The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-01-15

larged the Acid and stimulated the activity Of ner
camille enterprise, especially in the northern part
of the State: Aud the great in exchange of com.
modities with sister States, and between differ
ent parts of our own Commonwealth, give con-
tinual employment to large resources and active
energies. Wise Legislation is never employed in
arresting the development or in cramping the ac-
tivity of commercial intercourse |
Among the instrumentalites Ivy means Of which |
intercourse is carried on between different parts OF
the State and different sections Of the country, !
Railroads may now be regarded as the most i'm |
portant The rapidity aud ease OF transit by rail
gives TO that mode Of conveyance a decided pre-
ference over every other; nd the number who
commit their lives and property to the skill and
fidelity of railroad conductors and other employ
ees, already vast becomes hourly greater. The
number of miles Of Railroad in actual operation
in this State, in 1866, according TO a statement
made by The late Secretary Of State, was 593 =
| The present number is about two thousand eight
hundred. These railroads have cost about ninety
milliors Of dollars more than million Of passen-
gers are annually carried upon them; and their
gross receipts are not less than six millions of
dollars year. 1t is doubtless within bounds to
estimate the probable increase for the next ten
years in extent, cost, transportation and incomei
at one quarter the present amounts. This vast in
terest. affecting vitality SO many other interests
has grown suddenly to its present dimensions,
without system, without general organization, and
| in some important respects, without due responsi
bility. The benefits of railroads are such, and
their safety and prosperity is iden fled with
the safety aOd prosperity Of the people. that no
! proper nroeciion or support should be withheld
! from them; while the dangers from mismanage-
ment great that no reasonable precaution
against it should bA omitted i respectfully re-
commend, therefore, the organization Of Board OF
! Railroad Commissioners, with power to exercise
general supervision the construction and
operation Of the several roads, AID required to
port from time to time 10 the Governor for the in
formation of the General Assembly full state
ment of their condition nd management. | can
not doubt that the salutary influence of such legs
lation would he speedily manifest in the increased
value OF the roads and the greater security of
travellers and freighters.
A sound currency and secure exchanges are not
less important to the intercourse of society than
safe means of traspottation. In almost all, and,
perhaps, in all civilized communities the curren.
cy is composed of coin and of circulating notes,
conyeral lie into coin, supplied either directly by
the Government. or bv Banks organized undc its
authority, IN this State the powers, functions
duties and liabilities of banks have been defined
By law; sometimes by special laws under the
name of charters. and sometimes by general laws
amtndable and reFealabe at the pleasure OF the
Legislature. Whatever diffe ence may exist upon
The abs ract ques, ions relative mixed currency
none apprehcnd will be found among practical
men in regard to the certainty that such currency
will continue for indefinite period to consli
tute the actual medium of purchase AMI sale, IN
this as well as every other State of the COnfrd-
eracy Ger ainly no power, less ample than that
of the Federal Government is competent to the
eHecIusl exclusion Of such notes from circulation
as mouey; and no present indication suggests any
prubity that that power Wall be exercised Tor that
purpose.
q While opinion upon thi, point thus approaches
: unanimity the public judgment in this State, re-
mains divided upon the question whether the
S franchise Of banking should be limited to defined
number OF institutions, extended to all who are
$ wi ling to give the required securities and guar
i antics against abuse. ! have upon former occa-
+ sion. expressed my preference for the most liberal
extension of the franchise, with such restr ctiOns
upon its exercise will effectually protect The
c community against a mere paper money curleacy.
n The act to incorporate the Bank OF Ohio and
d other banks. passed April H. 1856 and submitted
;, to the people in conformity with the provisions OF
d the Constitution, on the second Tuesday OF DC o
Der last, not having been approved by majority ot
all the electors voting at that election, has failed
to become law. More recently, the supreme
# Court Of the S ate has unanimously decided that
the act to authorize free banking, passed March
81, 1851 but supposed by some to have been abro-
/ galed BY the new Constitution, remains in full
force unaffected by any provision of that instru-
= ment. l submit to your better judgment whether
o sound policy does not suggest the exPediency OF
l. observing the practical operation OF th's sct' ana
}. of so amending it from time TO time as may be
necessary to protect and the interests of the
: community without invoking the decision Of the
e people upon rev banking law.
s. Considerable practical difficulty has arisen in
carrying into execution the provisions Of the act
t of April 1856, the taxation Of property EN-
ployed in banking. To determine the precise rate
TO be levied upon the property aud means ineluded
al in the FIST statement required by the act In order
~ to produce the sum which would be Proiuced by
the general rate if levied upon the second and to
levy that precise rate when ascertai aimed pro moi
ID unfrequently. to be complex and embarrassing
ID operations The requirement, also, that the gross
amount of property and means, embraced IL thu
first statemen shall lie entered upon the duplicate
y for taxation and taxed by different and usual,
Of much less than that levied upon the property
d of individuals is calculated to produce impres
sion in t public mind that property employed il
er banking is charged by the with its fair pro
ID portion Of the public burdens Such impression
Is my judgment cannot fail to be Injurious 1t is the il
ne true interest Of banking institutions, as well as
r. the people, that all legislation concerning then
should avoid even the appearance Of special favor
II. The most absolute impartahty in the distribution
is of burdens IL demanded by every consideration
es policy we'll of justice. l. therefore, respect
- fully suggest such amendments of the law as vii
er require all property employed in ban king to b
70 embraced in one schedule and entered upoh tn
duplicate for taxation at the same rate as il in
ze posed on other property.
n The constitution authorizes the establishment
n. in the Secretary of States Office of q Bureau
Of Statistics, Some provision for the collection
OH statistical information is already made. Th
IA. Township Assessors are required to make return
IT. of the quantity of wheat aud coru Produced
as their several townships each year. The D'sni!
Oh Assessors are required TO report, under certal
Ly classification once in six years, the number
en- acres of taxable land in the different Counties
rts Yarous acts require the collection of other stats
rail- cal information more less specific, in relato
IRE to production, education. population and crim
Ii Under these acts, although from want of syste
he and OF adequate means of enforcement, they al
on often very imperfectly executed, large amount
useful information is colec ed. 1t is scattere,
he however. through many disconnected leports, an
Id consequently fails to ield the full advantag
ie which might be derived from it. To combine tn
nd and collect other similar information, and TO pr
is sent the whole, SO arrang as TO exhiot the mu
raj al relation of facts and classes OF facts tCgeh
va withtheir general bearing upon the public welfar
is the proper function of Bureau OF Statistics
,ur Il can perceiveno insurmountable obstacle to Il
an collection of all nearly all the intormat on