon the people.
These facts and the obstructive tao
tics today make drastic action, neces-
sary. While there are no doubt many
conscientious men among these dis
trict assessors-men who would not
bow to the dictates of any party boss
the possibilities of manipulation,
careless work and the deliberate en-
enlargement of a falling duplicate for
partisan advantage are Sc great that
the interests of the taxpayers of the
stale demand uniform and prompt
action.
l have no wish to assume such I'M
warranted authority as is given in the
Warnes law, authority which 1 feel
should be vested alone in elective
county officials. but since the opposi-
ton, by their conspiracy, have forced
it upon me, I do not hesitate to &C.
cept the responsibility thereby incur
red.
Because I have well founded rea-
sons to believe that the hopes of a
successful assessment this spring de-
pend upon the removal of the present
district assessors from the control Of
a machine which openly boasts that
it means to harrass this administra-
ton as. much as possible. I request
you to forthwith remove all the dis
trict assessors, and I shall at once
name their successors.