The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-01-13

Trustees, Boards Ol L tucuii0n, nni Guy aud VII.
ises Councils, even more than ~ ths Gen-
sfni Assembly. II cannot hn too d'cp)y impressed
upon the public mind that the dscrslol commit.
Ted 10 these local authorities however limited uni
fusrdcd, must bc necessarily large, and that, in
respect TO the imposition ol far the largest pro
portion Of taxes they constitute the real eglsla.
tors. Too muck care cannot be exercised in the
eheice OF citizens to ill these important positions
To ensure ths safest ani most beneficial work
ings Of cur financial system, 1t seems desirable
that assessment, levy, collection aud Disbursement
10 brought as closely together as possible. can
zoe no good reason why assessments may not b.
,r.,lc and edualized lovics determined and dup-
Gates prepared during tho last quarter OF euCh Is
cal year. This would bring ayios into close proS
imitv with collections aud ensure the most exact
pronortion possible between values and iaxcs.--
Nor do perceive why County Treasures collsc.-
,ipv revenue for the State should nat b, reauir.
I'd 20 report their collections Mt briof intervals
IN the same manner as the collectors on the
canals, and hold them subj ct 10 the draft of
An, Comptroller or why th,ir final settlements
ths State Treasurer should be delayed 10 thu
late day now designated 10y law.
Each years income should as nearly rs is
nrsc,icnhle pay each years expenses, aud no
money sboult remain in the Treasury except
rhe, is needed for current disbursements. The
act passed Mt your late session, providing for the
semi annual collection ot toxcs was, in my
Judgment, wise step in the right direction. unl
am glad To know has given general sbt SiNC-
,on In it's practical operation The act authorizing
drafts by the comptroller upon tho County Treasurcrs
for the taxes collected in December, Just past, IN
order to their application to payment OF the interest
dae on the first or tho current month another stop
towards the same end Justly obnoxious to ccnsurc
a. va, tho practice OF collecting from tho County
Trsasurcrs by similar drafts in uyaHce Of their rcgu
lar settlements large sums TO ba added large blluu
already In tho Treasury or ~ supply the place Of
l.I., ulul ly all
hardly admit Of Question that safest future policy
will be 90 apRy Juuary inteIo est from December
and cur July intsre't from june collections As Ear
az pessble also the expenses of the first two quarters
Of each fiscal yoar should be betrayed from tho former
AAd those OF the two last quartrrl from the latter eel
lsctions, recommend such legislation IA may be
deemed necessary TO give practical effect 10 these
suQgesons by providing for tho prompt payment
into the State rrearry ~ tho states proportion Of
taxes soon a, cole ucd, and requiring earlier set
clements by the County Iroasurcrs with the State
Treasurer, Such legislation would enable tho Audit.
or Of state to lay before the General Assembly at an
early day in each session, statement Of the actual
rscsipts from tuxcsiu December, aud tho estimated
receipts In June, well Ofthe actual and estimated
receipts from all other sources during the year. and
this statement would supply basis Tor economical
and intelligent appropriations for the ensuing three.
quarters OF the current and the first quarter of the
nc 1t nscal year.
A ludoious law prescribing rates Of levy will
tend 20 insure moderation N taxation, the pay
mont of current expenses from current income
will prevent tho evils OF accumulation in the
Treasury; the restriction OF appropriation to ac-
tual receipts, and of expenditures to upproprin-
.ions will restrain, the former legislative, and the
latter administrative eNlravaguuce ThoSe. in my
Judgment, arc the essentials OF good financial
system.
Under such n system, the custody Of the public
rovenus would involve far less hazard than here
tofore. Still, under any system, while collections
from taxes for all purpose, State and local. can
not be expected soon TO fall below four millions,
asd mny exceed, as in 1884, aud in the pres.
ont year four millions aud half sGmi-annually
Of which moety will not be required for dis
hursment until some time alter collection and II
portion will rsmain for SIX months or more, the
point of custody will rcman one of great impor-
TANGO.
The safe keeping of the public money therefore,
properly engaged large share OF the attention
Of your Immediate predecessors aS well rs ot your
own. The chief essential point OF difference be-
tween the modes adopted, SC, ms 10 DO that the
latter while requiring ample securities from de
positsries for paym Mt on demand did not con,
template the Withdrawal OF the moneys deposited
from the tranSac conS OF business, until wanted for
rublic purposes, while the latter seems to intend
ihe actual keeping Of all public moneys in the
hands of State and County rrasurcrS uuul re.
guired for disbursement in discharge Of public OBJ
llRu.ions II the safety OF the public money is
equally insured hy either mode, the former up.
pears TO be entitled to preference; Tor money j.
machinery whose work is exchange and it is ob.
viouS that the withdrawal from use OF consdcra.
bile sums for considerable periods must in some
measure interrupt aud embarmSS the operations oI
business But safety is the paramount consider.
ARon, and 10 mode OF custody is admissible
which docs not secure il as far as il eau bo sc,
cured in any mode.
In u former communication thought it my du-
" to recommend to your consideration II plan tol
the mickccpug and disbursement of thcpubhc mou
eys which seemed TO me 10 combine security with
convenience, That plan failed to commend It.
self to your approval; but you did not omit to os
tabSh by lAs a system OF regulations intended &c
accomplish the same general purpose Few
measures fulfil Verlvclly the designs ct their au
lhors; a d some defects have become apparent IN
the practical workings oClhc act of last session
70 which think proper to- lIirccl your attention
The act itself was doubtless designed to ncor
porate into the admins ,ralyc system of Ohio, IA,
leading provisions oi federal legislation ON I'll,
same subject. There are, however, among othr
differences between the Federal system uui thai
which has been thus naugura,cl in our owa STATE
two which seem to me especially worthy Of cou,d
Grafton Under the Federal tnws ull otli,cu
having custody oE public money are appoutc,
by the Federal Government, aud are required
from time TO time 90 give such bonds, with sui
securities rs Federal authority may rqnirI. Un
der tho act OF last session the County Treasurer
throughout the State are made d1posiNrics OF th
State as well as the County revenues; Of the rev
enues derived from Canal Tolls aud other sources
sswell as those derived from taxation, They arr
also constituted agents for the transfer OF publ,
funds and fiscal agents OF The State under the law
Yet these officers are not appointed 10y the Stat
Government; are not required give bonds 10 th
satisfaction Of any State officers uoSua,e officer u
authorized 10 ascertain the su0icsncy OF tho bond
actually given or 70 require, in proper eases, new
bonds or additional securities The whole mat
Ter Of these bond, is left where former law
placed it. under the supervision O, the Counu
Commissioners and IL mas w,il be doubted
whether the conditions ol those heretofore give,
amply to all the duties rcqpDwl 10y the ,cccu
Treasury law.
This IS matter which d,5cuosanI NilI Jyub