The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-02-10
written for The Spirit Of Democraeyj
Our COluabus Correspondence.
COLUMBUS. 0 January 81. 1874

COLUMBUS, o, January 81, 1874.
ED SPIRIT: Perhaps the most import
ant measure which has been thus far be.
fore the Legislature, and decided by it as
/ conceive, adversely 10 the interests of
the people, is House Bill No. 80, the title
of which explains the whele bill, to wit
"To authorize the County Commits,
sioners of Ross County to transfer any
sum not exceeding $4,000 from the
bridge fund or surplus finds Of said
county, to the Infrmarv building fund,
and to authorize said Commissioners to
issue bonds to the amount of 10000, to
borrow money for the purpose of com
pletine the County Inirmarv"
This is in addition to the sum of $780,
600 previously assessed and collected for
the same purpose.m making in all S105. 900.
1t was said by the member from Ross
that the Commissioners had made mis-
take in their estimates
/ The bill was referred to the Committee
on New Counties and County Affairs A
maj rity of said Committee reported in
favor of its passage A minority of the
committee, composed of Ramsay, of Adj
ans County. and myself, made a minority
: report, recommending the passage of the
bill with the following amendment:
"SED 4 That the proposition tn trans
fer S25 900 Of the bridge fund of said
county to the Infirmary building fund /;
also, that the proposition authorizing the
County Commissioners to borrow $780,
600 and issue county bonds hearing s per
cent interest per annum therefor, he first
submitted to vote of the qualified cleo
tors of said county"
The amendment gave rise to conside-
rah'e discussion. the members, generally,
admitting that the principle OF it was
right, but the practice heretofore had
been different, and argGing that in this
case the building was already partly
built, while we insisted that the principle
being right it should be adhered to, eSpe
cialiy when sum is asked as large a. the
total estimate at the tine the Inf mary
was first proposed, and also, in a county
which the Auditor Report shows Up ge
1873 tn be already in debt S257, All 93 -
The amendment was finally voted dow
, by a majority, thus sanctioniug all the
local Legislation, creating debt, which has
, entailed upon the cnun les Of this State 8
debt of S20,033,l23 80, as shownin in Gov
+ Moves Mes~a.'. U 5
i, The Democratic party having now
C complete control of the law making pow
er, this act seems to pledge it to the sup
, port of the Same system which, as prac
ticei by the Republican party for SO ma
. ny years, has at last called forth the ear
y nest protest of Gov. Moves iE his annua
! message to the Legislature, and alsu o
Gov Allen in his Inaugural Address t
n the largest assemhlaoe Of people eve
!, convened in Ohio on similar occasion
: There is another feature that seems tc
a conflict with the Constitution of the State
q II those who have the laws ofiS73 a
J. hand will turn to page 106.of the Appen
n dix, section 5, they will fiul this provis
ion:
mo tax shall be levied except in pur
suance of law. and every law imposing
tax shall state distinctly the OF ject of til
same. to which only it shall he applied
j. Twenty five thousand dollars of thi
: money was evidently assessed and co
: lected toi bridge purposes, and its Trans
l. fer to the Intrmary building fund seem
II to he unconstitutional. l hope we wi
&c succeed hetter in our purpose TO have tn
l. county debt project sanctioned bv VOL
T. of the people, to be affected by them, bt
fore they can be taxed to furnish fund
n for them.
e Well, your townsman, Jas, 0 Amo:
Esq is the Adjntant General His az
n pointment is one "elninenlly fit to h
W made and Gov Allen, in selecting NJ
- Amos for the position, thereby place
e first on his military staff a gentlema
III whose appointment appears to give gem
e raj satisfaction. The papers in noticin
lie the appointment say, Every speak
y well of Amos" 1t is also in strict az
Is cordance with the growing Democrat
Il sentiment of the State that public Officer
m should be of unimpeachable person;
Ut character The Governor. BY maxim
e. this appointment, gracefully comedies til
TX value and importance of "Monroe's
IL large and answering Democratic ma
ity so long ignored bv those WHO ha,
held office by our favor.
ID Gen Amos received his commissin
n and was sworn into office this mornin
and sends general invitation to the PEI
III pie at "home' t. call at his Office in Il
W State House Latch string always out
#. Mr.. Editor, | predict that the a,lmini
a tration of the affairs of his Office will
v such that the State will say to him, Con
Y up higher"