The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-10-06

while they are compelled to carry out its
provisions. They are not responsible for
the public debt, for it was created before
they were elected to Office. They are cer-
tainly not censurable because $67 7,lsl, ,423
less is expended for the purpose Of defraying
the expenses of the State Government, than
was expended for the same purposes under
the rule Of the opposition. So far from be-
ing an extravaganf State administration, the
figures show that ours is the cheapest State
Government in the Union. Those affairs
which come legitimately within the control
OF the State officers have been managed with
prudence, economy and ability.
When the present Democratic State Off
GERS came into power. they found the STATE
treasury empty. The public funds had been
loaned out to political favorites. Hundreds
of thousands of Dollars were loaned to Rail
Road companies. One hundred thousand
dollars had been loaned to Columbus In
surance Company which failed soon after,
and was total loss TO the Stute, having to
be made up by an additional tax upon the
people. In consequence Of this, there was
not money enough to pay the interest and
principal upon the public debt, which fell
due Jan. lst 1852; and to supply the deficit,
the whig officers borrowed funds of the Ohio
life Insurance and Trust Company. Further
than this, the money set apart for the pay,
ment of the public debt, amounting to near
ly quarter Of million of Dollars was ap-
propriated to the ordinary expenses of the
Government. In this deplorabfe condition
did the present officers find the finances of
the State, when they came into power. The
Treasury was empty; the money Of the State
had been appropriated to improper uses.
and a general embarrassment pervadea every
department of State affairs. We take plea.
sure in contrasting our condition new with
what it was then. Under Democratic ad.
mnistration, every thing is changed. Order
has been brought out Of Chaos and prosperity
has taken the place of embarrassment.
Auditor MORGAN, by his admirable admin
istratioh of the affairs of his office, has plac-
ed the character and credit of the State in a
most enviable position. During a period oil
unparalleled financial embarrassment, not ON
ly the interest but over half million of the
principal of the public debt has been paid.
Ohio bonds, that few years ago were drug
in the money market, selling at fifty cents
on the dollar, are now aloue par, and eager
ly sought after. ~
/ We now propose to enter upon an exam
nation of the tax levied in Portage County
for the same year.
You will be surprised when you learn thai
of all the taxes amounting to 800, 1858, ,15,1
levied IN Portage County for the year IS
81, only $S,ol7,66 goes for defraying the
current expenses of the State government;
and only ll.453,8l goes to defray current
expenses Of the county Yet such is the
case. @ f5
The following figures, taken from the
books in the Auditors Office, will Set this
mattef in its true light:
The whole tax levied in Portage county
for the year 1854 is $92,55l,l5,l
Tt is made up as follows: gss.
II Aaxn G
including Legislative, judicial Executive
Department, Benevolent Institutions, ....
and Penitentiary $S,OI7 ,66,:
State debt ana Sinking Fund, l4.3I7,25,4
State Common School ." 7,lSU,T2,t {
Dist. School Library - ,e. tevt.e y, l,145, )!
Total for above purposes, $4O,68l ,OO,g
For county tax ircluding salaries and fees
of officers, fuel, stationery, Jail fees, road
costs, witness and Jury fees $ll ,453,s )!
Bfidge tax, 5,726, 80 Q
Poor tax, eggat II Ffrs .ag.+, Is ~ 2S290,7 rs 6
Road tax, 6042 ,36 z
Township tax, z T,C23.5l,a z
6 Sehooltax, ..a--.s--.i---- 1861, ,48,f
borough tax M tother than SCHOOL, i,049 9,4o't
Delinquent tax, .a 367 ,92 c
Total county and township tax, s5l,S9O,l4,t
Add to this county and toWshp tax the
State and Common School fund ($l7,1S0,
74) and School Dist Literary fund($l,145,
36,9) both Of which come back to the
people of townships and we have $40
2l6,23,4as the sum levied FOR DIsTRIBU'
TIoN WITHIN THE LIMITS OF PORTAGE CouN'
TY! (Note-In consequence OF the Bank
and other delinquencies only $63,774,07 o
thishas been collected.) OF this sum SO distri
buted Eighteen thousand three hundred ant
twenty six Dollars (the Com, School ant
Library fund) is levied by State officers, al
though it is expended in the townships
$40 .o49,37,5 is levied by county officers
and $3l, ,S4O,67 is leuied By township and Dor.
roaqh officers! assts@g sa
Let US recapitulate. From the foregoing
it can be seen, that out of the $92, 2,55ls,l8,l
levied in Portage County for the year 1854
only $8,Ol7,66 is for the support Of the Stat
Go, ernment; $14,3l7.25,4 is for the Stat
debt, and the remainder amounting to $40,
216,23 ($6s, ,774,O7 only ofwhich is collect
ed) is distributed within the limits fof tn
county. The State G overnment proper
with all its magnificent Improvements, in
cluding salaries ofState officers, Suprem,
and Common Pleas judges, members of tn
Legislature, the building Of two new Luna
ftic assylums, the building of the new Star
House and all other current expenses, cost
the people Of Portage County only $S,
Ol7,66,S; the County Government includ
| ing salaries and fees Of public officers, fuel