Portage Sentinel

Report of the Committee on Taxation

We are indebted to Mr. Swift, member of the Constitutional Convention from this and Summit counties, for copies of the Reports of the majority and minority of the Standing Committee on Finance and Taxation, made to the Convention on the 20th ult. The following is the majority Report:

Sec 1. That the levying of taxes by the poll is grievous and oppressive; therefore the Legislature shall never levy a poll tax for county or State purposes.

Sec. 2. The Legislature shall provide by law a uniform rule of assessment and taxation, and shall prescribe such rules and regulations as will secure a just valuation of all property, both real and personal: Provided, school houses, burying grounds and grounds upon which religious edifices are erected, not exceeding in value the sum of dollars. shall not be subject to pay a tax.

Sec. 3. The Legislature shall make a provision for taxing money invested in State and United States Bonds, as money at interest is taxed.

Sec. 4. The Legislature shall provide for taxing bank capital, railroad stock turnpike company stock and canal company stock, the same as personal property is taxed.

Sec 5 The Legislature shall provide for a tax sufficient to defray the expenses of the State for each year, and also a sufficient sum to pay the interest on the State debt.

Sec. 6. No tax of any description whatever shall be levied or exacted, except in pursuance of law: and every law which imposes such tax, shall state distinctly the object of the same; to which only it shall be applied.

Sec. 7. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, except in pursuance of a distinct and special appropriation made by law.

Sec. 8. The State shall never contract any debt for purposes of internal improvement unless the object be particularly specified, and the proposition shall have first been submitted to the people, and a majority of all the voters voting at the next annual election, be found in favor of the creation of such debt.