Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-17

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no good reason why the latter should not be
able to ascertain the compensation which is
seVeraly received by their own sgents.--
1t is almost impossible 10 secure proper
legislation ON this importan. subject while
SO little tangible information is before the
General Assembly.
The preceding statements contain, it is
Believed, all the information that is neces-
sary, with the accompanying reports and ex-
hibits, to enable you to see In what particu-
lar divisions Of the public service, and for
what objects, the exaetions are impreperly
highland where our efforts should be especi.
! ally directed to hiring about reduction.-
The local causes which have 90 dispropor-
tionatey swelled the burdens of the peop pie,
you, coming from all parts OF the state, can
no doubt explain to each other.
In reference to these causes, however, and
especially the fees of county and other local
officers, ii would prove of much assistance,
in your deliberations, if the early part
Of the session you woulG order suitable in
qui-ies to be addressed to the proper au-
| .horites.
All will admit that the public burdens,
for govern hent happily SO very crcunscri.
bed in its sphere as ours, are high beyond
apology. True, high taxes are not Of them
selves conclusive evidence of bad, ror low
taxes alwaysProof of a good government,
yet the amount is a matter proper for COM
parative inquiry, especially, where the rise
is sudden. Such examinations lead to re-.
liable info rmati0n, both as to the amount
| and, which is more important point, the
purposes to which the money is applied
Sound political economy does not rest on
any specific amount of taxation, but rather
on such an administration Of public affairs,
as guided by proper spirit of frugaltv and
republican simplicity. discharges scruDulous.
ly every duty essential to the public welfare.
Every financial transaction should be SUBJ
Jected to the most rigid accountability, and
all misapPlicatons Of the public money be
severely punished.
Public virtue ID essential to the mainten-
ance of republican government, and he is
the most dangerous offender who attempts to
undermine or destroy it,
The people of Ohio justly complain of
nigh public exactions. They have deputed
you to reduce them. Every property holder
in the State enjoins this upon you as your
first great duty. But reform, to bo beneficial
must take the right direction. To produce
nigh taxes, or to connive at exoribtant fees
! and salaries, is wrong; but to msdirecl en-
deavors to correct public abuses is no less
mischievous. Unnatured wholesale reduc-
tlors OF fees and salaries are sure to be soon
repealed. Such measures ALWAYS lose to
the people the real reform which they de-
mand. True reform first ascertains carefully
where extravaganza and malfeasance exist.
1t exposes and corrects them. 1t screens
no public abuse from mefited obloquv, and
yet it shields from unjust, sweeping censure
the upright public servant. l, examines in
to and therefore understands public evils,
and the laws which follows become, in con-
sequence of their wise dscrim nation, the
permanent policy of the State.
Questions arising out of and connected
with public revenue, have been vsxatious in
all ages and in all governments. They are
so in ours. Taxes, whether levied by
monarsh's arbitrary will, or through the legal
action of popular government, are unpIeas-
ant to those who pay them. The number
of those who are anxious to share the ex-
pendtures Of the government, is far greater
than those who volunteer to contribute TO-
wards them: Propositions to deplete tile
Treasury for objects of speculation, ornament
and pride, have frequently more supporters
than those of acknowledged general utility.
The revenue officers who collect the taxes
rendered necessary in consequence of some
lll-advised appropriation, is always blamed,
while he who occasioned them; often escapes
the public censule. The Constitution
wisely provides "that every law imposing a
tax shall state distinctly the object of the
same, to which only it shall be appled"-
| If this provision, in its full meaning and
intent, were properly carried out SO as to
enable the public to fix with certainty the
responsibility of taxes upon those who re!
ally occasion them, it would, to great ex-
tent, guard against inconsderate public
outlays. Profiigacy would be earlier ex-
posed and the required reform applied in
season to prove remedy.
We should discriminate between the mere
machinery for the collection of taxes and
the influences leading to, and the authorities
directing the levy. Our revenue laws should
AFFORD 10 the Taxpayers frequent. and cal y
opportunities to watch, Judge and direct our
financial policy. The fewer indirect and
special taxes we have the less chance there
is to conceal improper expenditures, and the
more certainly will the rise and fall of di-
rect taxes indicate the financial quality of
our government. We are rapidly approach
ing .he period when our direct property tax
alton will afford such indicat ions, unless
we purpcsely counteract this tendency
Special taxes are becoming imperative. their
levy indeed being OF doubtful constitution
slity. The extrancious revenues to the State
Treasury are likewise constantly diminish
ing, and nearly all our resources will soon
have to be derived through the grand du-
plicate. We shall then, with greater GER
tainty and simplicity in our finances, have
the unerring index above alluded to.
The constitutional provision upon the
subject is a guaranty against arbitrary tax
alton. Heretofore such guarunty has
been secured to corporations alone through