American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-01-12

not, probably, fall much sloftot $50, ,000,-
600 The Commissioned OF Satisties. bas
ing opinion on.reports OF actual sales, esti-
mates the entire property in the State, at
Sl;050, 900, 900 ei~ .u.itgiislgs1 a4t
The population oftbe State is now about
two millions and q half. Such a popula.
ton, grown up from the twenty,fveith thou.
sand Of sixty years ago, educated. emerge.
tic and lndefsligable, and possessed ol such
mass Of means, created by the skill and
industry OF two geueratiops, presents a
striking picture progress and power.
j venture to suggest the, expedieOcy Of
directing the general valuations Of real es-
tate, after the next, to be made once in
five years. so that the results obtained I'M
der State authority, may be easily compar
ed with those obtained under Federal in
the census year: while those obtained by
the general valuation in tie intermediate
years, and the annual estimates, will sup.
| ply the means Of deIerming the rate of
growth and progress each year during the
interval bttween those years. .......
The amount OF debts, Of whatever des-
criplioD, State. corporates commercial and
every other, is now estimated al S940, 600. q.
600; butof these not less, probably. than
one third wouldbe cancelled by payment
of other debts embraced in The aggregate.
The whole existing debt, constituting a
real change upon the whole existing proper
ty, hardly, il atall. ex eeds Sl60,0o0,000
about QUO sixth Of its value 4 II ihis
sum be compared, not merely with the en-.
tire property, but with the entire products
Of the State, which, sccordingto my esti-
mate in 1858, amounted in 1857 to S261,> 5
8G7. 500, and doubtless exceeded chat sum
in 1859, or with the probable neiaproducts
alter dedpctng the consumption, direct
and indirect. Of the people. the grsdfcs-
ton afforded BY the spectacle Of our genl
sFal prosperity, will not be sf9sibly a
bated. s-. .,-...,,.... !. ,.... 80,
While this review Of the progressive
development Of our revenue system aud of
our material resources must necessarily in.
spire just confidence in The phyaieal en-.
ergies and financial strength of our great
comhonweahb. il will also serys, trust,
the humber purpose Of contributing TO a
clearer understanding ,f the relations of
taxation aud disbursement to means Of con-
tribution, and Of the necessity Of carefully
Observing these relations in leyiss and ap.'
propriatlons. ..,......,l. .....
| bThefu iamentslp princip Of our reven-
ue system, that oil property. not exemp ted
uron oVerruling considerations OF policy
shaH.opntribute to necessary public expen-
ses in Just proportion, to value, is now finn
yl established in the convictions Of the peo-
people, and nothing is more certain than
that they will insist on its uniform and uni
yersal application. If there be any des.
scripton Of property which. has lhilhy rto
escaped, just contribution, the Legislature
representing the people will not hesitate
to subject it TO the operation Of the geuer-
al principle. .Or'aa lnsss aI
1t is a great merit ofthe system that il
is easily understood, and that The result o
any given rate OF assessment cannot mate
rally decelvOiexpectation. Asathe grand
list supplies the basis ofrevenue,a and as the
necessary means to meet all State county an
municipal expenses are provided by assess
mems Tor State purposes on the entae list,
and for local purposes on the property
listed within the respective localities, leg
islative adjustment Of levies TO the public
needs, and Of appropriations TO lsvies, can
never be difficult. The rates of levy be-
ing fixed, the revenue for the years inter.
veneiug between general valuations can al
ways be predicted with reasonable certain
ty. The equslized valuation is the p rma.
neut, and the annual valuations are the va
riable elements of the Grand List. The
eouslized valuation once made remains un.
changed until the next valuation year.
The first Grand List after equalization ex,
hibits the aggregate ubjecl 10 contribution
and the Grand List of subsequent years
until new valuation, will, oil course, ex'
hBit theisame aggregate. increased OF di
miuished only by the increase or. diminu
ton ofthe annual valuations. The Crane
List Of no year except Immediately later {
lteneral valuations, or in consequence o
some legislative action. the results oiwhict
the. Legislature mustof course foresee. car
differ widely from that Of the, preceding
year! !siaiUg wriith st' asa CsigG.lul sdl
The general Assembly convened in. any
year, has, therefore, always sat hand ib,
mea1s Of ascer tanning, with substantial &C
curabv, abe revenues Of that aud the pex
fisral year. Leviesg alread y made on III,
Grand Listlof the proceeding year owil
lproduce, the (ormsEaDdsleyies on t&e Gram
| List ofithe current YEAR OF rates fixed o
sanctioned by,the Legislature .itsell. wi
produ the latter. With a gisvenr basi
andig given!rates ii is easy ito compuleyrev
enue. YIls198yg ylifbA LHs ,hassaa sed
With these observations IT seems prqpsf,t TO
submit TO sou a suggestion more than once ad,
dressed to your predecessqTs;T- " ls in
dSpenSa6e TO every sound financial system
thar appropriations be limited byreyenueS,
and penlituresby appropriations! The de-
rangene atssBhich have sometimes emp paHass-
ed our fnancesmaY be traced, almost ipyaTlp,
bly, the absence Of crime TO q disregard OF
this saiutaty principle. Nothihg but an over
ruline efiefpency can iustify1approptiation
beyond revenue, or expenditures beyond ap
proprations,S, When so justified the ,appTo
priations in the former case should be prompt
iy,proyided Tor bytaxation, and the expend
turesin the latter case should be as ptomptl
reported to the Legislature for its iudgmen