Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-04


lees tas gFhs Of lsEsllsa be g0SBWsd on thS fas
Of lhs henda when l5Iusd, Washer bene
bearing such FaSfgvstlonS viii h1d takers, na
only be detSrmiHsd by trial That they wi
not, il more than probable and if fAey will moi
It ia certain that the taxation of State bonds
alike imPoitic and unjust.
recommend, therefore, such Legislation as wi
give the suggested discretion 10 the Commission
ere, Ok bey ond liability 10 alteration the ratio
interest, and secure the control, reduction an
final payment Of tho debt, at tho earliest time an
In the most economical mode.
Tho two great lines Of canal, inelu ling the Wa
bash and Erie, with their feeders, cost St2 ,IlO,
100; the other eanRs, with the Musklngum i'm
provement, snd the Western Reservs and Maume
Road, cost 50 ,4B7lI2 and the amount sub,eribo
TO turnpike and railroad Companies, was 81, 3,22G
go, making az aggregate cost Of SIS, sos ,022.
For number Of years, the net revenues derive,
from these works though never sufficient to raj
the cost Of the Investment, were very considerable
The competition Of railroads, however soon De
Prived them OF great part Of the business OF
which reliance had been placed for increase. unt
at length 4 marked deons took place. Within
last few years the outlay for repairs and improve.
msnts has exceeded the ineoms. The real de.
iiesncy last year, after deducting the extrao-din,
sry disbursements directed By the Legislature
was not large; but there IL ligtle room for hope
that II will be less hereai er while there Is much
ground for apprehension that il will be GREATER
lt will certainly be greater, unless the introduce
ton Of steam navigation, or other circumstances
now unfpreseen, shall enable the canals to sustain
at less disadvantage, the railroad competition
The cost If these works, however has doubtless
been repaid to the State in the increa sed Valu3 Of
lands in the counties through which they extent
And fbia L.t. -,
sures which the debt contracted oE their construe.
uon is apt TO provoke; while it suggests caution
and prudence in dealing with interests SO impOr-
tant as are involved ia their disposal.
l have heretofore expressed the opinion
that they should not be retained under State
if a sale can be effected at a
reasonable price, and under such restrictions
and guarantees as will secure to the people
the benefits of transportation originally con-
That opinion remains unchanged.
With economical management in private
hands, the canals can probably be made sufi-
cienuy productive to warrant the investment
Of considerable sum in their purchase. The
of the debt by tie same amount
and relief from taxation for interest recon-
mend the sale to the people at large; while
the suggested restrictions and guarantees will
prevent any loss or inconvenience to the in
iabitants Of the canal counties.
The State stocks in turnpi6es and railroads
should not be included in any sales, unless
he interest on the price will equal the re-
venue now derived from them. recommend
hat authority be given TO the Governor to
appoint an agent with ample powers to ascer-
ain the condition Of all companies in which
,he State holds stock. The productiveness Of
hese investments would, have no doubt, be
,Ieltly enhanced by such an investigation.
Should you regard a sale Of the Canals as ineK.
)edient, and, in any case, 50 long as they remain
lnder State management the proprety Of strict
10 their administration. With the d.rgC-
ions Of the Constitution will not be questioned -
The separation OF them into several divisions aud
ne assignment Of each division TO the control of
Jingle member Of the Board Of Public Works, in
dependent. in most imp portantrespecis Oitbe Board
tset, seems TO me not Ouly ineXpedent but Of more
han doubtful cOnstnutiOnaiiy. I recommend
herefjre, such notifications Of the act Of the last
I5neral Assembly on this subject as will secure TO
he whole Board the control Of the Pubic Works
which the Constitution commits to its superintend-
.nce. l also recommend the restoration of that
provision of the act Of 1874 by which the Governor
With the advice and consent OF tue Senate, is an
horiZed to appoint collectors and iuspectors; and
renew the accommodation addressed 10 Your
pred cessoIs, OF more stringent provisions regula
ing the lsettlement Of accounts for repairs and
other expenses 90 The canals Under the law as
now stands, there is too much room for abuse. 10
he serious prejudice of the public Interests
During the year 1858 as was fully ex-
)lainea to your predecessors, the sum If S6l,-
i33 was advanced by the Treasury of State,
lpon my advice, cOncurring with lhatof the
'ther Executive Officers, for repairs of the
Hooking Canal, greatly injured and seriously
by recent foods. The emergency
lid not permit delay; and as the Legislature
lad made no provision for extraordinary con-
ingencies, an occasion seem TO have arisen in
which public officers oughttO take the respOn-
jibility of providing the means necessary TO
protect the State from great loss, and the citi-
!ens, dependent on the canal Cor tTansporta-
ion, from great injury. The responsibility
vas taken; the means were provided for By
IN advance from the Treasury, unquestiOna-
Jly the most economical mode; larger
amount than the sum advanced was saved 10
he Treasury in tolls, and the benefits of the
were secured 10 the people of the
ocality. l am still Of opinion that this
money was prudently and properly advanced.
public officer who in times of overrnling
will not take responsibilities
,learly necessary to the public good, as little
deserves confidence, as he who rashly assumes
hem on ordinary occasions and without ne
,essity. 1t will be for you TO determine
whether the action of the Treasurer shall re-
,eive the legislative sanction which the last
General Assembly omitted to give
IL gives me great pleasure to say, that in
he department of Public Instruction constant
progress and regular improvement have been
Ifg hurdpns bO,Vavpr uOuy rrocu hot
lsavily upOa the resources Of the peODle
p. .iOr 10 the adoption Of the present Constitution
he fund annually raised By general taxation and
distributed to the counties was comparatively
mali. For several years the sum tor distribution
vas fixed at 100000; less than one fourth o
which was derived ftom general taxation. Amer
line this annual sum was reduced, for plumber
,i years. TO Sl51,000; but finally increased to
100000 During this period in the history Of our
chOois. sOmew Ia, larger sums than that deris ed
rom the State were annually raised by local taxa
ion but the aggregates from all sources, State
lnd local, did net reach One-thirl of the totals
Ter the existing system.
The tax for Schools and School Libra les now
Constitutes somewhat more than three eighths Of
he entire lewis for State purposes, aud nearly
,ne-!Ourih Of those for local purposes. The Stale
d local school taxes 10 1858 were s. 75l S2i, or
nearly One-tnird of the aggregate leves fol all pur.
,oses. In 1850. the same levies amounted to ST.
be whole. These facts viii suggest to the Legis-
ature and to the local authorities the necessity os
prudence aud the most careful economy.
Few citizens, / trust. are disposed 10 abridge
he means and opportunities of education now
llere to the youth OF the STATE. They know that
he power created education, aud made availa
,le in all forms CT lsbor in all processes Of art and
4 every sphere OF useful action. is worth many
lines its cost. They feel, however that the cost Is
ITeat, and care is needed lest by improvideuce and
.xtravagance disaflection may be excited towards
system 50 benefcent
With view 10 the increased efficiency of the
ystem l again direct the attention of the Legisla-
ure 10 the prOprietY OF more effective aid TO
Teachers Institutes, and 0f some provision for
gents to be appointed by the State Commissioner
o fulfil those duties OF addressing public meetings
md conierring personally with local authorities,
low imposed On that officer, but Impossible o be
Adequately performed without prejudice to demands
N hls time and tentiun even more important
With view to grea'er economy it deserves
nuuirV whether gornti n11ffinnaf Tfn,fofio1s