The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-02
1oo LOSE THEIR JOBS
Willis Takes Summary Action
i When BeItIer Bill Falls
AO1E SENT TO TAX COMMISSION

-.
Organization 10 Endeavorlnp to
/ rhwart the Efforts Of the RepubIl-
cans to Repeal tho Warnes Act.
| Al Vacancies to Be Filled by Wills
BY Appointment - DoInss Of the
General Assembly.
7 Columbus. March 81. - The state
Tax commission today summarily re-
moved from office all the Warnes law
district tax assessors in Ohio. 102 in
Dumber. The places of these asses
sors will be filed by Governor willis
By appointment This drastic action
was taken pursuant to request made
i6y Governor Willis following the final
defeat of the Better tax bill In the
house.
In his letter to the tax commission,
(which has the power OF removal. the
governor charges q machine-led OBJ
IotructiOn to the carrying into effect OF
IGne Republican pledge to get rid Of the
lWarnes law at the earliest possible
.moment. He charges the opposition to
fthe Better bill has been actuated by
[desire to retain for Democrats the i'm
lmense patronage of the taxing ma
lchinery; that Warnes assessors
lschemed to beat the bill In order to
Aold on to their Jobs; that these as
SCISSORS are the nucleus Of referen.
DUN association purposing to try to
ha nP kn No vvno
Naw. and that there is danger Of their
''deiiberately encouraging q falling
duplicate for partisan advantage"
The governor maintains that the
majority party is practically unrepre-
scented In the taxing machinery. Tnere
iare single Democratic assessors In "a
counties and bipartisan assessors In IA
ieounties, but In most of these coun'
.sses the minority appointments went
tro Bull Moose. and where a Republi.
,can was appointed the governor as'
.c0rtained most of the clerks and
ether assistants appointed are Demo
~rats. In Hamilton county, for In
stance, "a OF the 20 members OF the
EWarnes appolntees are Democrats.
Governor Willis in his note to the
leommission says:
"While there are no doubt many
lconscientious men among these dis
ltrict assessors-men who would not
how to the dictates OF any party
boss s-the possibilities of manipula'
sion, careless work and the deliberate
Encouragement OF falling duplicate
lSor partisan advantage are 80 great
that the interests of the taxpayers OF
'the state demand uniform and prompt
Iaction. have no wish to assume
b6uch unwarranted authority as IL
lgiven in the Warnes law. authority
which ! feel should be vested alone
in elective county officials, but since
ithe opposition, by their conspiracy
have forced II upon me- | do not hesi
tate accept the responsibility thereb,
incurred
Because ! have well founded rea
sons to believe that the hopes of {
succeBsful assessment this spring de
pend upon the removal OF the present
district assessors from the control o
- machine which openly boasts tina
~ means to harass this administration
ins much as possible. request you t.
}eofthwith remove all the district as
lnessors, and ! snail at once nam,
't1hoir successors"
Beitler Bill Beaten.
The Better bill went to It's deatl
N the house. the vote, 66 TO 40. no
being the requisite two-thirds, on thu
Spdoption of the conference report
(which the senate had adopted by q
leo 10. a sufficient number. Only tw,
Democratic representatives. Winter
mute OF Mercer and Kohl OF Cuyaho
lgA. voted for the report, Eight Ro
bublicans. Baker, Fleming, Hodgir
jackson. Klein, Moore and Rover
were absent.
A number OF the Republicans VIII
voted for the report which would hav
passed the bill, did so unwillingly be
cause majority OF the county al
Aitors who would have had charge 0