Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-04

The Cost Of the Government of
Ohio Ten Years Ago and the
Cost NOwi i,
On the 7th OF EJandary, 1856, Governor
MEDiLL gave TO the lblic his last annual
Message. 1t was the ! sssage of the last
Democratic Governor on Ohio. The pre-
ceding Fall The people of Ohio had been
induced to dispense with the Democratic
party to administer the affairs of the State.
Since that period the Executive officers Of
Ohio have been Republican politicians
No one, we presume, will contend that in the
ten years that have since intervened, the
State has enjoyed more tranquility and
prosperity, or more beneflcent local Gov
ernment than the State enjoyed under the
administration Of Democratic Executives.
BY refercnee to Governor MEDILL's last
Message, it will be seen that the total reve-
nue. derived from all sources in the year
1855, was $4,2l5 s542s, against 81, Az, ,934.00
In ls54-being $262O75.72 less than in 1854
twill be seen, likewise, that the total ex-
penditures In 1866 we're SO, sos, ,574. % against
$3,S99,770,75 In 1S54-a decrease of $780,
1862. m ..r .,... ....l IA.
Now, turn to Governor ANDERsoN's Mes
sage, and you will find that the total re-
,ceipts from all The sources of revenue in 1865
was the extraordinary sum of $l3, l90 9l0.S1
against $S,679, ,969.S2 in 1s64-an increase
over that year of $45lO,943.99, and an in
crease of $S97S056.53 over that of
lS54--more than three times the amount
n l0Gs in the last year that the Dem
ocratic party had the Executive in this
State. Think of that, reader-think of that,
tax-payer-think of that, laborer! There
was gathered from the industry of Ohio, in
the name of the State Government, the
enormous sum, in the way of revenue, of
thirteen million, one hundred and ninety thous-
and, nine hundred and ten dollars and eighty
one cents You thoughtit excessive when,
under Democratic administration, the revenue
Collected did not reach one-ttird this amount.
The disbursements in 1855 were $3,5l2,-
1920 against Sl2 434, ,S24.s9 in 1S65-being
nearly double what they were the preced-
ing year, and nearly four times in excess of
1854. This is truly an appalling increase
In State taxation, and in State expenditures.
Does it not challenge the public attention
In the single item Of the Governors extra
ordinary contingent fund alone there is an
alarming increase. This fund absorbed
in 1865 the "extraordinary" sum of eighty
thousand, sir hundred and sirty-Rine dollars
and eighty-si1 ceRtS-an increase over 1861
of thirteen thousand, three hundred and yVty-
seveR dollars aud hirty-three cents, and the
enormous sum of SeUenty-nine thousand
nine hundred and nine dollars and forty
cents MORE than aoas used By Governor Nix
DILL in the last year of his administration.
Is it wonder that taxes are high and
living oppressive? Do not the interests of
the people-the interests of the laborer and
x-payer-demand that there should be
most thorough reformation in the disburse-
ments of the Government, to the end that
this excessive taxation may be diminished? ?
If it is not proper to invite the Democratic
party, through the ballot-boX, to administer
the affairs of this Government, is it not
proper, in an eminent degree, that the par
" in power should administer the affairs of
The State with the simplicity, economy and
,heapness that characterized Democratic
Administrations? Can our people stand hav-
ing hetaxes run up on them so enormously,
year after year, as they have been run up
,n them since the Democratic party was
dismissed from power? ed ..'..r