Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-01-13

and sometimes BY general laws, amendable
and repealable at the pleasure of the LegisS
lature., Whatever difference of opinion
may exist upon the abstract questions rel.
ative to mixed currency none, appre-
hend, will be found among practicab!emen
IN regard 10 the certainty that snch cur
rency will continue, for an indefinite pc
rod. to constitute the actual medium Of
oslNaNsaaa% haae JMthdieasdwll VjjfaiseiXSavy VjjfaiseiXSavy'
nopower, less ample than that of the Fed
eral Government, is competent to. the ef-
fectual exclusion Of such notes from clrcu-
la.lon as money, and no present indication
suggests any probability that that power
VIII be exercised for that purpose.
While opinion, upon this point, thus APP
proaches unanimiy, the public judgment
IN this State, remains divided upon the
question, whether the franchise of banking
should be limited, to a defined number Of
institutions, or extended to all who are
willing to give the required securities and
guarantees against abuse. I have, upon
former ocdasion, expressed my preference
Tor the most liberal extension of the fran
ehise, with such restrictions upon its exer-
Else as will etfectua!ly protect the commu-
MY against mere papermoney currency.
The acS to incorporate the Bank of Chic,
and other Banks, passed April II, 1856,
and submitted to the people in conformity
with the provisions of the Constitution,
on the seocnd Tuesday OF I
NO. having been approved by Spe gramm
all the electors voting at that election, fHlts
failed to become law. More recently the
Supreme Court Of the State has unani-
mously decided that the act to authorize
free banking, passed March 81, 1851, but
supposed by some to have been abrogated
by the new Constitution, remains in full
force, unaffected by any provision of that
instrument. Isubmit to your better judg-
ment whether sound policy does not sug-
rest the expcdicncy Of observing the prac-
ical operation of this act and of so amend
ing it from time to time, as may be neces-
sary to protect and secure the interests of
the community, without invoking thedecis-
ION of the people upon new banking law.
Considerable practical difficulty has
arisen in carrying into execution the pro-
visions of tie act of April /, 1856, for the
taxation of property employed in banking.
To determine the precise rate to be levied
upon the property and means included in
the first statement, required by the act in
order to produce the sum which would be
produced by the general rate if levied up
on the second, and 10 levy that precise rate
when asccrta!ncd, prove, not unfrequcntly,
to be complex and embarrassing opera
lions. The requirements also, that the
gross amount of property and means, en-
braced in the first statement, shall be en-
tered upon the duplicate for taxation, and
taxed by different and usually much less
1ste tlan that levied upon the property oI
individuals, is calculated to produce an
impression in the public mind that prop
erty employed in banking is not charged
by tie act with its fair proportion of the
public burdens. Such an impression in
my judgment, cannot fail to prove injuri-
GUS 1t is the true interest of banking
institutions, as well as of the people, that
all lllegislaton concerning them should avoid
even the appearance of special favor. The
most absolute impartiality in the distribu.
ton of burdens is demanded by every con
sideration of policy, as well as of justice
/. therefore, respectfully suggest such
amendments of the law as will require al
property employed in banking, to be en-
braced in one schedule, and entered upor
the duplicate for taxation at the same rat'
as is imposed on other property.
The Constitution authorizes the estab
lishmcnt in the Secretary of States office
Of Bureau of Statistics Some proyis
ion for the collection of statistical mfor
nation il already made The Assessor
sIe required to make returns Of the quan
tity of wheat and corn produced in thei
several townships each year. The Dis
trct Assessors are required to report, un
der certain classification, once III 81
wears, the number of acres of taxable lam
ia the different counties. Various acts re
qu,e the collection of other statistical in
formation, more or less specific, in relatio
TO production, education, population an
crime. Uider these acts, although fror
want of system and of adequate means {
enforcement, they are often very impertec
ly executed, large amount OF useful "
formation is collected. 1t is scattered
however, through many disconnected rt
ports, and consequently fails to yield tn
full advantage which might be derive
from it. TO combine this, and colleC
other similar information, and to presel
the whole, so arranged as to exhibit tt
mutual relations of facts and classes
facts, together with their general bearin
upon the public welfare, is the propC
function of Bureau of Statistics. ] ca
perceive no insurmountable obstacle to IL
collection of all, or nearly ALL the informs
lion required through agencies alreadye:
is,ing, without incurring much new G:
pense For the present, little more wou
be necessary than to provide for the a
pointment of thoroughly qualified pc
son to superintend the whole work, pr
pare and prescribe all necessary form
and to receive, classify and report the 7
turns. I cannot doubt that such provi
Jon for the collection and publication
the statistics Of the State, Agricultural, /
dus;ria, Social and Educational, would /
pay ten fold its cost in benefits.
JTrJor tbo ousn;nos of f,rr,,or 1ao,;s1