84 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



In 1866 the valuation of the city of Cincinnati was: realty $66,454,602; 

 personalty, $67,218,101; the personal property was greater than the amount of 

 real estate by $800,000. 



In 1892, twenty-five years later, the real estate of Cincinnati had increased 

 to $144,208,810; while the personal property decreased to $44,735,670. 



The amount of money returned for taxation in the state in 1866 was nearly 

 $3,000,000 more than it is today (1893). 



In 1866, the amount of money returned for taxation in Hamilton County 

 (containing Cincinnati) was nearly five times what it was in 1892; the amount 

 of credits was nearly double what it is today. The amount of bonds and stocks 

 was $30,000 more than it was in 1892. 



These are the fiscal results. The social results are thus summa- 

 rized by the commission:^ 



The system as it is actually administered results in debauching the moral 

 sense. It is a school of perjury. It sends large amounts of property into hiding. 

 It drives capital in large quantities from the state. Worst of all, it imposes unjust 

 burdens upon various classes in the community. 



.... This inequality of taxes weighs most heavily upon those whose 

 thrift and prudence have resulted in affording to themselves or their children a 

 competence. It is evident that this burden rests with peculiar force upon those 

 persons whose scrupulous honesty induces them to make full and complete returns 

 of all their property. 



The Ohio State Tax Commission of 1906 says:^ 



The value of all credits returned was $34,000,000 less in 1906 than it was in 

 1890, and $16,000,000 less than it was in 1870. The value of all stocks and bonds 

 was $2,575,000 less in 1906 than it was in 1880, and the value of all intangible 

 property including moneys, credits, stocks and bonds, as returned for taxation, 

 was nearly $8,000,000 less in 1906 than it was in 1890. 



This was in spite of the tax inquisitor law passed in 1882, by which 

 inquisitors might be selected by county auditors to search for personal 

 property not Usted for taxation, and to place such property, when 

 discovered, on the rolls, with a penalty of 50 per cent of the tax due 

 each year for the preceding five years. The inquisitor received 

 20 per cent and the auditor 4 per cent of such additional taxes col- 

 lected. From the above report of the Special Tax Commission, it 



■ Report of the Ohio Special Tax Commission of iSgj. 

 'Report of the Ohio Tax Commission of igo6. 



