Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-01-15

", fhEDILU ll5kzsN / i >.
combine this, and collect her similar
information, and to prese the whole
so arranged as to exhibit mutual re-
lations of facts and class of facts, to.
gether with their geneEa aring upon
the public welfare, is the oper func-
ton of Bureau of Stat lcs. car
perceive no insurmountab obstacle to
the collection of all, or rly all, the
information required throt agencies
already existing, withoutin srring much
new expense For the sent, little
more would be necessar ban to pro-
vide faEths appsia . AgEgagh; ;9;sgl9;
whole work, prepare and prescribe al
necessary forms, and to receive, classify
and report the returns. cannot doubt
that such provision for collection and
publication of the statistics of the State,
Agricultural, Industrial, Social, and Ed
ucational, would repay tenfoid its cost
in benefits.
7 Under the auspices of former legisla-
ton, Geological Survey of the State
was commenced and prosecuted foy some
time with valuable results. I respect
fully submit to your consideration wheth-
er the time has not arrived for the re-
sumption of that work, and whether
there should not be combined with it
such an agricultural examination as will
fully ascertain and disclose the produc-
tive capacity of the different soils which
compose the surface of the State, and
the physical laws and influences by
which that productive capacity is deter
mined
In accordance with the provisions of
an act of the last session, have caused
to be printed the reports of the Auditor
and Treasurer of State, of the State
House Commissioners, of the several
Boards of the Benevolent Institutions,
of the Directors of the Penitentiary, and
of nearly all the other officers and Boards
who seem to fall within its requirements
These reports are now ready, and sub
ject to your disposition. The long de-
lay.in printing the reports of the public
officers after the assembling of the Leg
islature, and the consequent want of
necessary information relating to public
affairs, has heretofore proved most Sc
rious obstruction to legislative business.
[ congratulate you upon the almost
complete removal of this obstruction,
under the salutary operation of the act
of the l.st- session s-tetsd I--s.-re:-cst the
extension of itssprovisions, SO as to en-
brace every officer and board having
charge of any department of the public
service, not now included by it.
l refer you to the reports of the State
Auditor and State Treasurer for full
information concerning the financial con-
dition of the State.
The state of the public debt, the
amount and distribution of taxation and
the uses ofrevenue, will necessarily en-
gage your careful attention.
The debt of the State had its origin in
internal improvements. Nearly the
whole of it was contracted to defray the
cost of the State canals, and to provide
for subscriptions in aid of turnpikes,
railroads and canals, projected and con-
trolled by companies. Whatever may
be thought of the policy of these under
takings, no one doubts the duty of the
State to fulfill, with scrupulous exacti-
tude, her duties to her creditors. On
this subject, happily, there is no diversi-
ty of opinion-in Ohio.
10 pay the interest of this debt, to
reduce and finally extinguish the prin-
cipal, to provide for the necessary ex-
pcnses of the State Government and pub
lie institutions, and to defray the char
ges of county, city, township and district
are the legitimate OBJ
nt tnv
bility for the disbursement of revenue,
and thereby promote economy, the Con-
stitution strictly enjoins that no money
SHALL be drawn from the treasury except
In pursuance of specific appropriations
made by law. The faithful observance
Of this provision should be insured by
your care.
1t is the duty of the public officer to
llsburse appropriations honestly, econ
omically, and solely for the purposes to
which they are applicable. He has no
right to go beyond them, either by over
TRAITS upon the treasury or by contracts
IN behalf of the State for work to be
lone or supplies to be furnished within
he time for which the appropriations
ire made; nor, unless specially author
Ecu, Has ne any rlSnt TO contract any
'ther obligations of any description
which will require future appropriations.
The Constitution contemplates the pay
nent of each years expenses out of each
ears income. 1t sanctions no debts
or the expenses of one year to be paid $
~ increased taxation the next.
1t is the part of wisdom to guard
gainst the occurrence of such all ext
,ency, and [, therefore, suggest the ex-
'edieney of providing, by seasonable and
uitable legislation, for the debt of six
billions four hundred and thirteen thou c
and three hundred and twenty five dol
ars, which will be payable after 1860. .
o raise the whole amount by taxation =
uring the four years which will inter
enc before it can be paid, would i'm
ose too serious burdens upon the peo e
lie. | recommend, therefore, the sale t
such stocks and other property of the II
tate as can be disposed of for its real a
alue, and the appropriation of the pro- t.
eeds of the sale, together with the pro- L
eeds of such a rate upon the grand list e
will produce the needed sum, to the 81