The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-01-16

-, Making total of..... .....S7,0I4,7i8 6I
Pr Of these several items, save only the
poor tax, il 10 believed that OF least tIirty
three per cent. may. without serious and
with but temporary deIrimeDl to The peo
pie Of the State, be withheld from the
several special purposes, and made appli.
cable 10 the general treasury; thus consti
tuliug 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 couutry's great
tribulation and needs, il behooves oul
public authorities. as well as privale indi
viduals, TO lorego many Of the comfort,
and luxuries Of times Of peace aud pros
pefty, and exercise rigid economy and
prudent self-denial.
| have, therefore, to recommend 10 your
earnest consideration, the adoption oil
suitable means to effect this purpose.
The system Of taxation now in force, il
faithfully executed, is, perhaps, in The
main as perfect and equitable as can wei
be'dsvised. The object Of the law is tc
bripg upon tho duplicate all the property
in the State at its true value in money!
So far as property visiJle to the severa
assessors, is concerned, this object. is
generally well attained; but there is reas
on TO fear that invisible property, partcu
larly moneys and credits. to a large a.
mount escape taxation. | therefore re
commend that more severe penalties, Ger
tain OF enforcement, DC provided for fail
ures TO give into the assessors this spe
clos of property. The citizen who wilful
Iy attemp's to evade his just proportion o
taxation for tho support Of the Govern
men: that protects his person and his pro
p,rty, should be deemed criminal, an(
punished as such ...'
The mode Of Using railroads iof taxa
ton also requires attention. Great inc
quality must necessarily oxst under tho
presen: system. To secure uniformity
equality, and full valuation, in the assess
ment Of this large interest. | would recon
mend the creation of Board of Asses
sors for that special purpose but, to avoiC
the creation Of new officers, and consc
qnont expense TO the State, Recommend
that this Board consist of the severa
County Auditors of tie counties through
which the road passes. This Board, thu,
constituted, should be required 10 meet a
the principal Office of the company, ant
there, after inspection Of the books oil tn,
company, assess the total value of il,
property, and distribute the same to III,
several districts. From this assess men
an appeal should DO allowed to the Audi
tor Of State, or other suitable State Board
by every company feeling itself aggrieved
aud such board might, also, supervise tn,
assessments Of the various Boards O
County Auditors for the purpose of equal
izaliou. By this means defects now ex
istirg may be remedied with trifling ex
pense to the State; and it is con6deutl,
expected that large additional amour
will thereby be added to the duplicate.
1t lie hoped thSt all new causes of OK
penditure may be avoided, aud that every
effort to promote economy will be made
l am, however, constrained. from sens
OF strict duty, to recommend the contlnu
ance OF the recent law. authorizing Coun
! ty Commissioners to assess a tax for tn,
support Of the families Of our troops dur
ing the war, The provisions of this lay
we're wise and bene6cent. aud have pre-
vented much distress aud suffering.
The charters Of the several banks Of tn,
State, created BY the act Of February "a
l845, will expire on the let of May 1853
In view of the very extensive interest
involved in any sudden change of the mo
netary system Of our State, il would bO
wise, tha, the future policy Of the State
on the subject Of banking, he early mad
known, under ordinary circumstances
therefore. ! would invite your attention t
this subject at this time. You are, no "
ever, aware that the Secretary Of the Uni