ital, and ask for an act of incorporation, granting them powers which they could not have in the capacity of an ordinary business partnership. A more particular description of some of these corporations will be given in another chapter. [See Banks and Insurance Companies.]

CHAPTER XVI.

Assessment and Collection of Taxes.

1. Ir appears from the foregoing chapters, that to transact the business of the state, requires the employment of a great number of persons; and consequently, that the amount of money paid out every year to all these officers, must also be very great. And as no government can be maintained without expense, and as every person is in some way benefited by the government, it is the duty of all who are able, to pay something towards its support.

2. Every government must therefore have the power to provide the means of defraying its expenses. The way in which this is done, is chiefly by taxation; and the money which the citizens are required to pay, is called a tax. Taxes are usually assessed and levied upon the property of the citizens.

3. All lands and all personal estate are liable to taxation in this state, except public property; buildings erected for colleges, academies, and common schools; meeting-houses, with two acres of land; burial grounds; and the property of literary and charitable institutions. * Lands, real property, and real estate, have the same meaning, and include land, with all buildings and other articles erected or growing thereon. Personal estate, or personal property, includes all household furniture, money, goods, chattels, and debts due from solvent creditors.

4. As taxes are laid upon property, and as each person

2. How is money obtained to pay public expenses? What is a tax? 3. What property is exempt from taxation? What is real, and what personal estate?

is to pay in proportion to the value of his property, the first thing to be ascertained is, what amount of property is owned by each person. The county commissioners of each county, every sixth year, divide the county into districts, not less than two, nor more than four, (Hamilton into at least six, and not exceeding twelve,) and appoint for each a district assessor, who, in such year, takes a list of the names of the owners, with a description and the value of each parcel of real property in every township in the district, and returns the same to the county auditor.

5. A list of the personal property in each township is taken every year by the township assessor, who makes returns of the names of the owners, and the real value of the property, to the county auditor. He also corrects the val uation and description of the real property, where new buildings have been erected and old ones destroyed. The returns of all the assessors, made to the county auditor, show the amount of the valuation of all the property in the county; and returns from all the county auditors to the state auditor, show the valuation of all the property of the state. It will next be shown how the taxes are assessed.

6. We have already seen that a large amount of money is every year required to defray the ordinary expenses of the government. Provision must also be made for paying the interest on the state debt, and such portions of the prin cipal as become due from time to time. Now the legisla. ture, knowing what amount must be raised for state purposes, and what is the aggregate valuation of the property in the state, ascertains how much per centum, or how much on every dollar of the valuation, is necessary to be levied for state purposes, and determines the same from time to time by law.

7. So also the county commissioners, knowing the amount to be raised for county purposes, determine annually how much per centum is to be levied to defray the coun

4. How, and how often, are district assessors appointed? What are their duties? 5. What does the township assessor do? 6. For what purposes besides ordinary expenses is money wanted? Who determines the amount to be raised for state purposes? 7. Who determine

ty expenses, and for road purposes. And the trustees of Townships determine how much per cent. is to be levied on the valuation in their respective townships, for township purposes, and for the support of the poor in the townships.

8. The county auditor, having been instructed by the state auditor how much per cent. to levy for state purposes; by the county commissioners, how much for the county expenses; and by the trustees of townships, how much for the township expenses, he makes out the tax list for the county; that is, he estimates the amount of tax which each person has to pay.

And

9. The way of making out a tax list, or of apportioning the taxes, is presumed to be nearly as follows: Suppose the valuation of the taxable property of the state to be $200,000,000, and $600,000 to be wanted for state pur. poses. Three-tenths per cent., or three mills on every dollar of the whole valuation, will produce this sum. suppose that two mills on the dollar of all the taxable property in the county, must be levied to defray the county expenses; and three mills on every dollar's value of property of the township, for township expenses; in all, eight mills on the dollar: the county auditor estimates every person's tax at this rate. Hence a man whose property is valued at $1000, is assessed $8; if valued at $750, his tax would be $6.

10. The taxes are collected by the county treasurer, and such persons as he may appoint to assist him. [For the manner of paying out moneys, and his compensation, see COUNTY TREASURER.]

the same for county and township purposes? 8. Who makes out the tax lists? 9. Can you explain how this is done, by supposing a case? 10. By whom are the taxes collected?

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the Funds, Revenue, and other Property of the State, and the general management of them.-Canal Fund, and Canals.

1. THE grand object of a good government is to promots the happiness and welfare of its citizens. To do this it must secure to them the free enjoyment of their rights, as has been already observed. But the whole duty of the gov ernment is not done when it protects men in the enjoy. ment of life, and the fruits of their labor. It ought to go further, and make provision for improving the condi tion of the people, especially the less favored portions of them, that all may be rendered in the highest possible degree prosperous and happy. And as all must contribute to the support of the government from what they acquire by their labor, the government ought to do all it can to render the labor of all equally profitable.

2. But the people in different parts of a large state have not equal advantages. The people who reside near navigable waters and good roads, are better rewarded for their labor than those who reside at a greater distance from them. A man's farm is not very valuable when it costs him half as much to transport his grain and other products to market as he sells them for.

3. Hence we see the necessity of roads, canals, and other means of facilitating and cheapening transportation. But as individuals are not able to construct such expensive works, it becomes the duty of the government to provide for their construction. This is done in whole or in part by taxing the property of the people of the state. And although a portion of them do not need these improvements, it is but just that they should contribute to the common good. Sometimes funds are created, and set apart for this purpose, the

1. What is here said of the duty of the government to its citizens? 2. What respecting the disadvantages of the people in certain parts of the state? 3. What is the benefit of canals, &c.? By what means are

ty expenses, and for road purposes. And the trustees ownships determine how much per cent. is to be levied the valuation in their respective townships, for towns purposes, and for the support of the poor in the to ships.

8. The county auditor, having been instructed by P state au litor how much per cent. to levy for state purpos by the county commissioners, how much for the county penses; and by the trustees of townships, how much for

that is, he estimates the amount of tax which each per es township expenses, he makes out the tax list for the countdagodz

when it pr

9. The way of making out a tax list, or of apportior Bu the taxes, is presumed to be nearly as follows: Supf

has to pay.

the valuation of the taxable property of the state to rats of $200,000,000, and $600,000 to be wanted for state provisin

poses. Three-tenths per cent., or three mills on every lar of the whole valuation, will produce this sum.

pecially the De rendered

ment from

suppose that two mills on the dollar of all the taxable pl. And as

erty in the county, must be levied to defray the county

penses; and three mills on every dollar's value of propen ought of the township, for township expenses; in all, eight mprofitable. on the dollar: the county auditor estimates every perse in differen tax at this rate. Hence a man whose property is valuedges. The $1000, is assessed $3; if valued at $750, his tax wo good roads,

be $3.

10. The taxes are collected by the county treasurer, such persons as he may appoint to assist him. [For manner of paying out moneys, and his compensation, COUNTY TREASURER.]

e who reside at

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the same for county and township purposes? 8. Who makes out tax lists? 9. Can you explain how this is done, by supposing a ca 10 By whom are the taxes collected?

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