Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-11-01
The Next Legislature.

With the next Legislature, as much az
any other one thing, rests The future of the
Republican party. tits to it the people look as
to their relief from the crying evils of ignor-
ant and foolish legislation. 1t is hoped that
some relief will be given to the present tox-
crushed citizen, and an opportunity afforded
for Ohio capital and Ohio enterprise to ex-
pand and exert itself upon O,io soil, instead
Of wandering off 10 western cline, and les,
oppressive laws.
There are few ways that the Legislature
which has jnst been elected can lessen the
expenses of the State government so that it |
shall become apparent Immediately. 1t is
true there are many things which demand
corrective, and which the Legislature will
act upon, but their action will not be fe.t for
some time The great mass Of the voters of
Ohio are only convinced Of the virtue, or ex. !
travogance of party as they feel its infu-
ence exerted upon their pocket, and it is for
this reason we fear that our Legislature will
fail 10 convince the people of it's patriotism
In lessehing every expenditure over which
they have control. We hope, however, that
the items of expenditure which they can
curtail forthwith, and other items which they
can set about curtaiing, will show a disposi-
ton to reduce the aggregate. expenses, and
convince the taxpayer.
In the items Of Printing and Stationery,
very material decrease nigh, be made. Sew.
eral Thousand dollars, at least. Let there be
but very smal! amount of extra printing
and if there are few bills introduced this item
will be but light. Let the outlay for extra
clerk hire, md messenger boys be greatly
curtaled, and the session Of the Legislature
very materially shortened, and these things
alone will serve to satisfy the most stubborn
economist that the Legislature is in earnest.
But we have many other departments
wherein an immense amount may 6e sa, ed,
but the effect of which will not be apparent
Immediately. For instance: In the ap-
preparation for the payment of the principal
and interest of The State debt, let them be
confined strictly to the constitutional pro-
vision for that purpose. That constitutional
provision may be found ia the seventh Sec
ton of Art. VIII of the New Constitution,
and is as follows:
Sec. 7. The ia th of the State being pledged for
the payment OF Its public debt, in order 10 pIovde
therefor, there shall be created sinking fund which
shall lie sufficient to pay the accruing interest on
such debt, and, annually, 10 reduce the principal
thereof by a sum not less than hundred thous
and dollars, Increased yearly, and each and every
year by compOunding, at the rate of six per cent
per annum. The snid sinking fund shall consist of
the net annual income OF the public works and
stocks owned by the State, of any other fund or re.
sources that are, or mny BE- providodby law, and OF
such further sum- to be raised by taxation, US may
| De required Tor The purposes Aforesaid.
This will very materially decrease the ap.
preparation for the purposes of hqudating the
principal and interest of the State debt. 1t
will also at the same time keep within the
constitutional provision, which even our en-
emies must confess will be perfectly right.
The reduction Of the per diem of members
of the Legislature will very materially lessen
the Legislative expenses, but if they work
faithfuy-muke good, sensible laws while
they nre in session, and adjourn in any reas-
enable time, we think the people will not OBJ
ject to the present per diem.
Agan-the present unjust tux law must
be rt-modelled. The people must pe requ'r-
ed to pay taxes on what they own, and not,
as at present, upon what they o,ce. A strict
surveillance must be kept over our Board of
Public Works, and this yelr OF plentiful
crops will make that department source of
considerable revenue. Salaries must be re.
duced, and all siuecures relentlessly Gu, off
II all this is done we are satisfied that the
Republican party Of Ohio has n glorious
future, but if the present Legislature pre-
sents the same scene of senseless Legislation
aud foolish extravaganza as the last we shall
be one of the first to raise our voice against
il.
There is another. and nobler reflection,
in connection with this body. To it will look
the entire country, and as the acts of the late
Massachusetts legs la;ure have been the theme
OF conversation in every State of the con-
tedcracy, so will The acts of our legislature;
and in proportion as they are mertorious, or
otherwise, so will be their influence on future
elections, here and elsewhere II is the right
OF the people to speak out on these questions
and the tuty of their representatives to obey,
I'VE have no expectation OF getting our neighbor
ilhe editor o the Cnronclel 10 acknowledge his er
! Tor."
Thus writes the Editor of the Gdsette in
reference to our course towards Governor
Shannon. Now we ask in all candor, is not
our course in reference to that gentleman
] m i.,a s,L