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

- N"aN lN@Nay NethFthA1 VI htAh
public eIactions. They have deputed you to
reduce them. Every property holder in the
Sta'e enjoins this upon you as your 6rst great
duty. But reform, to be beneficial must take
the right direction. Tj produce high taxes. or
to eonnive at exorbitant fees and salaries, is
wrong but to misdirect endeavors TO correct
public abuses is no less mischievous. Unma-
tured wholesale reductions of fees and salaries
are sure TO be sOon repealed. Such measures
always lose to the people that real reform
which they demand True reform first ascer-
tains carefully where extravaganza and NAL
leasance exist 1t exposes and corrects them
1t screens no public abuse from merited oblo.
guy, and yet it shields from unjust, sweeping
censure the upright public servant 1t exam.
ines into and therefore understands public
evils, and the laws which follow become, in
consequence Of their wise discrimination, the
permanent pOlc7 of the State.
Questions arising out of and connected with
public revenue, have been vexaIions in all ages
and in all Governments, They are so in ours.
Taxes, whether levied by mouarch's arbitra-
ry will, or through the legal sction of popular
government, are unpleasant to those who pay
them. The number OF those who are anxious
TO share the expenditures Of the government,
IS far greater than those who volunteer to con-
tribute to them Propositions to depIete the
Treasury for objects of speculation. ornament
and pride, fEd frequently more supporters
than those of acknowledged general utility
The revenue officer who collects the taxes rem.
dered necessary in consequence of some i'll. ad-
Sised appropriation. is always blamed, while
he who occasioned them. often escapes the pub
lie ceuspre. The Constitution wisely provides
that every law Imposing tax shall state DIS
tinctly the object of The same, to which only it
shall be applied II this provision, ia It's full
meaning and intent. were properly carried out
so as to enable the public to 6x with certainty
the responsibility of taxes upon those who re-
ally occasion them, it would, TO great extent,
guard against inconsiderate public outlays.-
Profigacy would be earlier exposed and the
required reform applied in season to prove a
remedy.
We should discriminate between the mere
machinery for the collection Of taxes and the
influences leading to, and the authorities d.
rec'ing the levy, Our revenue laws should
afford to the tax payers frequent and early op-
portuCities to watch. judge and direct our e.
nanciaI policy. The fewer indirect and special
taxes we have the less chances there is to con-
ceal improper expenditures, and the more GER
tainly will the rise and fall of direct taxes indi-
cate the financial quality of our government.
We are rapidly approaching the period when
our direct property taxation will afford such
Indications, unless, we purposely couneract
this tendency. Special taxes are becoming iu-
operative, their levy indeed being of doubtful
co0stitutionality. The extraneous revenues
to the State Treasury are likewise constantly
diminishing, and nearly all our resources will
soon have to be derived through the grand du.
Plicate. We shall then, with greater certainty
and simplicity in our finances, have the uner-
ing index above alluded to.
The constitutional provision upon the subiee
is guaranty against arbitrary taxation. Here
tofore such guaranty has been secured to
corporations alone lhro' judicial nterposition
now they and the people equally enjoy it by
constitutional rule. In other Governments the
taxing power IS without limitations in ours il
is restrained to property tax. The power to
borro is also wisely confined within very mar
row limits. Under such a system fnancial
abuses cannot be long concealed because the
amount of taxation will indicate to each tax
payer the degree OF economy or wastefulness
that may at each period characterize the Gov.
erment The fact that taxes are one thing, the
tax law another, will then become apparent. to
all and We will look to the General Assembly
and to the local authorities of the State, for 4
reduction of taxes, rather than to Executive
officers. Any attempt TO reduce tue taxes in
the aggregate by mere change in the mode
and manner Of collecting them, will ploVe as
futile as an attempt to change the weather by
breaking the barometer Real retrenchment,
to have lasting effect, must spring from and
be maintained by General Assemblies whose
economy and watchluness shall reflect the
wishes of a frugal and enlightened people.
} feel great sOcitude that the system of re.
quiring ALL State expenditures Of every des-
scription to be brought under the revision Of
the chief financial officer of the State, shall be
strictly and permareutly adhered to. This is
demanded by the constitution as well as by
sound policy. Itoperates as a preventive o
malpractices which had hitherto de6ed all at
tempts at reform.