The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-16

Here, as will be perceived, ia reduction
of more than three hundred thousand dollars
in tho State taxes to be assessed on the
grand duplicate for the year 1855. The
amount levied for State Common School
purposes, ion the duplicate of 1854, yields
an aggregate fund equal to one dollar and
| terty-eight cents for each youth between
the ages of 5 and 81 years, resident in the
State. The levy for the year 1855, for
State Common School purpose, remains the
same as in 1864, and therefore, fund of
equal amount may be expected from the
duplicate of the present year. If this sum
of one dollar and forty EIGHT cents for the
education of each youth of the State, is a
more, liberal provision for that purpose than
can be justly afforded by people whose
taxable wealth exceeds eight hundred mil
lions of dollars, such future reduction, if
any, as the public judgement shall decide to
be consistent with a wise State policy, can
be accomplished by an amendment of the
existing law in abundant time to take eff
feet previous to the assessment Of taxes for
the year 1866. aaf.I ''.
On reference to the proper table accom-
panying this report, it will be seen that the
passage Of the law by the last Legislature,
requiring the National Road to be leased
to the highest responsible bidder, finds re-.
newed vindication in the indebted condi-
ton of the road as developed in the adjust
ment of outstanding claims held against it,
During the year ending 18th November,
1854, the payments from, the Treasury, on
account of liabilities incurred by this road
previous to its transfer on the lst day oc
June, were $4,000 SO. The payments in
to the Treasury on account of tolls receiv-
ed to the same period, were but $l5,754
So, showing difference against the road
at the date of its lease by the State,
amounting to $8,244SO. In addition to the
liabilities above noted; there were ascer-
tanned claims exceeding the sum of $4,000,
still to be met by the Treasury. After the
disposal of these, the State is left free from
further expenditure on account OF the road
until the lst of June, 1854, deriving in the
meantime an annual rent OF six thousand
one hundred and FIVE dollars from the par
ties to whom it was leased on bond of am
pie amount, conditioned for the keeping up
and surrender of the road at the expiration |
Of their lease in as good repair as it went
into their possession.
The amendatory laws Of the last Legisla-
ture oil, Ohio, throwing additional checks
around the disbursement of the public mon
ey, although concentrating upon this office
a large amount of additional labor, are in
the course Of successful operation and have
been attended by highly beneficial results.
The practice which had existed through
long succession of years, of checking from
he State Treasury, the money appropriated
for the maintenance Of the Benevolent In
without accounting at the proper
State department for its expenditure, has
been entirely stopped. Under the new law,
40 money for these purposes, is now drawn
rom the Treasury, except upon vouchers
irving the names of the persons to whom
he money is due, and a full statement of
he nature Of the claims. N A similar change
las also been made in the disbursement of
moneys set apart for the use of the New
State House, Not a dollar of this fund is
low paid from the State Treasury, except on
he Auditors warrant, and this is ,allowed
'niy on the presentation Of the claim on
which payment is demanded, duly certified
ind approved BY the Superintendent and Ar