Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-05-23


good repair during the present fiscal year,
says, and read from the ] st page Of the re-
port: ''The estimates herewith submitted, as
the basis Of the opioions of the Board as to
the ability Of the canals to be made self
sustaining for the coming year, have been
carefully matured
And on the I'd page OF the same report he
says:
"The following tabular statement shows the
amount estima ed as necessary for the main
tenance of the several divisions of the Public
Works for the fiscal year ending November
10, 1861, including the salaries of members OF
the Board, Residen Engineers, Revenue Off
GERS, Secl etary Of the Board, and contingent
expenses of the Office
The tOotings of this tabular statement are
"Estimated receipts .... 5000, 1853 54''
and Estimated expenditures 1921 $50 90"
Excess of receipts over expenditures. 81, 403 81
making, according to Mr.. Martins showing
in his special report. the Public Works self.
sustaining, and 81 ,i08 81 to spare This
special report, let Senators bear in mind,
was made since propositions to lease, under
this bill, were laid before the present lcgis-
laiurc.
Can Mr., Martin, as President of the Board
Of Public Works, be presuming upon the
credulity of the Legislature and the people OF
the State, when he makes such statements as
these in his official capacity?
| will turn to Sd page Of the same report,
and here Mr.. Martin says:
! ''Thc Board therefore confidently estimate
an increase in receipts for the present year
! OS6l) over those of last, of from thirty to
forty thousand dollars.''
On page 46 of the last annual report Of the
Board, find, over Mr. Martins name in a tab
ular statement, the receipts fOr last year, in
Guiding SIT 81 received from sale Of land
amounting to S30S, 935; and to this sum add
$40 900, the highest estimate ofincrease for
this year, over last, and we have S34S. 93j
revenue, according to Mr.. Martins own show
ing for the fiscal year en- ing Nov. Is, 1861
By reference to pages 36, 40 and II OF
the last annual report of the Board, which was
made Jeiore propositions to lease the Public
Works were presented to this Legislature, and
before the Board thought there was any dan
ger of lease bill passing at all, Senators will
find that Mr.. Martin, for his division of the
Public w orks, asks appropriations for the
present year to the amount of Sl93 4 A 0i.
And on pages Is, Il, IS, 10, %, %. 26, and
y. Mr. Gregory's estimates for Eis division
will be found amounting to SlI0,l50
Also on pages II and IS the Board ask il
addit on ssG7 200.
In the annual report, Mr., Backus, who mad
charge Of the first division, made no estimate,
but in his special report to the House Of Rep
reseutativeS, in answer to resolution of that
body, passed February l3, 1861, asking for
information, he estimates $50 900 as the
amount required for that division this year
the whole together making S460 ,S3l 04, de-
manded at the hands of the Legislature to be
expended under the fostering care ofthc Board
upon these dccaying Public Works.
Yet, giving Mr.. Martin the benefit Of his
record and highest estimated receipts, S3f7,-
935, for the present fiscal wear, and should the
Legislature fail to pass the bill, and be COM
PEELED to make the appropriations demanded
by the Board, there viii he deficit at the
close of the present fiscal year of Sill ,S99-
OF.
But Mr.. Martins estimate of receipts is evil
dcntly too high, and his estimate of eXpend-
lures in the special report too low.
According to another phase of his own
showing, in special report in answer to Il
resolution Of the Senate, passed March Il,
1861, he gives the gross receipts for the tis-
cal year $50 at S2Sl ,6j9 ~; add to this
$4,000, his hg' est estimated increase over
last year, and we have S32l ,659 27,-whicll
would leave deficit at the close of the pres
ont fiscal year ofSl39,l74 49,
Mr.. President, if these discrepancies be-
| tween the annual and special reports of the
| Board are casual mistakes, they exhibit an
|
Ger which totally disquuliies him for the po-
| sition he holds. But if they are wilful, they
are evidences of presumption and eirontcry
on the part OF the President of the Board of
| Public Works, toward the Legislature and
people; based upon impudencc
| Let Senator'S turn to page II Of the State
! Auditors last annual report, and they will
| find the estimate receipts for the present year
| $40 900. If this estimate Of the Auditor is
correct, and the legislature fail to pass this
bill, and are compelled to malc' the uppro-
priations demanded by the Board, the close
Of the present fiscal year will show deficit
/ in the canal fund Of Sl9Os34.
| Taking the fact that the deficit in this fund
at the close of the last fiscal year was Sl07,.
Az So, bcliyc this estimate of tie Auditoa
! apprOXimates nearer the truth than any other
yet Gladc.
Then, Mr.. President, let me again ask what
remedy can we devise TO cancel this large and
increasing draft upon the Taxpayers Of the
/ Statei
The Board Public Works present no fea,
siblo plan.
Their reports each year, instead, arc full o
demands for more and more money, apologies
for its cNtravagant use, and exhibits OF grow
ing deficits in the Public Works fund.
apprehend the burthened taxpayers o
/ the State will no longer be satisfied with th
annual and stereotyped excuses Of the Boar,
for the reckless use Of their money, in repair
ing the damages done by ''disaarous .fpod',
and other ''criraord"ary casuahicS," whicl
occur each year as regular as the rolling o
time, but in the language OF the reports, ''ar
not Hkciy again Il OccT"h!
In my humble judgment the sure and saf
remedy is the passage ofthis bill to lease tn
Public W orks TO responsible private indiyil
uals, who will bring TO bear in their manage
ment all the energy and activity OF private en-
terprSe.
The lessees under this bill, for their owl
advantage, will be compelled to put thes'
works Immediately in the most efficient ant
complete order possible, with the view OF
at once competing successfully with variou
. railroads Tor the carrying trade of the state
They will also be compelled to keep thes'
, works in the condition OF great and well re &