Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-01-12


The increase of local taxatio
has been far greater than the grow
of the State in business, popult
ton, or wealth. 1t is not to
doubted that this burden has grow
to dimensions which seriousl
threaten the prosperity of the Stat'
No full and exact statement ca
be made from the official report
as to the amount annually collecte
from the property holders Of tn
State in the form of special assess
ments for what are termed local i'm
proVements, but it is certain tha
this burden is also great and rapid
ly growing.
The Auditor of State report
cases in which such assessments
have been made, amounting to hal
of the cash value of the property
on which they we're levied, and, il
one case, which he refers to, the
assessment was double the value o.
the property.
In respect to these evils it is un.
doubtedly easier to find fault than
to provide a remedy. No single
measure will remove them. Proba-
bly, no system of measures which
the General Assembly can adopt
will of themselves accomplish what
is desired. A complete reform is
impossible, unless the City, Coun
ty, and other officers are disposed
and thoroughly competent to do
work of cutting off every unneces-
sary expenditure.
Much, however, can be accom-
plished by wise legislation. Let the
General Assembly firmly adhere to
the policy of the Constitution, and
refuse to exact special laws grant
ing powers to tax or make assess
ments. Let such powers be exer-
cised only in pursuance of general
laws. Local authorities should be
empowered to levy no higher rate
of taxation than is absolutely re-
quired for practical efficiency under
ordinary circumstances. In extra
ordinary cases general laws should
provide for the submission of the
proposed tax or assessment to the
people to be affected by it, under
such regulations that it can not be
levied unless at least two-thirds of
the tax payers approve the mea-
sure.
LOCAL INDEBTEDNESS.
One of the most valuable Articles
of the present State Constitution is
that which prohibits the State, save
in few exceptional cases, from
creating any debt, and which pro-
vides for the payment at an early
day of the debt already contracted.
am convinced that it would be
wise to extend the same policy to
the creation of public debts by
County, City, and other local au-
The rule, "pay as you
90" leads to economy in public as
we'll as in private affairs, while the
power to contract debts opens the
door to wasterulness, extravaganza
and corruption.
In the early history of the State,
when capital was scarce and expen-
sive, public works were required
'or transporting the products OF
5he State to market, public debts
we're probably unavoidable. But
he time, | believe, has come when
1ot only the State, but all of its
divisions, ought to be
forbidden to incur debt. The same |
'ple on this subject ought to be APP
)lied to local authorities which the
applies to the State
Legislature. Experience has prov
ID that the power to contract debt |
S as liable to abuse by local boards
is it is by the General Assembly.
t it is important to the people that
he State should be free from debt,
t is also important that its munich
,al divisions should not have pow
n to oppress them with the burden
If local Indebtedness.
FIXED SALARIES.
1t would promote an economical
administration of the laws if all
State, County, and Munici-
,al, including the Members of the
legislature, were paid fixed sala-
les.
Under existing laws, part of the
,ublic officers are pnid by fees, and
part by fixed annual salaries or
" a per diem allowance. The re-
ultis great inequality and injustice.
lany of those who are paid by fees
eceive a compensation out of all
to the services render
d. Others are paid salaries Who'll.
= inadequate. For example, many
,ounty officers, and some City off.
ers, receive greater compensation
nan the Judges of the Supreme
iourt of the State. The salaries I
aid to the Judges ought to be in i
reased; the amount paid to many t
ther public officers ought to be re- l
uced. To do justice, a system of |
xed salaries, without fees or per l
nisiCes, should be adopted. The I
sople of Ohio will, without ques- /
on, sustain an increase Of the sal I
les of Judges and other officers 4
no are now inadequately paid h
at it can probably best be done
part of a system which would c
event the payment to public Off l
q =.