Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-01-14
AMOUNT OF TAXES LEVIED.

Ulhrr Than State
taxes ....... 193e4,5is.qs 1927 ,63505
State taxes.,... 4,6O6,22.23 l,l62 ,529.30
Totals. $24,130,s2O5l lS,39O,l0495
This table shows that in ten years the
State taxes have increased thirLy-three
per cent, aud that local taxes have In
creased almost one hundr, d aud seventy
per cent; in other words, that less than
Oue-tenth OF ;he increase has been in
State taxes, aud moro than Dine-teutLs
III local taxes
The increase OF local taxation has been
tar greater than the growth of the State
III business, population, or wealth. 1t is
not to be doubted that this burden has
grown to Dimensions which seriously
threaten the prosperity OF the State.
| No full aud exact statement can be
made trJm the official reports as to the
amount annually collected from the prop
| cry-lUlaerS OF the State ia the iornj OF
special assessments Tor " hat are termed
! local improvements but ii Ii certain that
this burden is also great and rapidly
growing.
The Auditor of State reports cases IN
which such assessments ha, been made,
amounting to bait Of the cash value OF
| he property Oh which tbgy were levied,
aud, III one case, which he refers to, the
assessment was double the value OF the
| property.
lu respect TO these evils it is andoubt.
edly easier to find iauli than 10 provide
Il remedy. No single measure will re-
move them. Probably no system of
| a., h;,h l.,,.V.l Il
can adept will Of themselves accomplish
what is desired. A complete reform is
impossible, uUless the CITY, county, aud
other officers are disposed and thorough
ly competent to do the work OF cutting
off every unnecessary expenditure.
Much, however, cau be accomplished
by wise legislation. Let the Genera!
Assembly firmly adhere 10 the polcy of
the CunsttutluI, aud refuse To- enact
special laws granting powers to tax or
make assessments. Let such powers be
exercised ONLY III pursuance Vi general
laws. Local authorities should be em.
powered to levy no higher rate Of taxa
tiun than is absolutely required for lrac-
teal efficiency under Ordinary circum-
stances. In extraordinary cases gcnel-
al laws should pioylde. lor the subpsGop
of the proposed tax OF assessments TO
the people to be affected by il, under
such Regulations that it can not be levied
unless NJ Least twO.lhlrds OF the lax
payers approve the measure.
RATES or TAXATION.
In addition TO considerations already
presented in favor OF Il revision OF the
| rui A ~ ~ Inch l,,.,,l ,,iH A
boards are authorized 10 levy, another
controlling reason Is not TO be omitted.
by the recent reNeluation of real estate
the total basis ct taxation for the State
III large Will probably be Increased almost
forty per cent, and III many OF The cities
the Increase will he nearly one hundred
per cent. This rcpd.rs IL imperatlyely
necessary to revise the present rates, 50
as 10 prevent the collection and cXpendi,
ture oi sums much greater than the
public good demands.
LOCAL INpEmEDNEss
One of the most valuable ARTICLES OF
the present State Constitution 10 that
which prohibits the State, save IN II few
;. exceptional cases, from creating amy
debt, and which provides tor the pay
mclu NJ an early day OF the debt already
contracted. am convinced that II
would, be wise To extend the same policy
10 the creation OF pubic debts by coun
", city, and other local authorizes. III,
rule, pay as you. go" leads 10 economy
~ pubnc rs well Us in private affairs
while the power 10 contract debts opens
The door to wasteiulness, extravaganza
aud corruption.
In the early history Of The State, when
capital was scarce aud expensive, public
works were required Tor transporting
the products Ot the State 10. market
public debts were probably unavoidable
: l3nt the time, believe, has come When
not only the State, but all OF lis subor
dinate divisions, ought 10 DO forbidden
: 10 incur debt. The same rule on thin
subject ought 10 be applied to local au
. ,horties which the Constitution appliet
to tho State Legislature. Experience
. has proNedthat lbe power to contract
. debt Is an liable 10 abuse by local boards
as II is by the General Assembly. Ii il
a is Important 10 the people that the State
3 should be free from debt, il il Also inl
D portant that its municipal division,
r. should poi have power TO oppress then
> with the burden OF local Indebtedness.
uoop DISEASE. The Boston Irdrsier say
the hoof disease IL the most infections OF Nl
: the 'ails' TO which cattle are subject i
Highom, Mass, the diseaSe spread from pal
Of oxen, within two weeks, until seventy hea
= of the choicest breeds Hers affected. In som
n cara hogs and sheep are attacked, Ii is sal
g. the infection can be carried IN tbe clothes. an