Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-01-15
The amounts levied for local purposes,
for the wear 1861. were

The amounts levied for local purposes
for the year 1861, werei
County 1896. 40 /:
Pcor SisS&o u
heA1 sSOS95 .,
&5I4S0 81
col. JSl y
523 ESQ s.
Sub District Sbhool a-a School House. I.373, see 6s
City, Town and Borough.---.--.... I,56O.l97 SO
Other Special purposes. -.....--...-. 535,Oss IS
Making a Total of.-....---..-.. s7,O4I.74s 81
OF these several items, save only the
poor tax, it is believed that at least thirty
three per cent. may, without serious and
with but temporary detriment to the peo-
pie of the State, be withheld from the sew
eral special purposes, and made applicable
to the general treasury; thus constituting
a principal means of providing for the wants
of the General Government, without any
increase of the present gross amount of
burthens upon the public. In this crisis
of our beloved cOuntry's tribulation and
noeds, it behooves our public authorities,
as well as private individuals, to foregs
many Of the comforts and %luxuries of times
of peace and prosperity, and exercise rigid
economy and prudent selfdenial.
L have, therefore, to recommend to your
earnest consideration the adoption of suit.
able means to effect this purpose.
The system of taxation now in force, if
faithfully executed. is, perhaps, in the main
as perfect and equitable as can well be de-
vised- The object of the law is to bring
upon the duplicate all the property in the
State at its true value in money. So far
as property, viSib6 to the several assessors
is concerned, this object is, generally, well
attained; but there is reason to fear that
iaUisiHe property, particularly moneys aad
credits to a large amount, escape taxation.
| therefore recommend that more severe
penalties, certain of enforcement, be provi-
ded for failures to give into the assessors
this species of properly. The citizen who
willfully attempts to evade his Just proper
ton of taxation for the support of the
government that protects his person and
his property. should be deemed a criminal
and punished as such.
The mode of listing railroads for taxa
ton also requiers attention. Great Unequal
ity must necessarily exist under the present
system. TIE secure uniformity, equality.
and full valuation in the assessment of
this large interest, | would recommend the
creation of a Board of Assessors for that
special purpose; but, to avoid, the creation
of new officers, and consequent expense to
the State, l recommend that this Board
consist of the several County Auditors of
the counties through which the road passes.
This Board thus constituted, should be re-
quired to meet at the principal Office of the
company, and there, after inspection of the
books of the company, assess the total val
ue of its property, and distribute the same
to tho several districts. From this assess
ment an appeal should be allowed to the
Auditor of State, or other suitable State
Board, by every company feeling itself az
grieved; and such Board might also super
wise the assessments of the various Boards
of County Auditors for the purpose of
equalization. By this means defects now
existing may be remedied with trihing ex-
pense to the State; and it is confidently ex.
pected that a large additional amount will
thereby be added to the duplicate.
1t is hoped that all new causes of ex-
penditure may be avoided and that every
effort to promote economy will be made
L am, however, constrained, from a sense
of strict duty, to recommend the c%ontinu-
ance of the recent law, authorizing County
Commissioners to assess a tax for the sup
port of the families of our troops during
the war. The provisions Of this law were
wise and benefcient, and have prevented
much distress and suffering.
The charters Of the several banks of the
State created by the Act of February "a,
1915. will expire OIL the lst of May 1866.
In view of the very extensive interests in
volved in any sudden change of the none
tary system of our State, it would be wise
that the future policy of the State on the
subject of banking, be early made known;
under ordinary circumstances, therefore, l
would invite your attention to this subject,
at this time. You are, however, aware
that the Secretary of the United States
Treasury has recommended a measure,
which, if adopted, will have a most impor-
tant bearing upon the subject; hence l deem
it advisable, for the present at least, to alb
stain from interfering with the matter
Should Congress dispose of the subject at
an early day, l may deem 1t my duty to
send you a special communication during
your present session
1t may be advisable at this time, how
ever, to consider the prOpriety of promptly
relieving the banks from their disability of
out the paper of institutions that
do not redeem their issues. Of demand, in
specie. 1t is known that the demand notes
of the General Government, as also the
notes of nearly all the banking institutions
of our sister States, are not now redeemed
in coin on demand; hence, our banks are
unable to receive. in payment of debts due
them, or on deposit, any of this vast des-
of currency; for, not being permit
ted to pay it out, of course they cannot re-
ceive it safely. This condition of things
must necessarily affect the credit and cir
eulation of the issues of the Federal Trea-
sury' and greatly cripple it in obtaining
means to prosecute the war. Great as the
evil, OF tolerating by law, a suspension of
specie payments, to any extent, is known
to be, 1t Is better to endure it, than to en-
barrass the Federal Government in obtain
ing means to vigorously crush out the re-
bellion. | have, therefore, to recommend
that you at once authorize the several bank
ing institutions of the State to offer in pay
ment of their issues, when presented for
payment, the notes of the Federal Govern
ment. payable Oh demand.
The broker or ShylOck, who may wish