Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-14

VI these several iiemGi save only tne poo
tax, it is believed that at least thirty three PEI
cent. may, without serious and with but tempo
rary detriment to the people of the State, bt
/ withheld from the several special purposes, anC
made applicable to the general treasury; thu
constituting q principal means of providing fol
1 the wants OF the General Government, without
any increase Of the present gross amount ol
burthens upon the public. In this crisis of oul
beloved country g great tribuation and needs
| 1t behooyes our public authorities,as we'll al
private individuals, to forego many Of the com
forts and luxuries Of times of peace and pros
peFity, and exercise rigid economy and prudent
self-denial. IL. Dos t.ts
have, therefore, to recommend to your earn
est consideration the adoption OF suitable
means to effect this purpose. i,e,
The system of taxation now in force, If faith
fully executed, 10, perhaps, In the main, as per-
feet and equitable as can we'll be devised The
object OF tho Law Is to bring upon the duplicate
ali the property in the State at its true value in
money. So far as property, Uisible to the sever
al assessors, is concerned, this object is, gener.
ally, well attained; but there Is reason to fear
that invisible property, particularly moneys and
credits, to Q large amount, escape taxation. J.,
therefore, recommend that more severe penal
ties, certain Of enforcement, be provided for
failrres to give 10 TO the assessors this species
Of property. The citizen who wlllfully at.
templs to eyRde his just ptoportisn 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 taxation al
so requires attention. Great inequality must
necessarily exist under the present system. To
secure uniformity, equality, and full valuation,
in the assessment of this large interest, would
recommend the creation of Board Of Assess
ora for that special purpose; but, to avoid the
creation OF new officers, apd consequent expense
TO the State, recommend that this Board con-
sist of the several County Auditors of the coun-
ties through which the road passes. This
Board, thus constituted, should be required to
meet at the principal Office of the company, and
there, after inspection of the books OF the COM
pany, assess the total value Of its property, and
distribute the same to the several districts
From this assessment an appeal should be al
lowed to the Auditor Of State, or other suitable
State Board, by every Company. feeling itself
agRrieved; and such Board might, also, super
wise the assessments Of the various Boards Of
County Auditors for the purpose of equaliza-
ton. BY this means the defects now existing
may be remedied with triaing expense to the
State, and 1t j. confidently expected that large
additional amount will thereby be added to the
duplicate. e. 1as
It hoped that all new causes Of expenditure
may be avoided, and that every effort. to pro-
mote ECONOMY will be made. am, however,
constrained, from sense of strict duty, TO re-
commend the continuance Of the recent law, au-
thorizlng County Commissioners to assefs tax
for the support Of the families of our troops
during the war. The provisions OF this law
were wise and benefcent, and have prevented
much distress and suffering.
The charters Of tho several banks Of the
State, created by the Act Of February "a, l64S,
will expire on the let day Of May, 1866. In
view Of the very extensive interests involved 10
any sudden change of the monetary system OF
our State, 1t would be wise, that the future poll
cy of the State, on the sutject of banking, be
early made known; under ordinary oircumstan'
ces, therefore, would invite your attention to
this subject, at this time. You are, however,
aware that the Secretary of the United States
Treasury has recommended q measure which,
II adopted, will have most important hearing
upon the subject, hence, deem 1t advisable,
fer the present at least, TO abstain from inter-
fering in the matter. Should Congress dispose
Of the subject At an early days may deem u
my duty to send you special communication
during your present session. cl
8 Il may be advisable at this time, however, u
consider the plopriety Of promptly relieving the
banks from their disability Of paying out the