The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-11

the same purpose by the sum of 81, ,695-
725 3S. The local taxes this year are
about IL per cent. greater than they
were three years ago, and are l0 per
cent. greater than they were last year.
The increase oftaxation for State pur-
poses is in part due to the amount col
lected for the Asylum Building Fund,
which exceeds the amount required last
year for building purposes by almost
100000. Making due allowance for
this, the important fact remains that both
State and local taxes have largely in.
creased.
A remedy for this evil can only be bad
through the General Assembly. The
most important measures to prevent this
ra,id increase of taxation, which have
heretofore been recommended, are re-
vision of the financial system of the
State in accordance with bills prepared
by board Of commissioners appointed
for that purpose, in pursuance of an act
passed March Is, 1867; short sessions
of the General Assembly; adequate fix
ed salaries for all State, county and mu-
nicipal officers, without perquisites; and
definite and etfectual limitations upon
the power of county commissloners,ci 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, borrowing money, and the like,
so as to prevent their abuse. / respectr
fully suggest that the present laws con-
ferring these powers on local authorities
require extensive modification, in order
to comply with this constitutional pro-
vision. 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 extraordinary expendi-
lures, therefore, he submitted to vote
of the people, and no tax be levied un-
less approved by majority of all the
voters of the locality to be affected by
the tax, at a special election-the number
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 tax
alton which may be levied and the amount
of debt which may be incurred. 1t has
been said that with such restrictions up
ON the powers OF local authorities. the
Legislature will be importuned, and its
time wasted in hearing applications fol
special legislation. The ready answer
to all such applications by local author
tiles, will be to refer them to their own
citizens for decision of the question
The facility with which affirmative votes
can be obtained under the pressure o.
temporary eNcitement,upon propositions
authorizing Indebtedness, may require
further restrictions upon the power to
borrow money lis therefore suggest
ed, for your consideration, to limit th'
amount of debt for single purpose,an6
the total amount for all purposes, which
any local authority may contract, to 1
certain per centage of the taxable prop
erty of such locality.
The evils here considered are not new
Fourteen years ago, Governor Medill. il
his annual message, used the followin:
language, which is as applicable to coun
ty and municipal affairs now as it wa
when it was written: 1.-The irresponsible
and eXtrayagant system of administra
ton which prevails in some of our coun
ties and cities furnishes the princips
cause for the exactions which are SO gen
orally complained Of There, publ
contracts are given to favorites, whicl
occasion the most lavish expenditures
There, also, we find officers with income
] which shock all correct ideas of publ
compensation. These things have thei
effect upon the general tone of publ
morals County reform is a duty enjoin
ed by every consideration of public viz
tuep a5sa..G ~
| The whole of this important subjec
is commended to your candid considers
1 ton.
| The management Of the affairs of th
Penitentiary, during the past year, ha
been good +; discipline has been maintain
ed, under kind and judicious treatmer
| the prisoners have been industrious an
orderly, and the pecuniary results al
satisfactory. The number of prisoner.
j on the 3lst of October, 1869, was 974
and the number of convlcts .admitte
during The year ending on that day wa
BAT. This is decrease, compared wit
the preceding year, Of 81 in the numbe
of conyiets admitted, and of 81 in til
number confined in the Penitentiary.
The earnings during the year
4 ending Oct. 81 were, Sl75,663 Q
The expenses were, 143,635 s
Excess of earnings over ex-
penditurcs, S32,027 2
Last year the earnings were S171,037 4
The expenses were, 141,T94 8
, And the excess of earnings
! over expenses was, $780,
J A large proportion of the convict
. when admitted, are quite young. tt
J age of about one-third does not cxcee
/ twenty-oneyears. More than two-third
of the inmates of the prison are no
J under thirty years of age. 1t will occl
to any one who considers these facts til,
under our system of prison disciplin
, too little effort has heretofore been mac
to reform these young men. A high al
thority has said, "No human being is S
oebased and wicked that he can not |
lreclalmed." 1t is believed that, under
D wise system, the young, at least, can |
reformed and prepared for useful al
D worthy citizenship. The present syste
has two capital defects-the mingling
intimate association of the young vii
the hardened criminals, and the failul
D to educate the convicts in habits of thri
+ and self-control. The-defects are IN Il
i system. The convict, when lie leav'
y the Penitentlary, is exposed to great
j temptations than ever before, and Il
result of his prison life is that he Ii:
g less power to resist evil influences, an
too often, less disposition to resist ther
. | do not enlarge upon the objections
E the present system; tits not claimed
be reformatorv. In recent report Il
9 Directors said: :sThe great mass of co
!. yicts still leave the Pcnitentiary appa
: emily. as hardened and as dangerous
IL Nv.zx ~ 81. Fal- n =