Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-04-27
From the Ohio State Journal, April l5.l
The Soldiers Relief Fund.
SPEECH OF
HON. PETER HITCHCOCK
OF GEAUGA COUNTY,
DcliUered IN the Ohio House Of RepreSeIl
tatiUeS, Thursday, March 81, 1870.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, !
COLUMBUS, o., April ,, 1870. !
Hon. Peter Hitchcock:
DEAR SIR-We, the undersigned
members Of the General Assembly.
who had the pleasure of listening L.
your remarks regarding the history o
the Soldiers Relief Fund" during
the discussion of Thursday, the Slsi
ult., desire you to write out the sub
stance of your remarks in order to
have it printed.
We have the honor to be,
Cordially and respectfully,
W. MORROW BEACH, WM. RITEzEL,
A. JAS. STERLING, WIN. ADAIR,
JOHN LITTLE, G. J.HoUNG.
Messrs. W. Morrow Beach, VIM RitezeI, and
others,
Gentlemen: In compliance with
your request of the I'd inst, the fol
l1wing is handed you, which hardly
Ieel is entitled to the consideration
you seem to have given it.
Press of other duties has prevented
an earlier response.
Very respectfully,
L. HITCHCOCK.
Mr.. SPEAKER The amendment
proposed by the gentleman from High
land, relates to a subject of which so
much has been said, here and else
where. that it seems not inappropriate
that brief history of all that relate
to it, and to the final transfer of bal
ances should be given.
U1l,o GEralfnf f.nAfi an aal1n1 funH
'for the relief of the families of sol
diers and marines in the service of the
State or United States" was raised by
annual levies commencing in the first
year of the war and closing in the
year 1865.
These levies were increased from
year to year until. in 1864 two mills
were raised by general levy upon all
the property of the State and in addi
ton thereto County Commissioners
were authorized to levy not exceeding
one mill in addition, and city cOun-
ellis one-half mill. In 1865 the same
general levy was authorized and in
counties two mills and in cities one
mill. The money raised by general
levy was distributed to the various
counties in proportion to the necessi-
tous families of soldiers and sailors in
such counties.
Early in the spring of 1866, eight
months after the close of the war, it
was represented that large balances of
these funds were remaining in the
various county treasures of the State,
not needed for the purpose for which
raised, and large numbers of bills,
coming from all parts of the State,
were introduced for their disposition
A resolution from the committee on
Finance of the House directed to the
Auditor of State elected from that
officer a response showing the same
facts. In some few instances the fund
was exhausted and more asked for,
but these were only isolated cases. In
nearly all the county treasures there
were balances, and in some of those
treasures those balances were very
large. In some counties the fund was
not used at all for the purpose for
which raised Ifnot mistaken Holmes
county was one of these, certainly a
very large balance remained in the
treasury of that county and oneof the
bills for transfer was introduced by
the gentleman representing that coun-
ty. 1t was stated by gentleman rep
resenting the county of ClermOnt that
not a dollar of the fund had there
been used and that there was over
$50, 900 then in the treasury of that
county.
None of the fund raised by the levy
of 1865 had as yet been distributed.
and the question of distribution and
use of these funds occupied much OF
the time of the session. Pending the
final conclusion the act of March 16.
1866, found on page 3S of the laws of
that year was passed, by which $500
OOOof this fund was temporarily trans
ferred to the Sinking fund with a spec
ial provision that it should be reim-
bursed from the sinking fund by q
levy in the years 1867 and 1868. The
understanding of all parties being
that this reimbursement would be
made if the money should be needed
for the purpose for which originally
raised.
AS before stated, in some few instan-
ces additional funds were called for,
and TO be sure that nothing should be
wanting, the Legislature. afterreserv-
ing $4,000 for the Soldiers Home and
the $500. 900 spoken of above, distrib-
uted 81, ,163, ,S51 ,56 to the several coun-
ties, changing the order of distribu-
tion, however, so as to send it back to
thecounties in the proportion in which
paid in; also, providing that the cOuD-
ty commissioners of the several coun.
ties, after having carefully estimated
ond cat anarf the amount needed for
relief purposes, should transfer any
balances remaining to any funds for
ordinary expenditure in their respec-
tive counties. In addition to the fore
going, the commissioners were not
only authorized but required, should
there at any time be needed funds for