Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-01-18


Such comparisons and suggestions would
naturally spring from these expositions a;
would gradually lead to the adoption of the
desired restraints upon their action and even.
tualIy to more healthy Legislation on the
subject. laE
Of the fees of County, Township and
other local officers, no account appears to be
kept which is accessible to the public
matter to which / again call the attention Of
the General Assembly, and respectfully sug-
gest that a law be passed requiring every
public officer, compensated by fees, to keep
an accurate account of his receipts and ex-
penditures, and transmit the same to the ap-
propriate department, at the seat of Gov
ernment, with view that general synop-
sis of such accounts be published once a
year for the information of the people of the
State These local offices are generally lu-
erative, and it is believed that not less than
two millions are annually collected by fees
from the people; and l see no good reason
why the latter should not be able to ascer-
tain the compensation which is severally
received by their own agents. It's almost
impossible to secure proper legislation on
this important subject while SO little tangi-
ble information is before the General As
semblv. aff
The preceding statements contain, it is
believed, all the information that is necces-
sary, with the accompanying reports and ex-
hibits, to enable YOU to sec in what particu-
lar divisions of the public service, and for
what objections the exactions are improp-
erly high, and where our efforts should be
especially directed to bring about reduc-
ton. The local causes which have so dis
proportionately swelled the burdens of the
people, coming from all parts of the
State, can no doubt explain to each other.
In reference 10 these causes. howevrrs and
especially the fees Of county and other local
officers, it woald prove Of much assistance
in your deliberations, if ii the carly part Of
the session YOU would order suitablu inqui-
ries to be addressed to the proper authori-
tics. a -o.'.tI0' e4
All will admit that the public bur
dens, for a government happily so very cir
cumsenbed in itssphere as ours, are high
beyond apology. True, high taxes are not
of themselves conclusive evidence of bad,
nor low taxes always proof Of a good gov
ernmcnt; yet they are a matter proper for
comparative inquiry, especially, where the
rise is sudden. Such examinations lead to
reliable information, both as to the amount
and, which is a more important point, the
purpose to which the money is applied
Sound political economy does not reston any
specified amount of taxation, but rather on
such an administration of public Affairs, az,
guided by proper spirit Of frugality and
republican simplicity, discharges scrupulous-
ly every duty essential to the public vel
fare. Every financial transaction should
be subjected to the most rigid accountability,
and all misapplications of the public money
be severely punished.
Public virtue is essential to the mainte-
nance of republican government, and he is
the most dangerous offender who attempts
to undermine or destroy it.
The people of Ohio justly complain Of
high public exactions. They have deputed
YOU to reduce them. Every property hol-
der in the State enioins this upon YOU as
your first great duty. But reform, to be
beneficial, must take the right direction
To produoc-high taxes,or to conniye atexhor-
bitant fees and salaries. is wrong; but to
misdirect endeavors to correct public abuses
is no less misehevious. Unmatured whole
sale reductions of fees and salaries are sure
to be repealed. Such measures always lose
to the people the real reform which they
demand. True reform first ascertains care
fully where extravaganza and malfeasanee
exist. 1t exposes and corrects them. II
screens no public abuse from merited oblo-
guy, and yet it shields from unjust, sweep
ing eensure the upright public servant. 1t
examines into and therefore understands
public evils and The laws which follow be-
come, in consequence of their wise discrimi-
nation, the permanent policy of the State.
Questions arising out of and connected
with public revenue, have been vexatious in
all ages and in all governments. They are
so in ours. Taxes, whether levied by a
monarch's arbitrary will, or though the legal
action of popular government, are unpleas-
ant to those who may pay them. The
number of those who are anxious to share
the expenditures of the government, is far
greater than those who volunteer to contri-
butte towards them. Propositions to depict
the Treasury for objerts ofspeculation, orna-
ment and pride, find frequently moro sup
Porters than those of acknowledged gene
raj utility. The revenue officer who col
IectS the taxes rendered necessary in con-
sequence of some iIl-advised appropriation,
is always blamed, while he who oceasioned
them often escapes the public censure.-
The Constitution wisely provides ''that every
law imposing tax shall state distinctly the
object of the same, to which only it shall
be applied" If this provision, in its full
meaning and intent, were properly carried
out so as to enable the public to fix with GER
tainty the responsibility of taxes upon those
who really occasion them, it would, to a
great extent, guard against inconsiderate
public outlays. Profigacy would be earlier
exposed, 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 au-
thorities directing the levy. Our revenue
laws should afford to the taxpayers frequent
and early opportunities to watch, Judge and
direct our financial policy. The fewer in
Il