The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-01-12

Vi anu KlNCF
the chance to educate the
youth in their own townships under
facilities equal TO those enjoyed in
The cities. Wherever IL has been
tested with an environment Of sym
pathetic understanding, it has brought
10y to the household and exalted the
function Of government. You will
pardon the personal reference to the
close application which ! brought TO
the subject when the law was passed
and the investigation that have
made in large maiority Of the coun
ties since then, for the purpose Of .
observing at first hand the actual To-
cal conditions. Nothing could be more !
than to so change this |
law as TO impair it's fundamental
principle. It may be that experience
suggests alterations in detail, but
they should not 90 beyond that. Most /
of the things complained of are not
the fault of the law, but of the coun
ties and townships that fail to give
that vigilant attention to local edu
cational matters which would render
abuses by local school officials impos-
sible. The facility is inherent in the
law itself to meet either delinquency
or excess. Oversupervision has been
corrected in many counties, and it can
be in all. Any law designed for
great service, and sound and ambi-
tious in its plan must have, il it sue
ceeds, the most awakened co-opera-
tion of every interest involved, and
the school law touches every home in
the country side. When the code was
nodded into form the whole under
lying theory was not only to give un-
precedented opportunity for educa-
ton to the rural youth, but to tie its
administration close to the citizen
right Of the parent. Our people must
realize that the maximum of local
authority, perforce, exacts more than
the minimum of local vigilance.
There need be no fear as to the final
outcome. Ohio will not step back
ward in education. The structure
that has been builded will be blessed
by every community that is privileged
to have physical demonstration Of it.
Financial Need Of Cities.
The present financial need of cities,
and some villages and rural subdi-
visions, is matter that / present for
your most serious thought. The Smith
One Per Cent law was designed for
the purpose Of protecting local taxing
subdivisions from excessive rates in
taxation. While some who hold to
the home rule principle in govern
ment believe that this was trespass
against the real principle Of democ-
racy, there can be no question about
the laws deep entrenchment in the
favor of the majority of the people of
the state. It was passed under the
administration of Governor Harmon.
Both to it's form and principle he gave
much time and thought. Profound
in the law, and statecraft, his sponsor
ship gave it a strong appeal to the
favorable consideration Of commun-
tiles.
The law fixed the limit Of taxation
at ten mills, with the right to go to
fifteen mills, by vote of the people
Under its operation, real estate was
increased in its assessed value all owe,
the state, and it was the hope that
the arbitrary reduction in rate to not
more than fifteen mills in any event
would bring large amounts of persona
property to the duplicate, which had
by the almost binding force of Gus,
tom and with apparent general con
sent, not been listed previously. If {
thoroughly honest tax return were
made, particularly in the cities, pres
ent emergencies would not exist, ant
the theory Of the Smith law would b,
justified in the fullest sense.
1t is not a cynical impulse whicl
prompts the observation that the ques
tion of taxation, and particularly tn,
method of assessing property for tina
purpose, will not be finally solve,
much In advance of the millennium
Government has always found it tn
most veXatious problem, and doubt
less it always will.
The cities are growing more rapidl
in population than anyone ever be
lieved they would, and modern publ
service has so promoted the improve
surroundings and safety of the hom
as to bring about a sustained insist
/ ence for it's extension ana in man
instances, regardless Of increased cos
through taxation.
We must be reminded, however, tina
large Office buildings have been cor
= structed and real estate has been im
proved in amounts aggregating mi
lions Of dollars, largely because Of tn
! guarantee of a fixed limit in the ia
rate, ana tne reasons TOT JHlS are OF
> vious. Leases are made for give
} term Of years, while the tax rate fiuC
: tuates, and without a limit bein
. fixed, the proper return on inves
ment might be easily dissipated. TIL
s subject enters so vitally. therefor
/ into the growth and stability of loc;
. conditions, that the principle of til
Smith la,, should not be impaire,
Z and yet if we adhere blindly to it &
a fetch, TIE action withheld in a d,
o sire to preserve the law, may lead
' it's destruction, so that we must a;
! proach it's consideration with the idf
: of strengthening it, by adjustmer
I to conditions that could not have bee
6 foreseen when the law was write
! ! While it may seem a contradictit
: that the lifting Of the limitation ms
o vitalize the law itself, still, on refie
: ton, the theory seems sound. The.
J. are certain pioneer fundamentals
i government that necessarily so owe
p shadow more recent policies as
s speak an arbitrary command. Cor
, mon honesty presupposes the pa
a ment of every debt incurred by loc
n subdivisions through honorable tran