The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-02-17
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
Our Columbus Correspondence.

COLUMBUS, O., February IL, 1874.
ED. SPIRIT: The chief object of at
tention here now appears to be the bill
introduced by HeitmaE, of Franklin
county, known as House bill No 81, to
authorize the Commissioners of Frank
lin county, Ohio, to levy tax for the
improvement of the grounds of the
Agricultural Society of said county, and
pay its debts due for lands purchased y
This bill. provides for the assessment of
about twenty thousand dollars upon the
people of Franklin county without con.
suting them in the matter at all.
The debt Of Franklin county now
reaches the enormous sum of one
million, three hundred and sixty-nine
thousand six hundred and nineteen dol
lars and eighty cents. (See Auditor OF
States report, page l40) This bill pro-
poses to add to this large sum twenty
thousand dollars. and for what? osten-
sibly to improve the grounds and pay
the debts Of the Agricultural Society OF
this county, but really to enable them
to induce the state Board of Agricul
ture to locate the State Fair here for the
term of five years
l suppose the State Fair located at
Columbus would perhaps be more cen
trail and accommodate larger number
of the people of this State, and, also,
of other States than any other city with
in our limits; but upon what principle
of right, the yeomanry should be taxed
without consulting them for the benefi,
of the hotel keepers, merchants DC, o.
Columbus is not so plain neither does
it seem so very Democratic.
But there was another question which
entered largely into the discussions or
this subject. A large number of YOU
readers nave within their reach the vol
ume of laws Of 1873. containing tn,
Constitution of the State with decision:
of the Supreme Court on each article
By reference to Section six of Articl,
eight, page SO, they will find the fol
lowing decision to wit:
The General Assembly shall neve
authorize any county, city, town, o.
township, by vote of its citizens or 9th
erwise, to become stock holder in an,
joint stock company, corporation or as
sociation whatever, or to raise none,
for or loan its credit to or in aid of an,
such company, corporation or associa
! ton
The opposition to the bill, on thi
constitutional point, was made by til,
member from Ash;abula county, MI
Rowland, who certainly displayed al
amount of legal and forensic talent tina
jus,ifes his friends in regarding him a
one of the foremost men of his part
in the State. The argument in suppol
of the bill was made by Gen. Grosven
or, of Athens county, and others.
The vote resulted, for the bill 55
against, Al. You will see that the bil
had only two votes more than consl
tutional majority in the House.
! The result in the Senate was close
still. nineteen votes only being cast 70
the bill just sufficient to carry it. Their
is great rejoicing here over the passag
of the bill
The papers are discussing these ques
tions all over the State and the conclu
sions arrived at seems to be expresse,
by the Gazette in its issue of 1I,h inst
"The debate in the Senate to-day uL
on the Heitmsn bill was excited an
the chamber crowded all day. Tn
final passage of the bill was greete
with applause Meritorious as the OF
ject of the bill is. it's passage is consid
. cred by many public misfortune, a
indicating that the present General As
sembly will do nothing to arrest tn
continually accelerated march of locs
taxation which is eating out the vital
of the State"
take more hopeful view of the fl
ture when system of careless and e1
travagant legislation promoted, in gres
part, by the great imitation of the cul
rency during the war has been in oper:
ton for years it will take time to col
rect the abuse, but my letter this wee
is already too long.
Yours, W.