Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-01-14

avoid even the appearance of special Ia
vor. The most absolute impariiali'y in
The distribution Of BURDENS is demanded
by every consideration Of policy as well
as of justice. 1. I'll, refore. respectfully
suggest such amendments of the law as
will require all properly employed in
banking to he embraced in one schedule
and entered upon The duplicate for taxa
alton at the same rate as is imposed on
other property.
The Constitution authorizes the estah
lishment in the Secretary of Safes O1ice
of Bureau OF S a'iSrics Some provi =
ion for the collection of statistical infnr
uation is already made. The Township
Assessors are required 10 make returns
of the quantity OF wheat and corn pro-
duced in their several townships each
year. The District Asst ssors are lie
qulred 10 report. under a certain clasSi-
fcation, once in six years. ihe number
of acres of taxable land in the different
counties. Various acts require the col
lection of other statistical information,
more or less specific. in relation TO pro
duc'inn. education, population. and or me.
Under these acts. although from want OF
system and adequate means of enforce
men', they are often very imperfeclly
executed, a large amount of useful infer
nation is collrcted. Il is scattered,
however through many disconh cted re
ports. and consequently fails TO yield
the full advantage which might be de-
rived from it. To combine this and col
lrct other similar information. and To
present the whole so arranged As 10 ex
hihit the mutual relation of facts. and
classes Of facts, together with their gene
ri hearing upon the public welfare. is
the proper function of Bureau OF Sta
ti~tics. | can perceive 10 inSuimounta-
bic obstacle 10 the collection of all OF
resrlv all he information required Ihro'
agencies already existing. without incur
ring murh new expense. For the pres
ent. liule more would he necessary than
to provide for The appointment of thor
oughlv qualified person TO superinend
the whole work. prepare and prescribe
all necessary forms. and TO receive. clas-
sify and report the returns. ! cannol
doubt that such a provision for the cel
lection and publication Of the Slalisi":
of the State. Agricultural. Industrial
Social and E luca'innal. would repay ten
fold its cost in benefits.
Under the ausricps Of former legisla.
ton. Geological Survey Of The State
was commenced and prosecuted for some
time. with valuable results. l respect
fully submit TO your consideration wheth.
or the time has arrived for the resump-
tion of that work, aud whether there
should not he combined with it such an
Agricultural txaminali,n as will fully
ascertain and disclose the productive ca
parity of the different soils which com
poe The surface of the State. and the
physical laws and influences by which
that productive capaci'y is determined.
In accordance with the provisions OF
an aci Of The last session. | have caused
to be printed the Reports OF The Auditor
and Treasurer Of State. Of the State
Ilouse Commissioners, Of the several
Boards of the Benevolent Institutions. of
The Directors Of the Prni.eniiarv. and of
nearly all the other officers ana Boards
who seem to fall within lis requirements
These Reports are new n adv. and sub
ject to your disposition. The long delay
in printing the Reports of the Public of
icrrS sfier the assembling Of the Legis-
lature. and the consequent want Of ne
ccssary information relating TO public
affairs. has, heretofore proved a most
serious obstruction TO legislative business.
| congratulate you upon the almost COM
ple'e removal Of this obstruction under
tie sa!utary operation of the arf Of The
last session; and suggest the extension
o. its provisions. so rs q embrace every
officer and board having charge of any
department of The public service not now
included in il.
refer you TO the Reports Of the State
Auditor and State Treasurer for full in
formation concerning the financial condi.
ton rf the State
TIE state of the Public Debt, the
amount and distribution of taxation, and
the uses of revenue. necessarily engage
your careful attention.
The Drbi of the State had its origin
in Internal Improvements. Nearly the
whole of il was contracted TO defray the
cost of the State Canals, and tn provide
for subscriptions in aid of Turnr'kes,
Railways, and Canals projected and con
trolled hy companies. Whatever may
be thought OF the policy of these under
takings, no enc doubts the duty of the
State to fulfil with scrupulous exaclitude
her duties to her creditors. On this
subject. happily, there is no diversity of
opinion in Ohio.
To pay The interest of this debt; to
reduce and finally extinguish the princi.
pal; TO provide for the necessary expen
ses of the State Government and Public
institutions and 10 defray the charges
of County. City, Township and District
administrations, are the legitimate OBJ
jects of taxation. To insure response
blllty 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 ensured by
your care.
Ii is the duty OF the Public Officer to
disburse appropriations honestly. econo-
micsliy. and solely to the purposes to
which they are applicable. He has no
right TO go beyond them. either by over.
drafts upon the Treasury or by contracts
in behalf of The State for work TO be
lone or supplies to be furnished. within
the time for which the appropriations are
made; nor, unless specially authorized,
has he any right to contract any other