The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-17

uun wisely provides "that every law i'm
posing Il tax shall state distinctly the OBJ
fj-ctso the same, to which only it shall he
app led" Ii this provision, in its full
meaning and intent, were properly car
rlcd out so as TO enable the public to Tx
with certainty the responsibility of taxes
upon those who really occasion them, it
would, to great extent, guard against
inconsiderate public outlays. Prohlgacy
would be earlier exposed and the requir
cd reform applied in season to prove a
remedy.
We should discriminate between the
mere machinery for the collection Of taxes
and the infnencessleading to and the au
thorities directing the levy. Our revenue
laws shou afford to the tax payers frc.
quent and early opportunities to watch,
Judge and dire ct our financial policy =
The fewer indirect and special taxes we
have the less chances there are 10 conceal
improper expenditures and the msre GER
;ainIy will the rise and fall OF direct taxes
indicate the financial quality Of our gov
ernment. We are rapidly approaching
the period when our direct properly tax
alton will afford such indications, unless
we purposely counteract this tendency.
Special taxes are becoming imperative,
their levy inde, d being of doubtful con
stilutIona!ity. The extran Gus revenues
to the State Treasury arc Hk. wise con-
stantly diminishing, and nearly all ous re-
sources will soon have 10 be derived
through the grand dup p'icate. We shall
tihtn, with greater certainty and simplicity
in our inances. have the unerrng index
above alluded to. as f ls.-- 8
I'ue conslituso opal prov sioa upon the
suhjee is guarantee against arbitrary
taxa;ion. Hrrelol re such a guarantee
has been secured 10 corporations alone
throu gh ju dcial in;erposition; now they
and the people equally enjny it by. con.
stituton4 rule. In o;her governments
the axing power is without limitations;
in ours il is restrained to proper tax
The power TO b rrow is also wisely CON
fined WI hin very narrow limits. Under
such sys tem financial abuses cannot be
long concealed, because the amount OF
Taxation will iniieate to each tax payer
he degree OF economy or wasiefulness
that may al each period characterize the
government. The fact that taxes are one
thing, the tax law another, will then be-
come apparent to al: and We will look to
the General Assembly and the local au-
! thoritles of the State for reduction oi
! taxes rather than to executive officers. -
| Any attempt TO reduce the taxes in the
aggregate by a mere change in the mode
and manner Of col eciing them, will prove
as futile As an attempt TO change tht wea-
ther by breaking the barometer. Real
retrenchment, to have lasting effect,
must spring from and be main aimed by
Gener i Assemblies; whose economy and
waichfulness shall r. fleet the wishes of a
frugal and enlightened people.
feel great solicitude that the sysem
of requiring all State expenditures of ev-
cry description to be brought under the
revi>io of the chief financia. officer of the
State shall be strictly and permanently ad
hercd to- This is demanded by the con
stitution as we'll as by sound policy. Il
operates as a preventive of maIpraetices
which has hitherto defed all attempts at
reform.
The contracts recently entered into by
! the Board of Public Works for the repairs
Of the canals. involving an entire change
of policy on that subject, have elirited a
very general public discuss on. The sa
wing TO the State by this change amounts
to $93,72 per annum. when compared
with the average expenditure of the last
six years and will no doubt exceed that
sum under future letting IS. The contract
system has many advantages over the
policy that has been hitherto pursued
and, am inclined to think, should BE-
permanently adopted. The success Of any
system, however, involving SO large an
expendi ure of the public money, depends
in Il great measure on the m inner and
spirit in which it is carried out A very
general publicity o. the lettings. and the
confidence of the people in the impartial
ty and fairness OF the awards, are ele-
mcnts without which it can never be
come benehcially established.
The contract system is increasing in
Importance and extent, and will no doubt
gradually supercede the employment OF
regular officers in many OF the dep art.
mcnts OF the public service. The change
in many instances would be q healthy
one and should. in my jud4 cement. be en-
outraged by the passage OF such laws as
would alay all apprehenslonS, and fully
secure the cunfidence OF the people. We
dle accustomed To the responsibilities and
restrictions imposed by law UPON public
officers, and the same reasons shonl in
duce Us adopt similar STA utory re.euit-
tons and safeguards in reference to pub
lie contractors. fall inducements 10 do
wrong on The part of the agents of govern
mrnt were effectually removed, there
would be little or no grounds tor popular
diStrust. [ therefore suggest the pro
prietY Of a general law on the subject oI
public contracts, embracing those that
may be entered into on the part of coun-
ties, townships and other corporations, a
W., II as on the part of the State.
The irresponsible and extravagant sys-
tenn of administration which prevails in
some OF our counties and cities furnishes
the principal cause for the exactions which
are so generally complained of. These
public contracts are granted to lavorltes
which occasion the most lavish cxpendi
lures. There. also, we find officers witt
incomes which shock all correct ideas o
public compensation. These things have
their effect upon the general tone OF "u
public morals. County reform is duty
enjoined by every consideration Of public