Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-17

Value of lands 42e, ,245 ACT 432. .26I. .78S
Value of towns 40, ,822. 948 I45.596. .75t
Value Of chattels 297 7.O3l ,572 233Ol8,SI5
Total tax value Ss66, ,099, ,sS2 $500. 877, ,S5l
The total State taxes for 1854 were 50, Off,.
COL ,O4U6; and for 1865 s2.754. SOC. .O5l 6. o.
The total county taxes for 1854 were sq,.
725. 1864 8. and for 1856 Sq,762, sos Oa 8.
The total tO~nship, city and special taxes for
1854 were So, % 9: and for s55 were
s43,6lS,0O 0. Delinquencies and forfritures
for 1854 were 2I7.Il2,757. and for 1855.
were 49s 78l ,S59. The total local taxes for
1854 were 6,634. 1896 8; and for 1855 g..
l99, 704.29 L.. The total taxes on duplicate
for 1854 we're 9.O99,339, 40 Z, aud for 1855,
8,954, ,5ll,S97
| was anxious to present in a tabular state.
ment, such detailed information in reference
to our County, Township and City transac-
tiOns, as would enable the people to compare
their own local administrations with those of
other portions Of the State. found, however,
that thswas not attainable at the seat of Govern.
ment without much labor, and certain addition.
al facts which those organizations themselves
can alone supply. Existing laws provide for
the publication at home of the amount of their
levies, collections and expenditures but it
would greatly facilitate the object in view il
the affairs of each county, township and city
administration were annually published, in a
condensed form, for general information thro'- =
ou: the State.
Such comparisons and suggestions would
naturally spring from these e2posiions as
would gradually lead to the adoption OF the
desired restraints upon Their action and eventu-
ally to more healthy legislation on the sub
ject.
Of the fees Of County, Township, and 9th.
er local officers, no account appears to be kept
which is accessible to the pubIic-a matter to
which | again call the attention of the General
Assembly, and respectfully suggest that law
be passed requiring every public officer, com,
pensated by fees. to keep an accurate account
of his receipts and exp, ndirures, and transmit
the same to the appropriate department, at
the Seat of Government, with the view that a
general synopsis of such accounts be publish.
ed once year for the information of the peo.
Pile of the State. These local offices are gen
orally lucrative, and it is believed that not less
than two millions are Annually collected by fees
from the people, and | can see no good reason
"why the latter should not be able to ascertain
the compensation which is severally received
| by their own agents. Ii is almost impossible
to secure proper legislation on this important
subject while SO little tangible information is
before the General Assembly.
The preceding statements contain, it is be.
with The accompanying reports and exhibits, to
enable you to see in what particular divisions
of The public service, and for what objects, the
| exacilono are improperly high. and where our
efforts should be especially directed to bring
about reduction. The local causes which
has so disproportionately sweled the burdens
Of the people, you, coming from all parts of
the State, can no aoubt explain to each 9th.
| or.
In reference to these causes, however, and
especially the fees of county and other local
officers, it would prove of much assistance in
your deliberations, it in the early part of the
session you would order suitable inquiries tc
be addressed to the proper authorities.
All will admit that the public burdens, for a
government happily SO very circumscribed in
its sphere as ours, are high beyond apology
True, high taxes are not Of themselves conclu
sive evidence of bad, nor low taxes always
proof of a good government, yet the amount is
matter proper for comparative inquiry, espe
cia!ly, where the rise is sudden. Such ek
aminations lead TO reliable information. both as
to the amount. and, which is more important
point, the purposes to which the money is ap.
piled, Sound political economy does not resi-
on any specific amount of taxation, but rather
on such an administration of public affairs, a,
guided By proper spirit of frugali:y and re-
publican simplicity, discharges scrupulously
every duty essential to the public welfare
Every financial transaction should be subiec tel
to the most rigid accountability, and all mis-
applications Of the public money be severely
punished.
Public virtue is essential to the maintenance