Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-01-16
invoking the decision Of the
people upon new banking law.
TAXING BANKS.

Considerable practical difficulty has ar
! isen in carrying into execution the proyls-
ions of the act of April l, 1855, for the
taxation Of property employed in banking
To determine the precise rate TO bo levied
upon the property and means including in
the first statement, required by the act, in
order TO produce the sum which would be
produced by the general rate if levied upon
the second, and to levy that precise rate,
when ascertained, prove, not unfrequently,
to be complex and embarrassing operations.
The requirement, also that the gross amount
of property and means, embraced in the
first statement, shall be entered upon tho
duplicate for taxation and taxed by differ
cnt and usually much less rate than levied
upon the property of individuals, is calcula-
ted to produce an impression in the public
mind, that property employed in banking is
not charged by the act with its fair proper
ton of the public burdens, Such an i'm
preston in my Judgment, cannot fail to
prove Injurious. 1t is the true interest of
banking institutions, as well as of the peo-
pie, that all legislation concerning them
should avoid even the appearance of spec
iaI favor. The most absolute impartiality
in the distribution of burdens is demanded
by every consideration of policy as well as
of justice. l, therefore, respectfully suggest
such amendments of the law as will require
all property employed in banking, to be en-
braced in one schedule, and enter upon the
duplicate for taxation at the same rate as is
limposed on other property.
STATISTICS.
The Constitution authorizes the establish
ment, in the Secretary of States Office, of
Bureau of Statistics. Some provisions
for the collection of statistical information
is already made. The Township Assessors
are required to make returns of the quanti-
ity of wheat and corn produced in their sew
eral Townships each year. Tho District
Assessors are requiaed to report under q
certain classification, once in six years, the
number of acres of taxable land in the diff
ferent counties. Various acts require the
collection of other statistical information,
more or less specific, in relation, to produc-
ton, education, population and crime. I'm
der these acts, although from want of sys-
they are often very impcrfectly executed, a
large amount of useful information is collec-
ted. 1t is scattered, however through many
disconnected reports, and consequently fails
to yield the full advantage which might be
derived from it. To combine this, and col
Ilect other similar information, and to present
the whole, so arranged as to exhibit the
mutual relations of facts and classes of facts,
together with their general bearing upon
the public welfare, is the proper function of
a Bureau of Statistics. / can preceive no
insurmountable obstacle to the collection of
all, or nearly all, the information required
through agencies already existing, without
incurring much new expense. For the pres
ent little more would be necessary than to
prove for the appointment of a thoroughly
qualified person to superintend the whole
work, prepare and prescribe all necessary
forms, and to receive, classify, and report re-
turns. / cannot doubt that such provision
for the collection and publication of statistics
of the State, Agricultural, Industrial, So
cial and Educational, would repay ten fold
its cost in benefits.
| GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Under the auspices of former legislation,
Geological Survey of the State was com
menced and prosecuted for some time with
valuable results. respectfully submit to
your consideration whether the time has not
arrived for the resumption of that work,
and whether there should not be combined
with it, such an Agricultural examination
as will fully ascertain and disclose the pro
ductive capacity of different soils which
compose the surface of the State, and the
physical laws and influences by which that
productive capacity is determined.
THE REPORTS.
In accordance with the provisions of an act
OF the last session, lave caused to be prin-
ted the Reports af the Auditor and Treas
urer of State, of the State House Commits
sioners, of the several Boards of the Bencv-
oent Institutions, of the Directors of the
Pcnitentiary, and of nearly all the other of
gcers and Boards who seem to fall within
its requirements. These reports are now
ready, and subject Il your disposition The
long delay in printing the Reports of the
Public Officers after the Assembling of the
| Legislature, and the consequent want of
necessary information relating to public af-
fairs has, heretofore, proved a most serious
obstruction to Legislative business. | con-
gratulate you upon the almost complete re-
moval of this obstruction, under the saluta-
ry operation of the act of the last session;
and suggest the extension of of its pro-
visions, so as TO embrace every officer and
board and having charge of the department
of the public service, not now included by it.
refer You to the Reports Of the State
Auditor, and State Treasurer for full infor-
nation concerning the financial condition of
the State
STATE FINANCES.
The state of the Public Debt the amount
and distribution of Taxation and the uses Of
revenue, will necessarily engage your careful
attention. .s f".F
The Debt Of the State had its origin in
Internal Improvements. Nearly tho whole
of it was contracted to defray the cost of
the State Canals, and to provide for sub
scrptions in aid of Turnpkes, Railways
and Canals, projected and controlled by
companies. Whatever may be thought Of
the policy of these undertakings, no one
doubts the duty of the State to fulfil with
scrupulous exactitudc, her duty to her cred
itors. On the this subject, happily, there
Il