The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-01-12

/ der to make the Olnk'n- L aAu C'lull III dluOiu'
| to the requirements Of the Constitution and the
| laws, and direct the levy of scyen-twenuieths o
mill in each of the years 1865, 1888 and 1850
to provide means for the payment Of the loan 0
| S7OO0OO authorized by the second OF these acts
and intended to supply the deficit created by de-
falcation.
1t thus appears that the rate of taxation FOL
General Revenue, applicable TO the support o
the State Government, IN aitjtS departments
Executive, Legislative and Julcial, and the pay
ment Of the cost Of Public buildings and The
expenses of the Benevolent, is less than hall the
general rate !or schools and libraries, and hul
sevea-ninths Of the general rate FOR the public
debt; while ii sinks almost to insgnlticance III
comparison with the local taxation Tor County
Township, City, Village and School District
purposes.
1t would contribute much to a clearer under
standing of our revenue system by those en-
trusted with its adm in istration, as well as by
TIE people at large, ifall rates of taxation were
prescribed by a single law and not by many as
at present; and respectfully recommend the
eXpel.ency ofSuch an enactment toy your conSd-
Grafton.
The receipts Of the fiscal year 1888 from tax
alton, tolls, conyict's earnings, and all other
sources olrevcnue, properly so called, including
the premium on the temporary loan, were 81
931, ,756.17. The receipts from sales Of school
and ministerial lands and the principal of the
temporary loan, and the amount Of July inter-
est not called for in New York, and therefore
returned to the treasury,--all Of which items
constitute debt rather than revenua-were
1896, ,965, 40. The total receipts, therefore,
were SO, 5l5, 45877, to which should be added
hn ,,,Ft 4 1,C,
rent balance which was Sl7, 1885, making a
treasury, therefore, at the commencement Of the
present fiscal year, was $22G, 1856.
The levies of each year produce the receipts
OF the next year. The receipts and disburSe-
mcnts of the current year. therefore, can at pres
ent be only estimated; the leyies only, which
were mace in part under the acts Of preceding
sessions, are certain. The taxes paid, and to be
paid into the treasury during the current year
arise from these levics. Referring you to former
communications for information relating to for,
mer years, shall state summarily the amt oftax-
able values, and of the taxes levied in 1853
The total number Of acres listed for taxation
was %, 5,29S, ,9G3. The valuation Of these lands
was S437, 183 1872; That Of Town and City lots
$3.50, l02, SIS; that Of chattels, $3.50, ,5l4084;
property, $840,S0O,O31. The taxes levied for
general State purposes were, for Sinking Fund,
S1,O47 ,9Q2; for general State purposes, S55S7,
205; for Common Schools, 81 .359,092; for Dis
trict School Libraries. So, ,920; in all S2,9I8,-
122. The leves for County perposcs were, for
County expenses, 81, 1870 $3.50; for Bridges, 3Gl,
988; for the poor, 222, AL; for building 800.
954, 81; for roads, $50, ,435; for Railroads, 462,
430, in ale ,8t9, ,22O. The eyies for Township
City aad ther local purposes, were, for town.
ship expenses, 284,05l; for schools and school
houses 1,43881l Tor city, town, and other
SPECIAL taxes, 1853, SIG; making total fol
township and city taxes of3 ,35GG78; to which
add for dehnquencies and forfGiturcs, 572 $50;
making the aggregate Of county and o'her local
taxes, G,778, ,528.
4 slight degree Of attention to these facts
will correct The common notion iEat the addi-
tion TO existing taxation Of new levy of some
fraction Of a mill cannot be of much consequence
TIE levy for school libraries is $500; yet the
rate is but one tenth of a mil. 1t is the aggre-
gate OF such rates, which, considered separately
and without reference to Tie sums produced.
seems so inconsidcrablc, that constitute the to-
tai burden of taxation.
While these considerations must recommend,
not to the General Assembly only, but TO the
local authorities even more emphatically, the
duties of prudence, forbearancc, and careful
economy, there is yet something in the objects
to which the revenues are devoted which may
reconcile us, in some measure, to the taxation
which we bear. A very Jorge proportion ofall
the public income is expended directly for the
common good. The leyies for schools, school
houses and libraries amounts, for example, to
. IG1 goo m plI, tI,irl pGr rI, gu N-nci ip
all forms and rail purposes. Yet who would
dispense with our schools, school houses or IL
brarcs? Who does not know that this eXpcn-
diture is more than reimbursed in the enhanc-
ed value ofpropegty, and the augmented power
Of the people? To taxation for these and SINH
lar purposes, the proceeds being honestly and
economically applied the people cheerCulIy con
sent The murmUr and justly murmGr, when
their burdens arc augmented beyond the pro-
portion Of benefits by improvjdence, waste or
pcculation. For the prevention Of these evils
the people must look to County Commissioners,
City and village Councils, even more than to the
General Assembly 1t cannot be too deeply
impressed upon the public mind that the dis
crction committed to these local authorities,
however limited and guarded, must be necc4-
llISC, lS6lGtI W
ton of far the largest proportion flakes, they
constitute the real Legislatures. Too much care
cannot be exercised in the choice Of citizens to
fill these important positions.
To ensure the safest and most beneficial work
ings of our financial system it seems desirable
that assessment, levy collection and disbarse-
ment he brought as closely together as posi-
ble. can see no good reason why assessments
ha ,ln o0I aCno1;yal 1n,,;n. dofo
mined and duplicates prepared during the last
quarter Of each fiscal year. This would bring
ieyies into close proximity to collections and
ensure the most exact proportion possible be,
tween values and taxes. Nordo perceive why
County 'rreaSurcrS collecting revenue for the
State should not be required to report their col
lectons at brief intervals in the same manner,
as the collectors on canals, and hold them sub
icct to the pratt Of the Comptroller, or why
their final settlements with the State Treasurer
should be delayed TO the late day now desig-
natedby law.
Each years income should, as nearly as is
practicable, pay each years expenses, and no
money should remain in the Treasury except
what is needed for current Disbursements The
act passed at your late session, providing for the
semi annual collection of taxes was, in my iudg
ment, wise step in the right direction, and |
am glad to know, has given general satisfaction
in its practical operation. The act authorizing
drafts by the Comptroller upon the County
1reasurers, for the taxes collected in December,
just past, in order to their application TO pay
ment Of the interest due on the first Of the cur
rent month, was another step towards the same
end. Justly obnoxious to censure as was the
practice of collecting from the County Treas
ures by similar drafts, in advance Of their regu.
lar settlements, large sums to be added to large
balances already inthe Treasury, or to supply
the place of balances fraudulently distracted, it
can now hardly admit of question that our safest
future policy will be to pay our January inter-
est from December and our July interest from