Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1892 — MORE TRUTH ABOUT LOCAL TAXATION. [ARTICLE]

MORE TRUTH ABOUT LOCAL TAXATION.

ry _ f. • :.T • m-vWo propose giving a series of j nrticles showing the exact facts in ; regard to tax'-s in thiß county, for the years 188 L, fthe current year)' and IS9O, showing the umounts of increase or decrease a 3 the case may be, iu tbedilr >rcnt townships and corporations in The comity, and for the - various funds for which toxes are levied. The fficts about local taxation have been greatly and even most wickedly misstated and misrepresented by tbe unknown and irresponsible parties who conduct the organ of the Pepo-Democratic combination iu this county, th e People's JPitdt, and to a less extent by the straight democratic orgau, the Democratic Sentinel.

O wing to the operation of the new tax laws state taxes are practically twice as great for the tax year 1891 as they, were for the tax year 18901 Qnejcauas-of this increase, was the levy of an additional 6f cents state tax on each SIOO taxable property, but a much more potent cause was the iucrease in the assessment of property, made uecessaiy by the new law. This inereasCd- assessment -was very great oh some kinds of property; amounting in the case of farm lands, without the improvements aud after the Slate Board of Re,lew had put on an additional 10 per cent, to over 100 per cent. On lands with improvements it was about 82 per cent On hits and improvements it was about 72 per cent, aud on personal property, it was only about two per cent.

This increase iu assessment, while it nearly doubled the amount of state taxes paid by this county, did not materially affect the total of “local” taxes, such as county and the various forms of township taxes, for the county commissioners and township and town Trustees cut down the local levies to correapond, as near as might be judged according to the probable necessities of revenue, with the increased assessment. But while this assessment. But while this increased assessment did not increase (he sum total of local taxes, it did operate to thrown upou all kinds of real-estate, especially upon farms aud farming lands, a vastly increased proportion of all kinds of taxes, both local as well as state. Any person of common sense will see that this effect was certain t) result from tho operations of a law which increased the assessed vaiue of farm lands more than 100 per cent, and of personal property only 2 per cent. State taxes iu the county are increased $12,833.44, or almost exactly 100 per cent., aud by far the greeter portion of this increase falls upon real-estate. For these facts the new tax law is responsible. The increase in county taxes for which the county commissioners are responsible, is only $1648.80, or only a little more than 5 per cent. In point of fact, however, this increase is more than off-set by the increase of railroad assessments, and iu the aggregate the individuals and residents corporations, of the county are actually charged with considerably less county tax this year than last; although, owing to the operation of the tax law, landed property of alt kinds pays more county tax this year tliau last year, while with all kinds of personal property the reverse of this is true, aud on that species of property the county tax is much loss this year. Township school taxes, including township tuition, and special school have been iucreased a total of $7,205 33. For this increase township trustees and town boards are solely responsible; their right to levy those taxes being absolute and unqualified, any assertion of the Pilot gang to the contrary, notwitht-tnuding.

The other forms of township and town taxes, such as township and road taxes, have been increased $1397.42. These two taxes, in actual practice, are always levied solely by the township trustees and town boards, although the law provides that they are to have the “ail vice aml concurred o” of (he county commissioners in levying them. ± ’ * The total increase of local taxes is just $13,251.85, as may be proven by referring t > the tax books • * . * -j iu in© conn# nvu*. , nun ib was DllUWn vll” XawCM l(Qril| 111 110 ... r , - . .

mittee. All assertion* made by the P hoi gengkothe effect that ibis ii crease 131816,000 or SIB,OOO or S3C 000 are ill alike false, and knowi igly. rndhntentioaally false. Eq» ally la!bo and intentionally false : 3 every assertion of the sime gang *-> the effect that these increased local taxes were levied for improper purposes, either for robbery.official extravagance or for pfclitical effect. Wit fi these introductory remarks we will now proceed to take np the matter of taxes by townships, giving the total of taxes for the years 1890 and 1891, with the increase or decrease as the case may be. HANGING GROVE TOWNSHIP. 1893 1891 Increase Decrease State taxes 8040.52 117X26 532.74 County IX 1473.23 1415.88 - 57.45 Tp. tax 390.26 314.61 75.62 Tuition tx 486.58 629.21 13J 7S Spc’l 6ch X>l 632.68 913.92 260 98 Road 477.8 1 622 28 150.45 Total net increase of local taxes, sllß.lO. Percent of increase of state taxes, 81. Per cent of increase of local taxes* 10.

The only items of local taxes in the above table showing an increase are the two school taxes, tuition and special: school, and- the road tax. Tlie tuition tax is larger because the people; very properly, want longer terms of school. The special school ta± is larger because a badly needed new school house is being built in the township. The road tax, which is mostly worked bat, is larger because the best sentiment of the people demanded that it should be. They want better roads, and it takes more money to make them better. The fact shown in the table that county taxes are decreased in the township, is proof of the truth of the statement that resident prop-, erty owners actually pay less county tax this yvaar than last. No railroad taxes are included in these figures.

In conclusion wo will ask if there is any fact in the above table of local taxes to give any shadow of justification for the slanderous charge that they were levied for purposes of robbery, or political effect? No honest man, of any party, will say there is. Next week we will lake up the other townships of the county, in the same manner. James T. Saunderson is a-first-class man, and wo believe would make an able and impartial judge. The same can be said for O. Z. Wiley, the republican candidate, and there is no reason to presume that Republicans will scratch their tickets. With a Republican majority of more than 1000 in the district, there can be but one result to the contest. Judge Wiley will be elected by the usual ma. jority.—Goodiatid Herald.