The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-01-15

Saiionsi osd i'3g9'9e9 ~ '9SS g g
,2il 232
Leaving estimated balance in the
Treasury Nov. Is, ls74---.-.......-..s 81, ,7e2
The taxes levied in 1872, collecta-
bic in 1878, were
state 44l455T
DeIin9ueneIeS enc and foreifurS 81 Is
...--.. ss23, 81, ,e7I
The takes levied in ls73, ,collecta-
bic ia lST4, were
state taxss--. 5fTT.sJ9
County and local taxes--..-..-.-.--- ~, ,653 493
peIinQuincles and 1orfeitures... 3i3,I06 z
s474,459
1t will be observed by reference tC
the above figures, that while thl
State debt has during the past yeal
been reduced S372, 4S4 81, the loca
Indebtedness has increased S2,442,'
$685.. And yet the taxes levied fol
all State purposes, Exclusive of the
q, 500, 900 levied for support of com
mon schools, and which goes directly
back to the counties to be expended,
amounts to only S3,977, ,859.25. This
sum includes all the expenditures for
building and maintaining our public
institutions, the payment of interest
on the State debt, the reduction of the
debt, the cost OF the Executive, Leg.
islative and Judicial departments OF
the State government, and all expen-
ses incident to the management oI
State affairs. On the other hand, the
levy for county and local purposes
(ineluding that for common schools, J
amounts to SO, 2,153, ,493 SO. In other
words, the levy for State purposes is
less than one-sixth OF the entire taxa
ton, and that for county and local
expenses more than five-sixths.
There is certainly a great disparity
between these two classes of expendi-
lures, and submit for the considera-
tion Of the General Assembly, wheth-
er it would not be wise to restrict, by
legislative enactment, the power of
minor political organizations to Gre
ate debts and impose taxes. The peo-
pie naturally complain of their bur-
dens when the annual or semi-annual
payments of tax bills are made, and
but few stop to inquire or consider
whether the bills are on account OF
local affairs, under levies made for
county, city and school district pur-
pnses, or for the State at large. i
commend this subject to your atten-
tion.
Upon examination 1t will also be
found that there is remarkable diff
ference between the expenses of the
several counties for the same purpo-
ses, where there ought to be substan-
tiaI agreement; all Of which could
possibly be remedied by legislation.
FISH CULTURE.
When lsborers are out of employ
meDt, when times are hard and mon
ey scarce, the minds of men natural
ly turn to the consideration of matters
affecting the price of subsistsnce-.he
cost of living. Certainly there is no
food more healthful or more paIata-
BILE than the best varieties Of fish
which are found in our lakes and riv-
ers. Yet the supply has been grow
ing less year by year, until it can no
longer be regarded as a common and
cheap article of diet, but should be
classed with the luxuries, which only
the rich, or those in comfortable cir
cumstances, can afford. 1t is no lon
ger question whether or not it is
possible to re-stock our inland wa
s------;sI fs-h Evnari rnaDtS in voriL
Gus parts of the country have been
made on so generous scale, that it is
now certain we can repair the waste
and consumption which have pro-
duced the present scarcity. And this
can be done with comparatively little
cost. The delicious white fish of the
lakes, instead of costing ten cents per
pound, as they now do when placed
upon our tables, ought to be afforded
for four cents at most. But to effect
this there must be a more plentiful
supply.
The General Assembly, at its last
session, authorized the appointment
of three Fish Commissioners, who
were to act without compensation,
but whose actual expenses while pros
ecuting their investigations were pro-
vided for by q small appropriation.
These Commissioners weTs not ex-
pected to undertake the actual work
of fish culture, otherwise larger ap-
preparation would have been made.
The Board are now ready to COM
mence restocking our waters and are
satisfied that an almost unlimited
supply of fish can be furnished with
in three or four years from the time
when work is entered upon in earn
est. In the interst of both comfort
and economy, 1 recommen an ap.
preparation Of at least s., 600 for the
purpose of erecting hatching-houses
on Lake Erie, in cur reservoirs and
rivers, and to pay the expense OF
prnpagating the most desirable kinds
of fish.
RAILROADS.
Recognizing the fact that Railroads
have contributed very largely to the
prosperity of the State, that lines
heretofore projected ought to be built,
and that new routes ought to located
in order to secure the best develop
ment of our resources and the highest
reward for our Industries, it is un-
doubtedly the duty of the General As
sembly to encourage legitimate Rail-
road enterprises. But several abuses
have crept into the management of
some of these corporations which
ought to be corrected. 1t is no un.
common thing for officers of Railroad
companies to associate themselves to-
gether, as the prOprietors of fast
freight lines, or in some other like
capacity, whereby they are enabled to
contract with themselves, so as TO
secure unwarranted profits, at the ex-
pense of the stockholders they Offici-
ally represent, and Of the people who
transact business with the roads. An
other difficulty is that these fast freight
lines, not being organized under the
laws of Ohio, though doing business
within the limits of this State, pay no
taxes whatever. When the officers Of
the Railroad corporations are asked 70
list the property, they answer that
they do not own il and have nothing
to do with it. 1t has been impossible
to reach these interior organizations.
One fast freight line has heretofore
owned and used four thousand cars,
and all this property escaped taxation
in Ohio, although operated in this
State. 1t is worthy of consideration
whether or not this evil can be reach.
ed and remedied by State OF National
legislation.
am informed it is the custom for
many of the railroad companies in
corpOrated by the laws Of Ohio, to
keep their transfer books on Wall
street, in the City of New York the
practical result of which is that when
money is borrowed, on railroad stock
pledged as collateral security, a trans
| fer is made on the books to the banker
or broker, who has only remote in
terest in the ultimate value of the
stock. Spectators and sehemers then
borrow or hire the proxies, on stock
so held in pledge, and by voting the
same, sometimes enter into transac-
tions to the extent of millions OF dol
lars, involving the validity of railroad
securities, and affecting the financial
interests of many innocent persons.
a controlling influence is thus often
exercised by men having no pecuni'
ary interest at stake, to the dlscredlt
of the whole railroad system, and to
the prejudice Of the public welfare.
1t would be well for the General As
sembly 10 compel Ohio corporations
under heavy penalties Cor refusing tc
obey the law, to keep their transfer
books, or duplicates thereof, at some
Office or place within the limits of the
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