Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-01-12

II will b. seen that general as these esl I.
mates were, they differed bat little from the
actual results Had they been detailed and
specific, and aided by c1ntn gent appropriations
as suggested, the results woull nave been
within she limits prescribed. Much might thus
have been saved without im2uring The condi.
lion, or in any way diminishing the revenue.
arising from these works. Financial hlctuls
lions would thereby have been avoided, aud a
greater degree OF reguls rity impaired TO all our
pecuniary transactions.
Nor should omit to press upon your con-
sideration, the necessity of providing tor a more
strict accountability for the various officers.
who are charged with the expenditure Of the
public money the Auditor OF State and the
County AUDITORS are the proper accounting of
tcers Of the Government No one should be
permitted to he his own Accounting officer.
and all avenues to the treasury sholll be re-
quirel to pass through the proper accounting
bureau.
A practice formerly prevailed upon the pub.
lie works in the peulten.iary. and perhaps in
some OF the other institutions of The State, by
which The money OF the people was expended
without the required and necessary control Of
the auditor OF State. Ii this practice has been
followed by ne fraNds or serious loss the fact
should be attributed to the integrity Of the off
GERS, and not 10 the salutary restraints impos-
ed by law. All direct drafts upon the Treasu-
ry should be strictly avoided, and in every De-
cuniary transaction of the Government, there
should be in practice, as well as in theory, an
accounting officer, acting as checks upon each
other But little is gained by sosc,fr appro-
praloRs fthere be no check upon the iinprc-
per application of the money.
And in connection with The subject it is pro-
per to remember, that it will not be long be-
fore all our expenditures will have TO be met
by assessment on the Grand Duplicate of the
State All special taxes, except auction du-
ties, pedlar's licenses and few others, have
been suffered TO 20 cut of existence and Labor
as such, is no longer required to contribute to
the burdens imposed by The State,-a policy
so sanitary, that it commands the a, probation
Of e~ery one.
Our School, Ministerial and Canal lands,
will soon pass into the hands OF actual settlers
the Surplus Revenue will be repaid, and
thus nearly all sources OF revenue will be clos
ed, except the Public Works, The dividends
from Canal, Turnpike aud Railroad Stocks, and
Direct Taxation. That these txtraheous re-
venues should run out, is hardly to be created.
They never were very large, while they mysti-
fed our public accounts Their final disap.
pearaBce, with the causes that called them
forth, will not increase the public burdens, il
will but change their charac er.
These facts should have their due wheight
10 determining all financial questions. The
taxing and appropriating powers are The most
important functions OF Government High
taxes do not always indicate unnecessary tx-
ex xravagance, aud for man. of our exactons,
at this time, We may plead the force OF circum
stances.
We are young and rapidly gro sing people
we Lave everything to create, all our public
buildings to erect, and large and onerous debts
to discharge. II is, nevertheless, true, that
our financial system is without those sau tary
checks which experience has shown to be nee
essary in all public transactions; nor will it b.
denied, i apprehend, that greater degree of
MAJ be stained. he recommenda-
lions already made, will if adopted. SO much
to secure this end.
Our taxes are now levied upon an uniform
and equitable basis;-they should be expend.
ed under the strctsst accountability. Satisfy
the people that the funds drawn from them,
are properly and economically applied. and the
taxes now complained of, will be cheerfully
borne.
l'he very large amount which has been
drawn from the people of this State, du:ing
thepast year, for the support of the various
governments under which thew live, will GER
tainly excuse the earnestness with lich have
pressed the subject Of our expenditures upon
, Jour consideration.
Estimating tbs Revenues Of the GenerA