The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-21
County Correspondence.
Written for The Spirit of Dsmocrscy.l
FROM SALEM TOWNSHIP,
Taxation.
CLARINeroN O.. July l6 1874

1dXatIOus
CLARINeroN, O., July l6, 1874.
Mr.. EDITOR: Judging from what
have seen and heard, think it probable
that my former letter to you has done
something in the way Of instituting in
quiry into the causes Of high taxes in
his county. Whether my facts and fg
ures were obtained in surreptitious
manner, is. Of no consequence; but if my
first letter is referred to again think il
will be seen that l did not obtain them by
theft, stealth or fraud What a 'surrep
titious' lette. is know not.
l. would please me much to be go stu
ated as to have easy access TO so ne more
facts and figures which can only be Oh
tanned in the Auditors office. | nigh,
make other "galled jades vince" What,
ever may be my ignorance l would hope
in vain if 1 expected to lie enlightened
from some sources l wot Of
By reference to the Report of the Sec.
retary Of State (Ohlo Statistics, page
307) I find that the total valuation OF
Monroe County in 1873 was S5,920,OS5
Now the county levy for that year was 49
cents on the Sl00 valuation. This would
give total tax for county purposes OF
S29,00S Al. II the valuation should be
the same for 1874, the tax for county pur.
poses, at the present levy OF 36 cents, will
be S2l,3l2 80, or decrease in one year
Of $7.606 Ill. Does that not speak
we'll for our county9 l Idoubt if there is
another county in the State that can show
a better or ON equal record. OF the 8S
counties in this State, all but 36 have a
county Indebtedness. Monroe is one OF
the SO that has no county Indebtedness -
Even the rich little county of Noble had
an Indebtedness IN 1873, of $4,000
Iduly appreciate all levies for educa
tional purposes, and those are the taxes l
pay most willingly. But 1 cannot say
that all money for school heuse purposes,
raised throughout the county, is expend.
ed as economically as 1t might be. But /
will not charge corruption and extrava-
gance on town hip officers, and, like some
men,say have proved it when the proof
would exist, like theirs, only in my SIM
pie unsustained assertion And in my
ignorance I had thought that in payments
out of the county funds in addition to
the pay of county officers, buying blanks,
blank books, stationery and oiling the
press of the "Spirit Of Democracy"
there were payments made to township
assessors, and for elections, jurors, wit.
nesses in State cases. State cases before
justices, establishing roads and damages
thereon, insanity cases, court constables,
attorneys for defending prisoners, freight
and express charges on laws and docu
ments. postage, &c, &c.
Suppose the County Commissioners, in
the exercise of their best judgment and
discretion. in giving out 8 job Of work,
say in making roads and bridges, should
unfortunately be mistaken in their judg-
ment to the amount of $500. If they are
honest men, all that can be said is that
they were mistaken, and that it was unfor.
tunate. But man is engaged in poor
business who charges that it was fraudu-
lently and corruptly done, unless he can
show that they individually reaped some
benefit from the mistake. It's right and
proper that attention be called to 1t, SO
that the same error may not occur again
I would not cover up any mistakes or er-
rors, much less would I defend any fraud
or corruption. But I would not much
care, once in a year or so, to contribute q
dime to ventilate mistakes in judgment
or errors, if any occur. 1t would serve
to put Commissioners and all other Off
GERS on their guard. If such an error or
mistake in judgment as above referred to
should occur, the man who pays taxes on
valuation of 81, 900 would contribute
about eight and half cents as his pro.
portion of that mistake. As little as that
amount is. it is that much too much. But
in managing the finances of county
mistakes and errors are sometimes una
voidable-otherwise men would be infal.
lible. How many business men make
greater mistakes in a single transaction!
Mr.. Editor, / am too far from the re-
cords of the county to continue this sub
ject. IexpectI have about as much in.
terest in having honest and capable men
in office as most of those who are shrek.
ing fraud and corruption. Men who live
| in glass houses should not throw stones
but have noticed that unless you keep 8
certain set of men in Office allthe time
they are the first to cry out .Ring,
"Ring." Clique" "Ciiquc," and the his
tory OF our county completely proves it
Isn't it narrowing that some men Car
not receive the notice that they wish, il
order that they may say, "See how we ap
pies swimp' SAXON.