Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-07-08


quirements of the Constitution. II
under provisions which contenplai
one legislative session in two years
they held two sessions in the same veal
and three sessions in their term of tw
years. They were in session two hun
dred and sixty days-longer than wa
ever before known in Ohio, and at al
expense of $3.50, thai
double that of their Republican prede
cessors.
They created between thirty anc
forty new offices at cost to the peopl,
for salaries, fees and expenses of a
least $4,000 per annum. They ad
ded to the State liabilities for various
purposes about 81, 100000. In ordel
to avoid an increase of taxes levied fol-
State purposes they diminished tn,
sum levied to pay the State debt, and
increased the levy for other State pur.
poses almost 100000.
The ac-s of the last Legislature in
relation to local debts and local taxes
are of the most extraordinary charac-
ter. These acts relate to raising money
for county purposes. for township pur-
poses, for city and village purposes,
and for special purposes. These taxes
or debts are levied or incurred under
the direction of county commits sioners,
township trustees, or of city or village
councils, who derive their authority
exclusively from State legislation. The
State Legislature has therefore the con-
troll of the whole matter. Now, the
general statement which l wish to
make, and which l believeis sustained
by the facts is, that the late Democrat
lc Legislature authorized greater local
peeuniary burdens to be imposed upon
the people of Ohio, without their con-
sent, than were ever before authorized
by any General Assembly. either in
peace or war, since the organization of
our State government.
Sixty or seventy different acts were
passed authorizing debts to be con-
tracted, amounting in the aggregate to
more than S25,OO0,0OO. A large part
of them bear eight per cent. interest,
and very small part bear less than
seven and three-t -tenths per cent. inter-
est; And they passed seventy or
eighty acts by which additional taxes
were authorized to the amount of over
S1O,OOO,OOO.
Now it is to be hoped, as to a con-
siderable part of the local debts and
local taxes authorized by the late DEM
ocratic legislature, that the people will
not be burdened with them. 1t is to
be hoped that County Commissioners,
City Councils, and other local boards,
will show'greater moderation and econ
omy in the exercise of their dangerous
and oppressive powers under the laws
than was exhibited in their enactment.
But in any event, nothing is more GER
tain than the people of Ohio have great
reason to apprehend that the evil con-
sequences of these laws will be felt in
their swollen tax bills for many years.
1t is probable that many of the acts
% which | have alluded. creating addi-
.ional offices, incurring State liabilities,
md authorizing local debts and taxes
we're required by sound policy. But
candid investigation will show that the
arger part of these enormous burdens
If expenditure, debt and taxation could
md ought to have been avoided.
The last Legislature afforded exam
1les of many of the worst evils to which
legislative bodies are liable Long ses-
'ions, excessive legislation, unneces-
3ary expenditures, and recklessness in
authorizing local debts and local taxes.
These evils "have increased, are in
;reasing,, and ought to be diminished"
Let there be reform as to all of them.
let the people of all parties
INSIST that the parent evil--long legis-
alive sessions-sball be reformed alto
;ether. Let the bad precedent of long
sessions, set by the last Legislature, be
condemned, and the practice of short
sessions established. With the aver
lge rate Of taxation in the cities and
arge towns of the State-nearly three
,er cent.--legitimate business and in
lustry cannot continue to thrive, if the
ate of taxation continues to increase.
With the rates of interest for public
lebts, ranging from seven and three
enths per cent. to eight per cent, the
eckless increase of such debts must
top, or it will seriously affect the
of the State. These are
ubjects which deserve, and which, l
rust, will receive the profound atten-
ion of the people in the pending can
ass.
1t is said that one of the ablest Dem
cratic members of the last Legislature
eclared at its close that "enough had
een done to keep the Democratic par
Y out of power in Ohio for twenty
ears Let the Republican press and
republican speakers see to it that the
istory of the acts of that body be
pread fully before the people, and
ntertain no doubt that the declaration
Till be substantially made good.
1t is probable that the discussions of
be present canvass will turn more upon
tate Legislation and less upon national
fairs than those of any year since
S61. Neither Senators nor Represen-
atives in Congress are to be chosen.
Tut it is an important State election,
nd will be regarded as having bear
lg on national politics. The Republi-
ans of Ohio heartily approve of the
rinciples of Gen. Grants inaugural
lessage, and are gratifed by the man.
er in which he is dealing with the
aiding questions of the first three
lonths of his Administration.
Under President johnson, Secretary
IcCullough boarded millions of gold
enable him to maintain a wretched
valry with the gold gamblers of New
ork city. The nation was defrauded
its just dues, and the national debt
creased from November 1st, 1867, to .
ovember 1st, 1868, s35,625, ,102, 82.
en-. Grant began his financial policy