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

change amounts to nnety-thrss thousand one
hundred and ssVenty-one dollars per annum.
when compared with the average expenditure
OF The last six years, and will no doubi exceed
That sum under future letters. The contract
system has many advantages over the policy
that has been hitherto pursued, and am in
ened to think should be permanently
adopted. The success Of any system, howev.
er. involving so large an expenditure Of the
public money, depends in a great measure on
the manner and spirit in which it is carried
out. a very general publicity Of the lettings.
and the confidence OF the people in the impair.
tality and fairness of the awards, are ele-
ments without which itcan never become bene
icially established.
The contract system is increasing in impor.
tance and extent, and will, no doubt, gradual
ly superceds the employment Of regular Off
cera 10 many of the departments of the public
service. The change in many instances, would
be healthy one, and should, ia my judgment,
be encouraged BY the passage Of such lava as
would allay all apPrehensions, and fully secure
the confidence Of the people. We are aecus-
toned to the responsibilities and restrictions
imposed by law upon public officers, and the
same reasons should induce US to adopt similar
statutory regulations and safeguards ID refer
ence to public contractors. II all inducements
to do wrong on the part Of the agents of gov
crnmenis were tfectually removed, there wo'd
be little or no grounds for popular dislrust. l
therefore suggest the 2rOpIety Of a general
law on the subjec! Of public contracts. embra
cling those that may be entered into on the parl
OF counties, townships, and other corporations,
as well as on the part of the State.
The irresponsible ard exlravagant system OF
administration which prevails 10 some of our
counties and cities, furnishes the principal
cause for the exactiOns which are SO generally
complained of, These public contracts are
granted 10 favorites. which occasion the most
lavsh expenditures. There, also, we find off
GERS with incomes which shock all correct ideas
of public compensation. These things have
their effect upon the general tone of our public
morals. County reform is duty enjoined by
every consideration OF public virtue. Some
who suffer under tlese evils denounce the tax
law without much consideration as to the cause
Of the heavy burdens under which they are
laboring but little closer reflection would
show them that it is the taxes, not the tax law,
which are exorbtant, and that the tax law is
bu; the unwelcOme witness. The local treas.
uriss should be brought under the same syste
matized restraint as the State Treasury. The
heavy drafts upon them under pretence OF
some law, must be eifectually checked, and
the requirements Of the Constitution that mo
money shall be drawn from any county or
township treasury except by authority of law ;
must be vigorously enforced. The General
Assembly should distinctly designate the speci.
fc authority upon whose appropriation the
public moneys shall be disbursed. Our courts
have been 10 the habit of ordering county au-
ditors and treasurers to pay out money for
many purposes of mere personal conveniences,
an exercise of power for which I can find
no warrant in the Constitution. These orders
are only obeyed from a fear OF the apparently
unlimited power of the courts to punish fol
contempt. The fees of county officers should
be thoroughly revised. and the law provdn
for removal from Office and other punishment
for speculation, should be made more stringent
Some two or three of the larger counties @
the State, might be supplied with Boards NOR
numerous than that of the present Count
Commissioners. The public interest would b.
better guarded, and the power to levy taxes AM
make appropriations be brought under grea
Ter degree Of responsibility. The separation o
civil from criminal business, with distinct off.
GERS for each court, would also facilitate the
business of such counties without any increase
of the public expense.
AS to the mere machinery for the collection
of the taxes, it must be admitted, as a genera
truth, that all such enactments are but approx
imations to what should be their legitimate ob
iect, viz: their equitable apporuonment among
the individuals composing 1t. Private ingenu
ity ccunteracts the best designs Of the legisla
tor; and many persons often succeed in push
ing their own proper burdens upon Others
Frequently, TOO, the Legislature uses the tax
ing power for favoring or Gischaraging specia
interests or objects. This was so long and Sc
generally scquiesced in, that the idea became
prevalent that taxes are levied, not so mucl
for purposes of revenue. as for those of favorit
ism or oppression. Hence, we find persons de
nouncing taxes, although imposed by genera
laws, as heing aimed at the destruction OF thelr
particular class and, hence, it likewise is
that we find them demanding exemptions fol
certain special objects, because in their oPin'
ion, they deserve to succeed.
These appeals to the favor of our LegisIa-
lures have in many instances been successful
The valuation Of improved lands 10 a state ol
nature, which was the rule previous TO l5%3,
was intended as favor to the agricultural in-
terest. The exemption of tools and mschia-
cry was designed as an encouragement to the
mechanics and manufactures of the State -
Taxing banks on their profits only was held
ont as honus for foreign capital; while the