Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-17
Causes of High Taxes,

VUuoVo VI 4AASn 4uA0os
That the taxes Of the people Of Ohio
are enormously heavy at this time, is a
Truth that comes home to the pockets Of
every man that has one dollar on the
duplicate. Why they are so, is ques.
ton we shall consider.
The amount Of Ia xes raised last year
for all purposes was S0,o72,339 so; in
1852, s7,s23,sO5 27, showing an in.
crease of taxation in 1854 over 1853, Of
sl,26s,534 2s. And it should not be
forgotten that Of this increase, but
S5l,277 40 was levied FOR State purpo.
ses, while one million tsoo hundred and
Serenteen thousand ttco hundred and fE.
ty.si1 dollars and seuentyjour cents was
for LOCAL PURPOSES, and was levied by
authorities in the several counties, town.
ships, cities, villages, and school dis.
tricts. Now if you want TO know who
made your taxes high, look to the Coun.
ty Commissioners, Township Trustees,
Town Councils, and District School Di.
rectors, and you will take the right
course 10 learn the TRUTH.
We have stated that the total amount
Of taxes raised in 1854, was So, ,O92, $780,.
SO; of this, s3,O77,oo1,4l was levied
foe State purposes, and so,o14,73S,oo
was imposed by local authority. OF the
amount raised a State tax, s1,003, 1885,.
&C 2 was applied 10 the payment of the
interest on the State debt; $60S,3Go 80
to extinguishing the principal of the
State debt; S1,1o7,2ls SO 8, is the
State Common School fund, distributed
to Counties; s52,l5s 45, School Libra
ry Fund, disbursed in counties; $780,
347 90 is tho amount expended for Ca
nal repairs, Superintendence, &C.; while
1864 ,6S7 so 4, is the total Of General
Revenue expenses, paying the Leglsla.
ture, the Governor, Executive Officers,
Judges, State Benevolent Institutions a,
Columbus, New State House, New Lu.
natic Asylums, Ohio Penitentiary, &c.
As the School Fund is disbursed in the
several counties, it should be classed
with local taxes; and if VIC make this
deduction-which any reasonable man
will allow-we shall have the State Tax
proper at $l,690,513,45; and if we
again deduct the amount necessarily rails.
ed for paying the interest and part prin.
ciple Of the debt, recklessly contracted
years ago, we shall have but 5000, $780,
90, for the support Of the State Gov
ermment! If anybody show cheaper
government for so large and populous a
commonwealth, let him do so!
Before we dismiss the State tax we
will make one or two remarks. The
Democratic party has oeen held respon'
sible for the enormous increase Of taxa
ton. The heaviest items in the list we
have enumerated, are the sums raised to
pay the interest and part principal o.
the State debt, and the State Common n
School and Library Fund. With regard
to the first, (the State debt) is but car
rying out the express provisions of the
new Constitution. The policy pursued
by the Democratic party has already re-
duced the State debt to fourteen million.
Of dollars, and in course Of time, will
wholly extinguish it. Then one griev
GUS item Of taxation will totally disap
pear. In relation to Common Schools
we are. perfectly willing that The Demo
cratic party should shoulder the who'll
responsibility Of the increased Schoo
taxation Of the last two yesrs. Tha
School Law-the most salutary measu r
Of the last twenty years-we would up
hold, though II taxed the smoke Of chin
neys and the nails driven into cofins.-
The question Of State Education is to-
momsntous to be estimated by any tabl
! Of currencies whatever. II aState whicI