The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-02-15

Why the Constitution of Ohio
Should be Amended.


there would be new wants and new dan
gers, such as to require new safeguards
for the future, and these should be pro-
vided for in the fundamental law of the
land. There never has been in our his
tory, and possibly may never be again,
a period of twenty years filed with such
momentous events as the twenty years
since our present Constitution was franz
ed. During that period great and worthy
progress has been made in many direc-
tions. but many new and grave dangers
which were not foreseen in 1851. The
tremendous grOlUtA Of corporations, the
power they are welding over State and
legislative bodies, which did not exist
in 1851; the dangers which threaten US
from this source are not adequately pro-
vided against in our Constitution. AT
the present rate of growth and consOli-
dation, it will not be long before the
greatest Of our States may be less pow
erful than some of the corporations it
has erected. The day may and will
come when some single corporation,
managed by people outside of Ohio, may
be more potent within her boundaries
than the General Assembly itself.
There is another danger which the
people can not provide against a day too
soon. The last twenty years have wit
messed the most alarming progress in
the various devices by which bribery
and corruption have found their way
into legislative bodies. know that no
form of constitutional action can purify
the hearts of villains, but the provisions
of the new Illinois Constitution have
made it exceedingly unsafe for man to
practise his rascality in the General As
sembly of that State. It is said that the
new provisions drove the lobby from
Springfield last winter. Let US shut the
door before such results reach Colum-
bus.
But after all, what our State most
needs, is a safeguard on the subject of
Tazation, and a true adjustment of its
revenue system. It is estimated that
the aggregate taxation of the American
people for National, State and local pur-
poses, amounts each year to more than
one-thlrd of the principal of our Ma
tional Debt. This taxation, distributed
per capita, amounts to nearly taOenty dol
lars 10 each inha5itant-a higher rate
than any modern nation has ever before
maintained in time of peace.
The burden of the National taxes has
been rapidly and constantly diminish
ing during the last five years, (if reports
be true) but taxes of cities, towns and
counties, under State laws, have been
enormously increased. Comparing our
taxes under the laws of Ohio in 1868,
with those of 1910, and emitting the
special war tax of the former year, find
that the levies for State purposes have
increased about 40 per cent, not an ex-
orbitant increase considering the gen.
eraI rise in prices and the condition of
the country; but during that period
levies for county and other local pur-
poses have increased nearly 275 per cent!
In seven years our local taxation has
risen from 62 millions to l83 millions!
Governor Hayes in his last Message, call
ed the attention of the General Assem-
bly, to this growing evil, which is no
doubt the result of that general spirit of }
prodigality and extravaganza that has
everywhere prevailed since the war.
The Limitation of local debt and taxa
ton is now left to the General Assembly.
It should be placed in the fundamental
law, above the reach of party influence,
where the pressure of local schemes of
taxation and expenditure cannot come.
No one can read the articles of the new
Constitution of Illinois on revenue and
taxation, without congratulsting the
people of that State on their fortunate
escape from the evils which now afaict
us.
In many particulars the theory of rep
resentatiUe government has been improv-
ed in the last twenty years. 1t will not
be denied that the suffrage should be so
regulated that the vote of every elector,
as far as it is possible, shall have its due
weight in the choice of public servants.
No citizen should feel that his vote
is useless, and every political commu-
nifty should feel the restraining influence
ofthe minority party. But how is it in
our State? The twelve counties that
compose the "Western Reserve" send
to the General Assembly seven Senators
and seventeen Representatives, nearly
oue,titth of the whole body. These off
GERS are elected by $4,000 Republicans
The 10000 Democratic voters on the Re-.
serve have not one man of their choice
in either branch of the Legislature. In
such elections they are virtually dis
franchised. On the other hand, there is
a belt of thirteen counties, commencing
with Wayne county, on the Southern
line of the Reserve, and extending to
and including Adams county, on the
Ohio river, which send to the General
Assembly six Senators and fifteen Rep
These are elected by 49,
900 Democrats, and the 10000 Republi-
can voters in that belt of territory have
virtually no choice at the polls.
But the Republicans of this belt, and
the Democrats of the Reserve, should be
heard in regard to the government of
the townships, counties, judicial and
districts where they live.
I have no doubt both parties would be
better il this power were granted.
The inequality and injustice COM
planned of can in great measure be re-
moved by adopting some plan for the
Representation Of nIinOrities. The expert
ment has been tried successfully, and
would doubtless promote the public
good. The election of Representatives,
Judges, County Commissioners, Town
ship Trustees, School Directors, and all
officers who can be elected in groups.
1 have suggested these classes of
as examples of many that
might be made. They are not partisan
in their character, and are addressed to
the thoughtful men of both parties.
The average age Of American Consti-