The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-04-19
lcorrsspo6dense ofthe Ohio Union.l
FROM COLUMBUS.
CoLumBUs, April l2, 1854

yoaAoI WV lReNPte W Oht~ "e'V "Nt~"J i
groaned under the weight Of local and
State tax. The enormous load will soon
have to DO removed, or merited retribu-
ton will fall upon The heads Of those who
have !, in their power TO remove the crying
evil. Il will, therefore, DO interesting 10
whence come the evils complained
Of; for the solution Of tina. problem, do.
,ermines the question of appropriate re.
trenchment.
/ am aware that. the people turn with
anxious faces towards Columbus for a so.
Of the question, and o r%eirenchmen,
Of Legislative expenditures. To some ex.
.ent the issue is properly taken. Yet, by
examining the statistics on The subject of
taxation, we find that with the exception Of
the Stale Common School tax, the balance
remains but very little, if any. higher Than
ii has these many years. Il will be re.
membered that II requires a vast amount to
carry on the Improvements in the New
State House, keep up the Asylums, and 10
pay of The State and Legislative officers.
The New State House will be completed
by the close Of the year 1855, and will be
one Of the finest buildings in the Union;
one Of which every citizen Of Ohio has
just reason 10 be proud. When that bull.
ding, then, is completed, it will save an
annual appropriation Of from S3O0, 900 10
5000, 600. The two new Asylums will be
completed in about one. year, which will
also reduce the tax from $4,000 10 S70,-
900, ~bi-annually.
Another reason for increased taxation on
The part Of the State is, the heavy eppro,
pria,ions which have 10 be made 10 pay off
the State Debt, as the insIallments become
due. know that the State Journal and
other wing prints take the position, that il
would be the better policy 10 permit a re.
issue of State bonds for the present, and
thus siave off, for a time, the evil day.
This would rather aggIivate than diminish
the wrong complained Of, because it would
compel the State 10 pay many thousands
for interest, which should Immediately be
applied 10 the liquidation Of The principal.
The sooner the State debt is paid off the
better, provided it does not make taxation
oppressive.
If the Board of Pablic FORKS, were
abolished, and the States interest therein
disposed Of to the highest responsible bid.
der, an annual leak Of many thousands Of
dollars from the public treasury would be
closed. Independence these expenditures,
il would be difficult TO conceive where the
expenses Of the government of Ohio could
be reduced. True, it is argued that the
salaries Of State Officers might be reduced,
yet | am inclined 10 think that when the
necessary expenses of living in Columbus
are taken into consideration, but few reas.
enable persons, would contend for "a reduc.
ton Of salaries. Some are disposed TO
pitch into their Senators and Representa-.
lives, for a lack of vigilance in regard 10
the rates Of taxation, and contend, also,
that $500 per day Is too much to compen-
safe members for their time and labors.-
Let US examine this point for a moment
Unless a member boards al a fifth rate pri.
va,e clearinghouse in the outskirts Of the
city, he cannot get his board for less than
from "a to 90 per week. Add TO this hi.
postage bill. which amounts to from 50 to
80 per week, all members being compelled
under the new Constitution, TO pay their
own postage odt Of their daily pay /; to-
gether with whai II must necessarily re.
quire for each member to keep his family
al home, for he would come oulin debt il he
attempted 10 keep his family or even hi,
lady in Colrmbus-and lie, me inquire how
much, even by the most economical living,
he would take home with him at the clost
Of the session as a compensation for hi,
servicesl A slim fortune, truly /!
Do the people Of Ohio wish to sell ou,
Legislation TO the lowest, brainless bidderl
the niggard hand that will truckle for Of
fee, regardless alike Of his own, and the
dignity Of The State he representa- Dc
the people Of Ohio ask that her Legisla,
tors shall sIoop to penury and want, wher
they ar, selected to frame laws which shall
do justice 10 all her ciiizensi Nonsense
The niggard d%emagogue who urges such
considerations before the people. merits
alike their condemnation and scorn /; fol
no man bat a demagOgus would contend
for a moment for such a theory. Every
rejecting man wilt eOncede, tina. no re.
trenchment is needed in this department.
Where, then, rests the balance Of the
evifl Turn to your local iaxaliOn-ex-
anime your rate per cent, and you will
find the hideous root proirudiug in al IT'D
dsfOrmily. Give Satan his duc...rcward III,