M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-01-17

this change amounts to ninety three
thousand one hundred aud seventy two
dollars per annum, hen compared with
the average expenditure Of the last six
, years and will no doubt exceed that
: sun under future lettings. The contract
4. system has many advantages over the
policy that has been hitherto pursued,
e and am inclined to think should be
!, permantly adopted. The success OF any
{ system however, involving so large an
? expenditure Of the public money, de-
Pends in greatmeasure on the manner
l and spirit I'M which it is carried out
E A very general publicity of the lettings
: and the confidence Of the people in the
5 impartiality and failness Of the awards,
I are elements without which it can ne
: yer become bene6cially established.
$ The contact system is increasing in
I importance Ind extant, and will no
. doubt, gradually snpeTcede the imploy.
} ment. of regular officers in many of the
departments Of the public service. The
J charge in many instances would be a
healthy and shouIdI IN my t~Js-.---.I
! be encouraged BY the passage OF such
t laws as would allay all apprehensions,
, and secure the confidence of the people.
We are accustomed to the responsibilities.
I es and restrictions imposed BY law up (.
: on public officers, and the sams reasons
) should induce US 10 stop similar statua
5 ry regulations and safeguards ia refer.
c ence 10 pnbic contracts. Ifall induce
e menLs to do wrong on the part of the
: agents ofIgovernment were efrectually
e removed, there would be little OF no
grounds for popular distrust. therefore
:. suggest the propriety OF general law
II on the subject of public contracts. EN-
/. bracing those that may DE entirel into
5, OH the part Of counties, townships, and
y other corporations as we'll as on the part
,f Of the State,
10 The irresponsible and exlravagant
Of system ofadministration which prevails
l. in some of our counties and cities, fur.
er nishes the principal cause for the ex.
.e actions which are SO generally complain.
te ed Of. These public contracts are gran.
/, ted to favorites, which occasion the
ly most lavish expenditures, The re, also
l. we find officers with in comes which
er shock all correct ideas of public com
a. pensltion, The Sc things have thei
I'd effect upon the general tone OF our pub
le lie morals, County reform is a duty
es enjoiaed by every considerably Of public
1n virtue, Some who suffer under these
n evlIs dsnounce the tax law without
he much consideration as to the cause o.
all the heavy burdens under which theylart
It's labofing; but little closer reflection
lily would show :hem that it is the taxes
lie not the tax law, which are exorbitant
ty and that the tax law is but the unwel
on come witness The local treasures
nd should be brought under the same sys
- temised restraint as the State treasury
d, The heavy draits,u2oh them under pre-
a. tence of some law, must be eiTectua Is
checked, the requirements of the Con
he st!tu;ion that mo money shall be draw
Of from any county or township treasury
nd except by authority of law, must b,
- vigorously enforced. The General As
he sembly should distinctly designate TIT
,r- specific authority upon whose appro
ur priatior the public moneys shall be dis
ct bursed. Our courts have been in ba bi
n OF ordering county audi tors and treasur
n. ers to pay out moneys for purposes o
i'll personal cOnyenience-an exercise o
&C. power for which can find no warran
N. in the Constitution. These orders ar
he only obeyed from fear of the appar
a. entity unIimit:d power of the court I,
IS punish Tor contempt. The fees of coun
y. y officers should be, thoroughly re ' ised
e. and the law providing for removal from
ul oiilce and other punishments for sreeu
e. lion' should be made more stringent.
e Some two or three of the larger coun
r Ties OF :he States, might De supplied
be win Boards more numerous than that
= ol the present County Commissioners
ty The public interests would be better
he guarded, and the power TO levy taxes
and make appropriations be brought! un
IN aef greater degree, of esponsibllity.-
t. Ihe separation OF civil from criminal
r. business, with distinct officers for each
MS court would also facilitate the business
n; OF such connties without any increase
y oil the public expenses.
er AS to the mere machinery for th,
h collection of the taxes, il must be ad
ly niltled. as general truth, that Nil sucl
. enactments are but approximations t
n. what should be their Legitimate object
N Vl& their equitable apportionme nj
ch among the individuals composing it,
as Private ingenuity cOunteracts the bes
II designs Of The legislator; and many per
Ct sons often succeed in pushing the their
Nv own proper burdens upon Others
to frequently, too, the Legislature uses tn
RAJ taxing power for favotiug or discourag
es lug special interests OF objects. Thi
IS, was SO long and SO generally acquescet
ny in, that the idea became prevalent tha
g. taxes are levied.n met so much for purpo
de ses of revenue, ss for those Of fayorit
i'll ism or oppression. Hence We fnd pei
ge SONS denonncing tax although imposed
II. BY general laws, as heing aimed at III
ng destruction of their psrlicu,ar class
In' and hence, it likewise is. that we fin
o. them demanding exemptions for certain
he special objects. .because,in their opinion
o. they deserve to succeed.
These appeals to the favct OF ou
I'M Legislature have in many instance
oi been successful, The valuation Of i'm
Ter proved lands in a state of nature whicl
Ic was The RUE previous to. 1916, was.in
nd Il Il ns a farnr n, III u r,,IInrnI n.