The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-15
A(yers) P. Velvet Forgets
Things Extremely
Important
TWELVE ASSESSORS
INSTEAD OF FIVE
Now On County Pay Roll
Many Served Under
Warnes Law

Great store is set by Ayers p,
Velvet, political writer for the Re-
publican, in the increased taxation re-
turns this year of the elective asses
sors. Just what heaven-sent powers
OF ferreting-out taxable property de-
scend on the shoulders of elective
rather than appointive assessors is
a grave problem and leads one to
question the sanity of Robert Burns
when ne wrote his immortal poem pro-
claiming that "a mans a man for a
that"
One fact is certain-that the Warnes
taxation law, Governor Cox's admin
instration measure, forced John ID.
Rockefeller and other plutocrats to
disgorge more fully than they had
done for years. Whether the habit ac-
quired under this law only had its be-
ginnings when that measure was in
force and its results are now being
witnessed is a pretty little question
for Ayers p. to consider when he
praises the wonderful workings Of the
Willis law, all possible good features
of which were set at naught when 1t
developed that boards Of revision
could arbitrarily increase taxation
values without hearing complaints,
There are many who believe this to be
gospel truth and who are generally
acknowledged as shrewd level-head-
ed men.
But there are other angles to the
taxation situation which A(years) p.
Velvet, either Intentionally or 9th
wise, has utterly and completely ig-
nored The taxpayers, particularly
those who seek to inform themselves
on the real political issues of the
day" in order to vote intelligently,
should know these.
Ayers p. dearly loves to talk
about the "high.salaried" men who
we're in charge of the county taxation
machinery under the Warnes law. He
speaks OF the tremendous saving to
the taxpayers, but he forgets this
In 1914, under the Warnes law,
there was one assessor for Col
lege township and Gambler; one
assessor for Clay township and
Martinsburg; one assessor for
Hilliar township and Centerburg;
one assessor for Union township,
Gam, Danville and Buckeye City
and one assessor for Wayne town
ship and Fredericktown.
In 1916, there is a separate as
SCISSOR for each of these districts.
In other words, there are now IL
assessors on the county payroll
as against five in 1914
Another thing which the voters
should bear in mind is the fact tina
in the following townships, the sam'
old assessors worked in 1916 wh'
made the returns in 1914; Brown, But
Ter, Jefferson, Miller, Monroe, Morris
and Pike.
Again, assessors were appointed thi
year, not elected, by Auditor Waite
NJ. Riley, a Democrat, in the following
districts; Gambler, Clinton, Harrison
Gam Danville and Buckeye City.
The Banner realizes that its read
ers do not care in general to be both
cred with a lot of puzzling figures. Tn
point 1t aims to establish is merel
this II there be any real value to b
attributed to system of elective al
SCISSORS In bringing about increase
returns by virtue Of the system Itsel
which Is indeed truly questionable
and which The Banner honestly b,
lIeves not to be the case, along wit
hundreds Of sane-thInklng men, the
a fairsized portion Of this doubt,
glory belongs TO the men who worke
as assessors under the Warnes law c
who were appointed to fill vacanels
by the county auditor.