True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-22
For the True American.
Taxes and State Expenditures.

many OF them, perhaps, wish TO know why
taxes are so heavy as they are. propose
to give them some light on the matter, de-
rived from official sources. l shall endea-
vor to be accurate, and if any one detects
errors in my statements, l will thank him
to point them out. If found to be errors
I will cheerfully correct them. My object
is truth, because that alone, will, in the
end, sustain itself and triumph over all as
saults.
Taxes in the State of Ohio are heavy,
Oppressively so. There is no denying OF
Disgusting the fact, however, men may
differ about the causes, or the necessity
for it.
In order to understand the causes, OF
the necessity for taxes, whether light OF
heavy, it becomes necessary to inquire fol
what purposes the money is to be expend
ed, and the propriety or necessity of the
tax depends upon the propricty or neces
sity for the purposes for which it is levied
The primary object of taxes is to raise
money for the support of government, gen
eral and local. Incidental objects may
and often do influence the question as tc
what should be the subjects of taxation
For example, country importing bread
stufs and brandy, would never nationally
tax both at the same rate. Taxes should
never be assessed until the use to which
the money is to be applied has been as.
certained. Money should never be ex.
pended for public purposes until full and
faithful investigation furnishes reasonable
proof that the expenditure will be useful
to the public, or that it is necessary to the
public welfare
In Ohio, taxes are assessed for four gen.
eral purposes.
1st. For the support of the State gov.
ernment.
Sd. For the support of local, munich
pal interpretations, as counties, cities,
townships, towns and boroughs.
3d. For public improvements of an ex.
tent beyond the capacity of the local mu-
nicipal interpretations.
4th. The education of the rising gene
rations
I desire all who propose to read what
have to say on the subject, to keep this
classification in mind, as the judgment he
may form upon each item of expenditure
must depend, in part, upon the Importance
he may attach to the purpose for which it
is expended.
Under the first head is inclnded the ex-
penses of the legislative, executive and
judicial departments of the State govern
ment, the support Of the charitable insti.
tutions of the State, and the erection Of
State buildings.
I take the year 1858, as no official re-
port for 1854 has been published, be-
lieve.
l will compare it with 1851.
The expenditure for 1853 were as fol
lows:
Legislative prn'g and stat'ry s125, ,164,51
Executive, including military, 30,941 g.
Judicial. ............... 62, IA a.
New State House. e................1 100000 OF
Deaf and dumb, blind and lu-
natic asylums. ms................ 99,149 4.
Penitentiary. y..................... 45,824 s.
State Board of Agriculture. 2,521 o.
State Library. ary.................. 1,154 g.
Miscellaneous s................... 14,19O 6
Total for 1S53................ $501 900 g.
The expenditures for the same purpose
for 1851 were as follows:
Legislative printing and sta
tionary. ...."............... $132,52l l
Executive, including military 32,7S7 0
Judicial ,...,................. 2S,4S6 7
New State House. .......,.... S5,O14 7
Deaf and dumb, blind and lu-
natic asylums. .............. 22,O47 S
Penitentiary. ry."................ 30,456 8
State Board of Agriculture 1000 Q
State Library........ ......." 1,154 2
Miscellaneous s,................ 1852 I
Total for 1S51........... $346,581
Difference infavorof 1851 $154,5O9 !
: Under the head of asylums in 1853,
an item of $26,917 Al, for two new as
lums. In 1851 the printing and station
| ry for the constitutional convention is j
cluded in the first item, there being
separate account. 1t would not be t
+ from 5000.
Should this subject be acceptable,
a will, in future numbers, treat of the loc
t taxes and of our State debt and schC
, taxes. AN OBSERVER.
=. -<SOSS-
ALL HAIL New HAMPSHIRE IT
election held in this State, on Tuesds
: xos,,ItoJ> ~ tbo ,,ttor d;sooD,6tura a