The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-01-14
VOoDsFIEID MONROE COUNTY OHIO. JANUARY Il, 1851

arisen in carrying into execution the pro-
visions of the 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 il levied upon the second, and to
levy that precise rate when ascertained,
prove, not unfrequently, to be complex
and embarrassing operations. The re-
quirement, also, that the gross amount Of
property and means, embraced in the first
statement shall be entered upon the du-.
plicate for taxation and taxed by iffer-
ent and usually much less rate than that
levied upon the property of individuals, is
calculated to produce an impression in
the public mind that property employed
in banking is not charged by the act with
its fair roportion of the public burdens.
Such al Impression, in my Judgment, can
not fail to prove injurious. Il is the true
interest of banking institutions, as well as
of the people, that all legislation concern
ing them shouid avoid even the appear
ance Especial favor. The most absolute
impartiahty in the distribution ofburders
is demanded by every consideration of
policy as well as justice. |, therefore,
respectfully suggest such amendments of
the law as will require all property en-
Iloyed in banking to be embraced in one
schedule and entered upon the duplicate
for taxation at the same rate rs is impos-
ed on other property.
The constitution authorizes the estab-
iishment in the Secretary Of States Office
of Bureau Of Statistics. Some provision
for the collection of statistical information
is already made. The Township Asses
sors are required to make returns of the
quantity ofwheat aud corn produced in
their several townships each year The
District Assessors are required to report,
under certain classification, once in six
years, the number of acres of taxable land
in the different counties. Various acts
require the collection of other statistical
information, more or less specific, in rela-
tion to production, education population
and crime Under these acts, although
from want of system and of adequate
means OF enforcement, they are often very
impcrfectly executed, a large amount of
useful information Is collected It is scat
tered, however, through many disconnect-
ed reports, and consequently fails to yield
the full advantage which might be derived
from it. 70 combine this and collect
other similar information, and to present
the whole, so arranged as to exhibit the
mutual relation Of facts and classes Of facts,
together with their general bearing upon
the public welfare, is the proper func-
sion Oft Bureau of Statistics. l can per-
cicve no insurmouhtable obstacle to the
collection Of all or nearly all the informa-
tion required through agencies already ex-
ising, without iEcnrring much Few ex-
j.cnsc. For the present, little more would
be necessary than TO provide for the ap-
pointment for thoroughly qualified per-
son to sHperintcnd the whole work, pre-
pare to prescribe all necessary forms, and
10 receive, classify, and report the returns
I cannot doubt that such provision for
the collection and publication of Tie Sta
sistics Of the State, Agricultural, 1ndustri-
nl Social and Educational, would repay
ten fold its cost in benefits
Under the auspices offormer legislation
a Geological Survey of the State was COM
menced and prosecuted for some time,
with valuable results. respectfully snb-
nit to your consideration whether the
time has not arrived for the resumption of
that work, and whether there should not
be combined with ii such an \ grcuitural
examination as will fully ascertain and
disclose the productive capacity of the
different soils which compose the surface
of the State, and the physical laws aud
influences by which that productive cap
acity is detergined.
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 Direc-
tors 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 subject to
your disposition. The long delay in prin-
sing the Reports of the Public Officers
after the assembling of tie Legislature,
and the consequent want Of necessary in-
formation relating to public affairs has,
heretofore, proved most serious obStruc-
ton to legislative business. ! congratu-
late you upon the almost complete rem oval
of this abstraction under the saiutary op-
Grafton of the act of the last session; and
| suggest the extension Of lis provisions
so as to embrace every officer aud board
having charge Of any department Of the
public service rot now included by it. D
| refer you to the Reports Ct the State
Auditor aud State Treasurer for full in-
formation concerning the faaEcal condi-
ton Of the State.
The State of the Public Debt, the a.
mount and distribution of Taxation, and
the uses of revenue, will necessarily en-