New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-07
A WORD FOR TIE PEOPLE.
a WVKD FUK IIE FEDFDE
STATE FINANCES, DEBTS AND RENESJE-'ASAi
oNyENTION-RAILROAD TOLLS AND FREE

STATE FINANCES, DkBIS AND hL'hNIh--' '''h
CONyENTION-RAILROAD TOLLS AND FREE
PASSES.
To the Editor Of The " y Tribune.
SIR: You ~ill recogoize correspondent who has Tor
TIE last few years paid attention to these ques
tione just now interest to all the people of the State
desire nov but inefy to advert 10 the questions
that are before the public for consider alton and settle
ment.
The State debt is large, if a. the Controller reports
seven or eight millions needed TO complete ultin
i.hed works and psy the floating or unfunded debt
We are to be gin If ever Begin srednctIon OF tue
State Indebtedness Of forty millions BY the pro-
v,ons Of the Constitution something like three ard
half millions per sDIum for several years will be re-
ouired 10 meet the demands Of the several sinking
fuuds ard the present floating de 1t.
Propositions timidIy put forth which do not yet
frd much favor with the people are al esdy made to
extend the debt by altering tue Constitution and pro-
vicDg for the piLcpa of the debts less rapidly than
DOW requ red but the interest must be paid, and that
~ an cunt 10 near two ard half millions per amman
until the principal is diminished by payments
Almost tie only source of indirect revenue is the
canals. Almost the only yielding revenue is the
Erie, and the re-, enues have fallen below million net
for the last two years, with but doubtful chances for
that is the only and true policy Of tbs State to begin
to gard the causs rather agents to swell the con-
merce of the State than as properly to be regarded
q legtim ie so uice Of revenue.
Tie only other source of revenue is the taxing
power, already freely used for the expenses OF the
Government, sct ools and benevolent Institutions.
II spy very considerable portion Of toe public debt n
to be paid also by snnua tsIson ~e are not justly 70
expect eby immediate diuinution Of the tax burden;
but on the contrary an increase that seriously affects
the va ue Of ell property liable to taxation.
Ii s eminently just that much Of the existing in
debtedness a. has resulted from the cons ucton of the
canals should be paid by those who use them, pre-
els, " ss railroads, plankroads and turnpike Io.ds
built by associations paid for, if paid for at all
In this way, aud in this way only are those beyond
our State border who our Canals TO be compelled
to pay their just proportion of the cost of their
siruotion.
To provide for this mode Of payment wiss aud firm
legislation is necessary, not only to correct past blum
ders but to hold agencies in check which will make it
difficult to keep up Canal revenues to the point de-
maDded.
The Canal Convention at Syracuse on the 2Sth and
29th Of December, with strong disposition to look
OILY to a temporary eXg.ncy, WAS brought, however,
to Il cor side of toe questions of enduring
character and ind Gated policy wortoy the eminent
and able men composing that large Convention.
That policy is to increase the Csi al revenue BY the
earliest possible development Of tie full cspsolty Of
the CsDss to reatjust the tanr Of tolls By revenue
standard which railroad competition will necessarily
requs to be low and to restore to the the
railroad tolls released by the disastrous measure
adopted in 1851.
A proposition to impose tolls upon rsilrosis gene
rally, without regard to tue original charters under
which they were constructed, would have found little
favor and even the proposition to hold the lines doing
the most mschief to the revenues by their competition
for the Western traffic to the terms of their original
cbaters, opposed by strong Influences until the
determined temper Of The Convention became spp.-
rent. Changes Of opinion were admitted which ind-
Gated the ease with which changes of the general
popular opinion if necessary could be produced; and
the Convention boke Up with sboat the same una
nmity upon this question as upon any other thst had
engaged its attention.
Srce tlen some other public meetings have ratified
the resolves of the Syrscuse Conventioo, others vii
follow and Il fortuu ate that since the Governor ana
the Controller have left tae people the Legislature
free to prcpose psIs Of frsn,sl relief, 60 wise ana
just ere is fat cooceutrA Asng the public mind IN
its favor.
The measures OF tbs Convention will not relieve
entirely from tie necessity e taxation, out 'ue ne'e'
ssry taxation to r.l,ye present Will 20
boIne uncou plainipgy accompanied oy measures 70
nc,e,se the indirect revenues ths direct taxes Tor
the payment of DE- bt and interest need no. be perpeta'
The Convention boldly proclaimed iis opnioo upon
tia ,ubiect of railroad free peses TO Members OF the
Ieeiss,u,s ana other oieiss, and provided for the
hIo,;or - a;ren stion of an address which j. nov
doir work among the people tnAf VIII snve' eonio'
80. and sbsme, 4. xar with the interest and honor
OF the Siste.