Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-01-14

to prevent this fapld increase OF
taxation, which have heretofore
been recommended, are revision
of the financial system of the State
in accordance with bills prepared by
board of commissioners appoint
ed for that purpose, in pursuance of
an act passed March Is, 1867; short
sessions Of the General Assembly !;
adequate fixed salaries for all State,
county and municipal officers, with
out perquisites and definite and
effectual limitations upon the pow
er of County Commissioners, City
Councils and other local authorities,
to levy taxes and contract debts.
The Constitution makes it the
duty of the Legislature to restrict
the powers of taxation, borro wing
n oney, and the like, so as to pre-
vent their abuse. I respectfully
suggest that the present laws con-
ferring these powers on local au-
thorities require extensive modifica-
ton, in order to comply with this
constitutional provision. Two
modes Of limiting these powers
have the sanction of experience.
All large expenditures should meet
the approval Of those who are to
bear their burden. Let all extra
ordinary expenditures. therefore, be
submitted to a vote of the people.
and no tax be levied unless approved
by a majority of all the voters of
the locality to be affected by the
tax, at special election-the mum
Der of voters to be ascertained by
reference to the votes cast at the
State election next preceding such
special election. Another mode is
to limit the rate of taxation which
may be levied, and the amount of
debt which may be incurred. 1t
has been said that with such restric-
tions upon the powers of local au-
thorities, the Legislature will be i'm
portuned, and its time wasted in
hearing applications for special leg
islation. The ready answer to all
such applications by local authori-
ties will be to refer them to their
own citizens for a decision of the
question. The facility with which
affirmative votes can be obtained
under the pressure of temporary ex-
citement, upon propositions author
izing Indebtedness, may require fur
ther restrictions upon the power to
borrow money. 1t is therefore sug-
gested, for your consideration, to
limit the amount Of debt for a sin
gle purpose, and the total amount
for all purposes, which any loca1
authority may contract, to certain
per centage of the taxable property
of such locality.
The evils here considered are moi
new. Fourteen years ago, Cover
nor Medill, in his annual message
used the following language, which
is as applicable to county and mu
nicipal affairs now as it was wheT
it was written "The irresponsible
extravagant system Of administra
ton which prevails in some of ou1
counties and cities furnishes the
principal cause for the exaction:
which are SO generally complained
of. There, public contracts ar
given to favorites which occasion
the most lavish expenditures
There, also, we find officers with in
comes which shock all correct idea
of public compensation. Thes'
things have their effect upon th
general tone of public morals
County reform is a duty enjoine(
by every consideration of publi
virtue"
The whole Of this important sub
ject is commended to your candle
consideration.
THE PENITENTTARY.
The management of the affairs o
the Penitentiary, during the pas
year, has been good; discipline ha
, been maintained; under kind ant
judicious treatment the prisoner
have been Industrious and orderly
and the pecuniary results are salts
, factory. The number Of prisoners
on the 31st of October, 1869, wa
974, and the number of convicts ad
mitted during the year ending o.
that day was BAT. This is de
crease, compared with the previou
wear, of 81 in the number confne'
in the Penitentiary.
The earnin gs during the year of
October 81 were $175, 663 {
The expenses were 1886
Excess of earnings over expenses $32, ,O27 {
Last year the earnings were $l71O37 4
The expenses were $i41 ,794 s
@ over @ expenses were ~ n sa9,24a /
, REFORMATION OF CoNvICTs.
) A large proportion of the con
victs, when admitted, are quit
young. The age Of about one
third does not exceed twenty on
=, years. Mere than two thirds Of tn
z inmates of the prison are now unde
thirty years of age. 1t will occu
: to any one who considers thes
3 facts that, under Our system q
} prison discipline, too little effor
S has heretofore been made to reforr
+, these young men. A high author
ity has said, "No human being is S
: debased and wicked that he can no
be reclaimed" 1t is believed that
I under wise system, the young, a
!, least, can be reformed and prepare
r for useful and worthy citizenship
r The present system has two capits
: defects-the mingling in intimat
e association of the young with tn
e hardened criminals, and the failur
!, to educate the convicts in habits Q
s thrift and self control. The defect