Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-08-20
DELAWARE, OHIO, FRIDAY. AUGUST 20, 1869


IN Ohio before. In a time of profound
peace, when money is scarce and bUsi-
ness depressed, is not this fact which
should arrest attention.
A leading purpose in the minds of the
trainers of the present Constitution of
Ohio, was to rid the people Of all public
debts. The Constitution of 1851 provld-
ed for the extinguishment of The exist
ing State debt, and prohibited the GEN
eral Assembly from the creation ofnew
debts except for the purpose of redeem
ing the o ID, or tto repeI invasion, sup
press insurrectinn, or to defend the
State in war" Under these provisions
the State debt has been greatly reduced
until now il is only about ten millions
of dollars. On the subject of local
debts the provisions of the Constitution
have been less effectnal. Their pur-
pose evidently Is to discourage and as
for as practicable prevent the creation 0f
such debts. Article Is, sec. 6, -progidrs
for the organization of cities and viz
Iages by geaeral laws and requires the
General al ssembly to restrict their
power of taxatiop, assessment, borrow
ing money, contracting debts, and loan
jng their credit, 50 % to prevent the
abuse of such poWer.o
Tue power TO increase 1ndebteouess
for local purposes by counties and town
ships, cities and villages under these
provisions has been resJrI cted IN various
vTavs. One mode has been To author 1ze
nc indebted utss, or considerable expen-
tifture bv local authority until II re-
cefved the approval Of the people to be
sffextpri bv III at an election held for
that purpose. Another mode of re-
S ricttng the power has been to limit
the amount Of debt. so that it should
not exceed q certain prescribed per
centRge of the taxable property OF the
county, or city. Nevertheless local IN
dehtedness has gradually increased, ,
and two years ago the State @. m
missioner of Statistics reported the
amount of local Indebtedness in Ohio
at fiftepn millions of dollars.
Now in view otthe facts have here
presented showing how great is the
burden of taxation and of local indebt-
-dness in OHIO, and that the burden has
rapidly Increased during the last few
years, il has seemed to me to be wise
policy in the present financial depression
while high rates of interest prevail, and
while the demands of the National Gov
eminent are so great, that the General
Assembly of Ohio should endeavor to
diminish rather than inci ease eXpendi-
lures, and should restrict rather than
encoura. Q an increase of local taxes
and local debts. It is apparent that
any material iu crease of pr sent rates
sIf taxation W II tend 10 drive away
from our State both reputation and
capii al. Indeed, already facts can be
given showing that seyersl of the cities
and counties of the State are suffering
n this respect from excessive taxation.
Iu a speech, accepting denomination,
made before the Republican Convention
in June last, I called attention to this
subject and to the action of the last
democratic General Assem- oily on these
important questions. Judging by the
comments of the Democratic press on
7 hat speech and on the resolutions OF
that t-the doings of the Democratic LTIa-
jority OF the last General Assembly
we're approved ard Endorsed by every
body except the Repu blicaus, and that
ebey condemn them purely from par
tissln motives. But this is altogether,
untrue. There were significant hinfs
given, and grumblings heard from high
Democratic authorities of this subject.
Tue Dayton Ledger, fearing that the
Legislature would never adjourn, talk
ed in this plain way:
s'The Democracy of Ohio feel in re-
gard 10 our Legislature somewhat a.
President Grant does in respect to the
present Radical Congress. Grant il
anxious that Congress should out its
work short and adjourn. TIE besI
tbidR the Ohio Legislature can do is to
finish up such matters of legislation a.
are imperati Vely demanded by the p b.
tic interests, and adjourn at a very
56ELB QdHs L Hb 56uuFuCV VI LD6 Ilul0N
is for perpetual sessions-sumething
like the long Parliaments of England. 8
The independent Democrat who edits
the CammOner, after the Legislature
adj, urned said
1--WE sdVise the Democratic Conven-
ton, do not attempt to carry the dOinRs
OF that LeGiSlaturs. They can not be
defended their sessions, to a great ex-
tent, were time wasted and laws passed
in the interest of our opponents"
One ofThe ablest Democratic cOntribu-
tors to the same journal furnishes the
sound reasons for the advice
given by its editors:
"Again, we heard much about bond
holders and public debts and the freck-
Iessness of the Republicansin in mortgage
ing the future industry of the country;
but this very LeHisI4ture authorized q
larger amount Of public debt Than any
other Legislature ever did, and mOre-
over, authorized iG with q free hand, for
the smallest as well as the bigge OBJ
iects. It allowed cities, counties dis
5ricts, and even special road and school
TO borrow money for every
object, and wnat is worst
IF all, 1T empowered these little lncaii-
ties, as we'll as cities, to pay higher
rates Ofint crest than customary, there
by interfering with private credit"
The advice of the COmmoner was los'
up IN the Democratic State Convention.
he last General Assembly, and in one
Df them went so far as to "rsturn thanks
10 the Legislature for their economicai
TX xpendiIures in the administration of
he State Government ~
the Repuhlican party accepts the Issue
3ral Assem- bly, was in session too lOng
and too often; that its legislation was |
excessive aud expensive, unnecessary,
and in some Instances unjust and Op-
oressive. We say that it authorized ex- /
oenditures, and local debts, and local
axes in a manner aud to. an exteht |
hat -endanEers The prosperity OF the
! ate. We therefore maintain that there
ought to be thorough, and sweeping
reform in the legislation of OHIO.
The conclusion of the whole matter is
hat under the management of th' |
financial affairs OF the State by the late /
Democratic Legislature, expenditures
are. increasing, taxes are increasing |
and debts are increasing. The Demo- |
cratic party, in its convention, indorsek |
hat management and thanks the last /
Legislature for its economy. The Re
publican party condemns the legisla- |
ion of the last two years, and demands |
hat it shall bs reformed. Upon this is |
sue we go confidently before the people |
Of Ohio.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME.
The Republican State Convention |
passed the following resolution on the /
subject of Soldiers Orphans Home {: |
" ResoLUed, That the Ropu blicsn par
5v of Ohio is in favor of a speedy es-
of Soldiers Orphans |
Home in Ohio, not only as an act of |
Justice to the nanv poor and helpless |
rphans of deceased so ldiers. but as |
of the patriotic services of !
their fathers in the late war, and for the