Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-11-29
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.

We delight to cross swords with the edito-
OF the Spirit of Democracy, for verify he is
a gentleman. 1t was that paper we referred
to two weeks since in an article on the Le-
gisOture. The issue Of the Spirit of the
2lst inst, contains an article in reply to ours
which we wish briefly to notice.
In the course of the article there occurs
the following language:
II the Locoioco Legislature has been "yilliauous
ly extravagant" why cannot the Fusion Legislature
by being very economical reduce the taxes materi-
ally the first year after its session, There is no rea
son, certainly.
We never said they could not "reduce the
taxes materially the first year after its ses-
sion." We did say, however, and we repert:
"Thers are few ways that the Legislature
which has Just been elected can lessen the
expenses of the State government SO that it
shall become apparent Immediately"
In what dictionary is the word Immediately
found to mean "the year after," we should
like to know. Not in our Webster, we feel
certain.
But, our reasons for saying so are these:-
The present per diem Of members Of the Le-
gislature is 81, at least 81 TOO high. The
present Legislature may reduce tina: per diem
one, or even two dollars, but it would not be-
come really apparent to the tax payer in
reduction of the taxes Immediately, for the
new Constitution in Art. II, Sec. 81, pro-
vides-
"Thc members and officers of the General AS
sembly shall receive q fixed compensation to be
prescribed by law, and no other allowance or per-
duistes, either in the payment OF postage or otner
wise and no change in their colnpensa tion snail
take effect dur ng their term OF oiiice."
Thus |. will be seen, that, although the
aggregate expense for per diem of members
may be reduced twenty-five or even fifty per
cent, vet it will not result in reduction OF
the taxes for t,oo years. The same is true it
the salary of any other officer is reduced
and no matter il they are all reduced one
half, Art. II, Sec. 90, of the Constitution is
"The General Assembly shall fix
the compensation of all officers; but no change
therein shall affect the salary ofany officer, during
his existing term, unless the office be abolished" "
Thus any immediate reduction of expendi-
lures in this quarter is most elfectually block
ed. These provisions of the Constitution
we're what we referred to in part, when we
made use of the language quoted above.
But there are other things to be taken into
consideration, which we had in view, and
which we now recommend to the attention
of our Spiritual opponent. Any material
change which may be made in the tax-law
will not become apparent until the end OF
the year, or until after the nert election. No
matter how much the economy of the Legis-
ature NAV have reduced The actual expenses
oc the State government, and consequently
the aggregate of taxation, the people-the
masses of the tax-payers--will rot feel that
reduction in the only way they can be brought
to feel such change, that is, in the pocket.
The same is true in reference to the com.
pensation of any county official. which may
be decided to be too high. Amy Legislation
in reference to them, however much it May
eventually reduce the aggregate amount of
taxation, will not be felt Immediately. Many
of these county officers, we think, receive
TOO much for their services. 1t is utterly i'm
possible for one man, without any capital in
vested, to earn $4,000 or $4,000 year, yet
this amount has been paid in this county,and
no doubt in many other counties in the State.
Though reductions of the taxes may not
be brought about the same ,ceek that the Le-
gislature convenes, yet We are we'll satisfied
that material reduction will be effected
eventually by the present Legislature. There
ore many good men elected to that body,
who will use their utmost endeavors to do
SO, and among those good men we have no
hesitation in placing the Senntor from Mon
roe and Guernsey, as aside from his spot
metal" proclivities, he 10 first rate man and
we think regards party bonds just lightly e.
nough to act as he pleases, and fer the best,
To convince our friend that there is room
for re,renchment, we ask him to
LOOK UroN THIS rIcTuRE'
The aggregate amount Of taxation from
1916 to lS49, inclusive, was as follows, under
Wing rule:
ls46 $2,5so,OOO