M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-03-15
From Columbus.
COLUMBUS, March 0, 1850.


l of the House are discussing resolu
= ton for investigating the State Treas,
ury. For several days past rumor
has been in circulation that there is a
large discrepancy between the accounts
ofthe Auditor and the actual condi.
ton of the Treasury. Yesterday Mr..
Vincent stated to the House, as some
of the reasons in favor Of an adjourned
session, that the funds in the Treasury
were almost exhausted; that in a few
weeks they would be gone; that this
Legislature would be compelled to
provide tor an additional levy Of taxes
sufficient to raise $50O,OOO, in order
to carry on the government! The
resolution to investigate has been
adopted, but needs the concurrence Of
the Senate. The finances Of the State
are, doubtless, in a bad condition,
when tie taxes have to be increased
instead of being reduced, as our Re
publican opponents promised the peo-
pie last fall.
Well, the House has finally agreed
to hold another session next winter!-
This was accomplished by getting Re-
publicans who were opposed to an ad'
jOurned session to dodge the question.
Hills, the great "retrencher," was
sent off on an errand to some of the
distant benevolent institutions. Sew.
eral democrats voted for the adjourn
ed session, but even if they had voted
against it, it would still have been
carried. The resolution as adopted
in effect is to adjourn on the 26th OF
this month and meet again on the first
Monday of January, 1861. The Sen
ate has just agreed to it. The last
hope which the people had Of any re-
lief from this Legislature, has vanish,
ed with the adoption of the resolution
in question. An adjourned session
brings an additional expense to the
State Of about fifty thousand dollars,
which might just as well have been
saved.
Mr.. Baldwin's bill to abolish the
Office Of Comptroller of the Treasury,
was put upon its passage this morning
and defeated, only ten (all Republi.
cans) voting for it. There is sener,
al disposition among all parties to let
the Independent Treasury system
stand as it is in all it's essential fea.
lures. Time will demonstrate where
it is defective, aud then the necessary
amendments can be made.
A disposition is manifested on the
part Of many members to cut down
the fees and compensation ofall Coun-
ty offices, but | doubt whether any bill
affecting their desires will pass. In
The densely populated counties, said
officers unquestionably receive a very
large compensation, and a bill might
be passed razeeing their fees, but the
difficulty is in the principle. Men do
not like to vote to pay one man less
for doing the same work than another.
Officers in large Counties get more pay
under the present system than those
in smaller Counties, simply because
they do more work. If it IS right
to pay a man for what he does and re-
fuse to pay him for what he don't do,
the presentsystem is very nearly right.
A direct and equal reduction, that
would affect fees to any considerable
extent in large Counties, would reduce
them to almost nothing in small Coun
ties. Hence, the difficulty in framing
a bill, correct in principle, that will
meet the appreciation ola majority.
a bill is before the House, provid-
ing for the collection oftaxes by town.
ship treasurers, upon about the same
plan, | learn, that has long been in
operation in Pennsylvania and Now
York. Its economical features, | sho'd |
suppose, are not such as to commend
it.
A bill to regulate the sale Of Nos.
trums was under discussion in the
House, yesterday, which afforded the
sixteen gentlemen ofpills and potions |
a fine opportunity Of ventilating their
rhetoric, ard they were not slow in
improving it. DR.. Scott gave his ex.
Al n 4.