The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-12

dlsinclines them from making the attempt. Oul
own experience on this head is instructive. o.
some scores Of enterprises undertaken by our go
burthen on the tax payer. Refusing to profit by
| the experience of others, we have added another
pase to the same kind of history and now exhibit
| the remarkable spectacle of people paying annu.
ally six times much for this fungus this excres-
cence on the body polite as for the regular sup
port OF their State government. Oial agencies for
carrying on commercial projects, and our internal
improvements are nothing else, perhaps a State
government is the worst and most unfortunate. -
The General Assembly is the constitutional organ
of the State for the purpose of controlling and man
aging its concerns. But how can that body con-
sising chiefly of new members, without much prac-
tical experience or knowledge of the subject, be
expected in addition 10 other arduous and burthen-
some duties, to exercise any efficient control over
set of veteran speculators; each one of whom
ounds his hopes OF enormous and ill., gotten wealth
on his tact and proficiency in deceiving both the
People and their representatives.
means of information to the representatives of the
People on the subject of our State works In fact
many of the arrangements or rather the absence of
all arrangement, with regard to this system, seem
to argue kind of indisinct consciousness on the
part of its authors that it would not bear the light
AS early as the middle of December, 1913, l felt
it my duty to submit to the House of Representa-
tives the following resolution which was adopted
by considerable majority,viz: Resolved that the
Auditor be requested to report to the House of
Representatives the original cost of construction,
of every public work in the State, constructed by
the State since the first day of January, in the year
of our Lord 1925, together with the amount ex.
pended annually for repairs; the annual INCOME
accruing either by tolls, fines, water rents, dvi-
lends or otherwise; the names, salaries, emo!u-
ments and perquistes, if any, of all officers and
agents employed about the different public works
in the Stae III all ca ses stating the different items
of each particular work, separately ard in tabular
form as far as convenience will admit; and any
other information he may think pertinent TO the
subject and calculated to facilitate thorough
investigation on the subject of our public works"
See pages SO & s6 of the Journal of that year.
Reader, is any unnecessary information asked for
in the above resolution' Would any other great
proprietor carry on complicated and extensive
without knowing and without any
ready means of knowing the amount Of his outlays'
We in fact got nothing in answer to our enquiry,
but some meagre details. embracing the transac-
lions of the last two or three years. No blame
attaches 10 our worthy State Auditor; he would
have cheerfully furnished the information re-
quired if he had possessed the means. His
reply contains the following remarkable and en-
phatic language: 'Your first enquiry is as to the
cost of the public works constructed by the State
regret to be compelled to say to you, that although
this important item SHOULD BE, yet it is NOT,
upon the records of this department" He then
goes on to say that upon former occasion he
spent much time and labor in an investigation of
commissioners, but was unable 10 arrive at any
certain information on the subject He adds, that,
''Prior to the first day of April, $780, all moneys
appropriated to the public works were received
direct from their sources by the fund commission
ers, and by them deposited in sundry banks of the
State, to be disbursed on the several Improvements
on the checks of the acting commissioners" What
a shapeless, formless monster is this whose capa
cious nav has devoured untold millions of the
peoples money!
From this transaction glimpse may be obtained
of the difficulties which faithful representative
has to encounter, who would furnish himself with
that information which alone will enable him to
act against this system with effect and without
which he must be in great degree, Inefficient and
useless. That information must be sought for in
an examination of volumnious public documents,
in legislative and executive reports, in converse
ton and correspondence the most extensive, and in
city OF the individual may suggest TO him. Who
ever undertakes it, undertakes an arduous task,
and this will account for. the toi-worT and wea-
red appearance OF some Of your representatives
on reaching their homes.
Disappointed in my application TO the State
Auditor, moved the house to make the same call
on the Board Of Public Works.-[See page 2Si of
the Journal This the Honse refused to do, and
it may be remarked that no information derived
from that Board would be SO safe or satisfactory
that from the State Auditor had it been in his
power to give it.
A few more observations must be INDUCED in
before quitting this subject, subject which rem
dered the floor of the House of Representatives a
perfect battle-ground, from my first entrance upon
it to my final departure from it 1t is system
which has wasted millions and millions of our
public treasure upon projects so wild, so visionary,
SO UNREAL, that they would long since have
condemned any large capitalist weak enough to
engage in them TO the strait-waistcoat and the
asylum under commission of lunacy. 1t is
system which has nearly five folded our public
taxation in the brief period Of the last ten years
Mark that! 1t Is system most Notifying and
irrifatin0 In eastern men which vigorously eX-