Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1939-11-02

fessons also retail sales tax to be in addition to
the present retail sales tax. But the new taxes
would not stop with state leves Additional To-
cal real estate taxes would have to come, which
undoubtedly would mean complete revaluation
of properties would follow, and would require a
tax tangible property to 100 percent of it's val
ue 1t is now taxed at so percent or 70 percent
of its value and only that, the tax rate would
be greatly increased. The real estate suggested
OF two percent on property valued in excess OF
$4,000 per acre is not clear and would require
endless litigation to straighten out If it means
what was intended it would call for boost of
&C 2-3 percent in the taxes all lands worth $40,
coo per acre more On first thought it would
appear that this would raise taxes on costly city
lots alone In certain cases the Ohio supreme
court has ruled that the term tax on land" in
cludes buildings and improvements well as the
land itself. If that be the Interpretation it would
mean the raising of taxes on modest homes in
the city and villages, and the small home owner
with a few feet of land. and nortgaged home,
might be subject to this enormous raise since the
amendment lays the tax on land the value Of
which exceeds the rate" Of $4,000 per acre.
Note that the amendment states that it would
pension a1l Ohio citizens over go wears Of age
who arc retired from gainful occupation as wage
carners," and that is being interpreted as an ex-
clusion (probaby urintentional, but nevertheless
effective) CT farmers, small business men, profess
sion2l people, house wives and others-the very
class Of citizens that are most deserving Anoth-
cr thing IS pointed out in this sloppy, loosly
drawn proposal, and that IS elderly married colt
pies living together are entitled TO $50 per month
and $50 per month is provided for single persons,
Elderly couples who feel for the welfare of their
tired, INDECENT offspring and in order to help
them might feel compelled to live apart in order
to qualify for the $50 per month, which would be
a net gain Of 500 per month
The question has been raised what would hap
pen to the $3200000o Of federal funds now con-
tributed to the Ohio old-age pension system.
Since that money is contributed on the basis Of
need, and while the Bigelow plan contains no
provision for relative need OF pensioners it would
probably be withdrawn.
Other states have attempted pension plans
somewhat similar to the proposed Bigelow plan,
with the result that in the long run old age pen
sions in these states have been much less than
formerly instead of more The proposed Bgelow
plan would be sure to drive business to other
states, because OF the ruinous taxes, and it would
invite aged people from other states to move 20
Ohio-the promised land. If passed, unemplov-
ment will increase, small business will be de-
stroyed and every consumer will feel the weight
of new taxation both direct and indirect
The writer thoroughly believes in, and ap-
proves of, aid for the aged We believe that ev-
cry aged person should be cared for. The prin-
ciple behind all pension plans is laudabe, but
good sound reason and logic, not generosity and
sentiment should be the guide in determining the
amount that may be paid to pensioners.
OTHER PROPOSALS EQUALLY
DANGEROUS
The Bigeow proposal for making the initiative
process easier and quicker is as dangerous as his
pension plan. While the initiative principle has
come to be accepted and universally endorsed, it
was not designed to take the place of careful
legislation by elected representative bodies by
the people, but was designed merely a means to
correct possible legislative errors. The proposed
Bigelow amendments would mean that proposals
could be placed the ballot not as the will of
the people, but as the will of organized minor
ity, and once such proposal is written into our
constitution, it could not easily be gotten rid of.
Vote all these proposed amendments