Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-11-06

record by its admirable nsnagement Of
fthe huaacos Of the State. During i,s
brief possession Of power, almost one half
Of debt ofnearly sl2,O0O,0OO. left un
provided for by the former Democratic
rulers Of the State, has been paid, The
Northern Psnitentiary, tho building Of
which was commenced under Democratic
ADMINISTRATION. has been finished and paid
for; the Insane Hospital has been en-
Iarged At an expense Of $3.50 600; the con-
s,i,a,ional mandate for establishing a
House Of Refuge for juvenile offenders,
which Democratic. Legislatures persistent.
ly disregarded, has been obeyed by Re-
pubican law makers, and this has cost
800 600; Home for disabled Indiana
soldiers has been erected at an expense Of
$50, 900; the money distracted from the
School Fund by Democratic administra-
ton has been restored, and our public
schools have been aided by additional
revenues; yet the sum total Of State tax
alton Is but ffty.six cents on each hun
bred dollars, worth Of taxable property on
~ one fourth as much is levied to pay the
local exposes af.sAs Democratic county
lof Allen.
Heretofore the Legisture has not inter
fsred to limit the rate of taxation, nor to
control the expenditures OF the counties.
Contenting themselves with watehful care
OF the State. Treasury aud the reduction
Of State taxes as rapidly as the same could
be safely done. the Republicans who have
sai in the Legislature have left local affairs
TO The direction Of the local authorities,
believing that the home interests Of the
people could be best guarded by tho
officers chosen BY themselves for that pnr-
pose. But We think the time has coIue
for a change in this particular.
- During the recent State canvass it was
the practice Of Democratic orators to hold
up the report Of the Auditor Of State,
showing the aggregate Of general and To-
cal taxes, and 10 ask "What has Governor
Baker done With the $4,000. 600 of taxes
levied 10 Indiana last year2" although
they well knew that more than two thirds
Of tho amount was levied by the county
authorities, over whom Governor Baker
had no control whatever. 1.-THE Republi.
can party is to be held to responsibility
for county expenditures, II must, in self
defense, restrict them within reasonable
limits.
Another aud stronger reason why the
Legislature ought to interfere with the
prodigal wssiefulness Of portion Of tie
counties of this State is, that the minority
" voters ia those counties can not be
otherwise projected from the oppressive
taxation to which they are subject
Take for kxampie tho counties Of Allen.
cass, Clay, Crawford, Blackford, Barihol-
olaew, Brown. Dearborn. Dubois, Floyd,
Fountain, franklin, Fulton, Knox, Mar
tin, Oven, Sullivan. Starke, Upton, and
Wells, in which local taxation ranges from
one aud four.tenths. to two and nine.
teuths per cent. on the dollar; the minori-
!, ty are not only taxed without representa-
ton, but taxed lar beyond the amount
really necessary for the Legitimate de-
mands for the public service. Those ex-
horbitaut lesies furnish the Democratic
county officers with corruption fund
with which to control elections aud buy
: nominations, aud tbs, aided by party dis.
cipline aud INSCRIPTIONS abuse Of the
Republican party for taxing tho people to
death. enable these public robbers to per-
petuaie their power aud increase Demo
cratic msjorilios.
The Legislature has power TO protect
honest men against the system of extor.
ton that ia being practeed 10 these aud
other Democratic counties Of this State,
aud we hope to see that power exercised at
the coming session, by placing limit up.
on county and other local taxes. So far
as these Democratic counties have contrao.
ted debts they should be required to levy
, taxes to pay them, aud then be restricted
to such rate Of taxation as Will be suf.
ficient 10 meet their proper current expen-
ses, bat no margin should DO allowed for
siealings.
What that rats ought to be. We arc not
prepared to say. bat there will doubtless
Do men Ia tLA Legislature sufficiently
; versed in conn,y auances to digest bill
; tina, will acoewplish the purpose We have
, Indicated.
: This opens Geld for reform In which
: legislator competent to the work may
reap harvest Of renown, aud at the same
time save millions Of money to the people
Of the State. Who will gather this har-
ve.t2 f.t