Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-01-22
FcosTrsCE5. FROM Isr I pAos, 3 /

mere maCnlF cry i0r Inc c0il6ctl0n OF
taxes and the influence Of leadingto, and
slhesauthorines directing the levy. Our
lsyehue laws should atforl. to the tax.
payers frequent and early opportunities /
stowaich,, Judge and direct our financial .
epoiicy. Thefswer indirect ard special
taxes we have the less chance there is
TO conceal improper expenditures, and
the more. certainly will the rise and fall
OF direct taxes indicate the financial
qualify Of our government. We are rap.
idly approaching the period when our
direct property taxation will afford such
indications, unless we purposeiy codn:
.isfact this tcndency.s Special taxes are !
becoming ginoperative, their levy indeed v
being Of doubtful constitutionality. The
'cxtraneous revenues to the State Treas-ea
.ary are likewise constantly diminishing,
and nearly all7oGr resources will soon
aruve to be derived through the grand du- Z
rpficate. We shall then, with greater GER
Htaintyfund simplicity In our finances,
have theiunerring index above alluded
to. f.sr' g tcasn ~ ~ sos .ifE"'
q The constitutional provision upon the
subject is guaranty against arbitrary
itaxa,ion Heretofore such guaranty
has been secured to corporations alone
through judicial interposition; now they
and the people equally enjoy il by con-
tSlitutonal rule. ln other Governments
the taxing powerlis without limitations
IN ours it is restrained to a property
TAX. Tho power to borrow is also wse-
cly confined within very narrow limits
Under such a system financial abuses
cannot be- long concealed, because the
amount Of taxation will indicate 10 each
-tsxpayer the degree OF economy or
wastelulness that may at each period
characterize the Government. The fact
lhat,taxes are one thing, the tax-law
enolher,s will then become apparent TO
all and we will look to the General
Assembly, and 10 the local authorities of
the Statea for reduction Of taxes rather
'than to Executive officers. Any attempt
yto reduce thetaxes in the aggregate by a
mere change inthe mode and manner Of
collecting them, will prove as futile as
an attempt to change the weather by
breaking the barometer Real retrench.
ment, to have a lasting effect, must
spring from and be maintained by Gen.
'erul Assemblies, whose economy and
.watchiulness shall reflect the wishes ofa
frugal and enlightened people.
.HeI feel great solicitude that the system
iofrequiring' 'aH State expenditures ofeve-l
ry description to be brought under the :
sfetision ofihe chief financial officer Of
tho State, shall be strictly and permant-
lya adhered TO. This is demanded by
the constitution as wellias by sound
policy II operates as preventive of
'malpractices which had hitherto defined
call attempts at reform. -aa t-A ti3
~ The contracts recentlyentered into by
The Board of Public Works for the re.
pairs ofthe canals, involving an entire
Change Of policy on that subject, have
elected very general public discussion.
The savings to The State by this change
amounts 10 ninety.three thousand one
hundred and seventy. two dollarspet an
linn, when compated with the average
expenditure Of the last SIX years, and will
no doubt exceed that sum under future
Lettings. The contract system has many
advantages over the policy that has been
hitherto pursued, and am INCLINED to
think oiidufd ue permanently adopted.--
Tie success Of any system, however, in.
'volving solarge an expenditure Of the
public money, depends in a great meas.
nre on the manner and spirit in which it
lis carried out. A very general publicity
OF the lettings, and the confidence OF the
people in the impartiality and lairhcss Of
the awards,ar elements withoutwhich IT
can never become bonefcially establish
ed. 10 's3' - a'"' t""'7t In7r'iu,
,s The contract system is increasing in
importance and extent, and will, no
doubt, gradually supercede the employ
ment Of regular, officers in many of the
departments of the, public service The,
change in many instances, would be a
healthy one, and should, ir my judgment,
be encouraged by the passage Of such
laws as would allay apprehensions, and
fully secure the confidence Of the people.
We are accustomed to the responsible.
ties and res, rlctiohs imposed by law
upon public officers. and the same reasons
should induce us 10 adopt similar statG.
tory regulations and Safeguards in re-
ference topublic contractors. 2 Ifall in
dneenents to do wrong on the part Of the
agents Of government were elFectuallyre.
moved. there would be littieor no grounds
Tor popular dstrust. / therefore suggest
DIE propriety OF general law Oh the
subject, Of public contracts, embracing
those that may be entered into on the
paft OF counties, townships, and other
corporations, as well as On the part of
ihe Slate. ~ h'g' = 'e7f eai ,qo9g ol
,,a The irresponsible and extravaganza
system Of administration which prevails
in, some Of our counties and ci,ies, fur.
2nishe. The, principal cause for the e4ac.
lions which are SO generally complained
.of. These public contracts are granted
10, favoritss, which occasion the most
lavish expenditures. There, also, we
find officers with incomes which shock all
,eorrecl-ideas Of public compensation
These things have their effect upon die
general lone ofour public morals. Coun.a
u reform is a duty 'enjoined by every
ncbnsideration Of nubtic ivirinA. rs So,,,a