The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-31

-NIF StUs 70 INC tohhg manu-. f q |ty
In s4c Then honor-honor 10 the toing hand! 1!
-s.o ,...,, y. a,,- Report
OF THE MAJORITY OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE. ON SENATE BILL MUM,
3BER "a, CONCERNING THE POWERS
AND D TIES OF THE STATE AUDI
TOR. IN SENATE, FEBRUARY IL, Is49
Z Mr.. SpEAKER:-The Judiciary Com
mittee has had under consideration
Senate Bill No. "a, concerning the
powers and duties Of The State Aditor
and The majority recommend its en-.
grossment and passage. 80
The first section OF this Bill proposes
torepeal the Statutory delegation ol
ths taxing power to the State Auditor.
The second is mere re.affirmance
Of that clause of the constitution, which
provides thal'no money shall be drawn
from the treasury except in conse.
quence Of appropriations made by law"
A re-affirmance, which has been rem.
dered eminenly necessary, in conse,
quence OF various legislative efforts to
repeal tho constitution: efforts which
have been so far succe ssful as to escape
immediate animadv version, and even to
meet with a temporary, passive and un.
conscious acquiescence. .,s,, ta
The revenue system of Ohio, which
is well understood by very lew, is the
result OF number Of successive regu-
lations, violating the natural right Of the
citizon 10 be heard, either by himself or
his representative, in questions con.
csrning the amount Of his burdens and
the disposition Of his property. The
canal tolls are pledged by Statute to aid
the taxpayers in discharg'ng the in
terest on the public debt. But large
part Of the gross income from that
source must be applied to repair our
public works. Nothing but the small
4oyerplus is applicable TO the interest on
the public debt. The State Auditor.
by bis sole authority, Ievies on the citi.
zen, such sums as he deems expedient
for ths, osle nsible purpose Of paying that
interest When the repairs, on the
public works. cost almost half IA million,
as was tie case the past year, he sim.
ply ievies half million more from the
tax.payers. Having filled his Golfers
he makes grants, by way of interest on
their debts, to such as approach him in
the guise Of public creditors. In con
junc!ion with the State Treasurer, ana
the acting Commissioned Of the Canal
Fund, she makes grants of those i'm
msnse sums, which are annually ex
pended for she repairs Of our public
works. Finally, the Board Of Public
Works, together with the Attorney
General, make grants 10 claimants, ,old
and. new, whose demands originate 10
contracts concerning the public works
or damages sustained ''by said works"
-, Thus It will be seen that Ohio has a
complete system Of income and expen
d,,ure without the agency OF the people
or their General Assembly. Our ENoR-
NOUS expenditures are authorized in
'conclave by handful Of men without
active or effective, practical response.
bility. The deliberations Of the Venitian
coucil Of ten, were known by their ef.
fscts; the deliberations Of our council Of
ten, are known by nothing else!! But
the Venitian council Of ten was more
numerous and moro independent, and
of course q less assaiIable and less cor.
rruptible body than our tasklnasters!!!
Ono thing sis rendered certain by this
survey ofour financial system. What.
ever interest may have been consulted
in rearing the fabric, the inte rest Of the
staxspay or was !orgotten--the interest
OF thsa toiling myriads, whose labor
creates our wealth, was neglected. :
The very essence, the genius Of the in.
stitution is TO afford facilities to the as
isailants, of The treasury, to smooth their
path and remove obstacles. No stormy
/ debate OF a popular. assembly I, no incon-
vsnieht investigation, no unwelcome
discussion, no Senatorial Opposition to
render, their approach to The treasury
insecufs. Such q system is not The re.
suit 81 Incident. III has harmony OIL
parts and symmetry as a whole. Blu,
lis symmetry is that of an iron despot.
ism |! p, ever ths rights and property Of the
1--WE ave giysn this sketch In order
thar obf fellow citizens mIy undsrstand