The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-03-03
Our Columbus Correspondence
COLUMBUS, O., February %. 1874

the present Legislature will compare ia
vorably with its predecessors in thl
work which it has done, and also in tn,
work which it has left undone,the sooner
it is retired The better for the State.
And first Of the Legislative proceed
inys. Your readers have already been
advised of the unfortunate passage oI
two bills by both the Senate and House
the first one was The Ross County bill
authorizing the Commissioners of Ross
County 20 transfer S25, 1000 of brtige
funds to the In6rmary building fund, land
also TO issue bonds to the amount OF
100000 On the passage Of this bill
there were hut thirteen votes against it
in the House, and only four or five
against it in the Senate; but the oppo
sers of this class of Legislation were no,
10 be silenced in this way, and resoIu
ton was passed requiring the Attorney
General of the State to report to the
House his opinion, whether the money
collected for the imbursement of one
fund could be legally transferred to an
other fund or not. His argument and
answer on that suhject,in pamphlet form
which / send you to-day, hoping you
will publish it entire elfectually explodes
the idea that such transfers can be legal
ly made
think it would be difficult to get a
bin through .he House now, providing
for or authorizing any such transfer oi
funds; and since the passage of that bill
and the Attorney General gave his opin-
ion on the subject, there are indications
that the system of transfer of funds has
been in operation in many place, in the
State as vigorously as it has been in the
State finances at the Capitol. The Gin
cinnati Enquirer furnishes the following
in its issue of February 81, under the
head of Violations of the Constitution
"Artcle II. section 5, reads: No tax
shall be raised except In pursuance OF
law, and every law imposing tax shall
state distinctly the object of the same to
which only it shall be applied This is
plain language Let us see how our city
fathers showed their contempt for it,
GENERAL FUND
"March l, 1869. to March l, 1870
taxes by levy for General Fund, 1892.
146 5S Transfers to General Fund
from EggIeston Avenue sewer fund,
S75, 900; from sewerage fund, S35, 600
from light fund, 515 600; from Fire De
partment Fund $35 900; from Interest
Fund, $4,000; from Bounty Fund SIS,
600; from Sanitary Fund, S25 900; from
Gilbert Avenue Fund, 100000; from
Watch Fund. $50, 900; from Street Clean
ing Fnnd, $4,000 Total transfers,
s350,O0O March l. 1870, to March l
1871, taxes S74S.5S9 80; transfers from
Sanitary Fund, S65, 600; from Esgles
ton Avenue sewer fund, 325, 900, from
Sewerage Fund. $4,000: from Glber'
Avenue Fund $1,000; from County
Fund, $4,000; from Light Fund, So.
600; from Watch Fund, $4,000; from
Fire Department Fund, $4,000; from
Street Cleaning Fund. S. 900; from in
aerest Fund, $4,000. Total transfers
S2l7.000
comment is unnecessary. These
figures speak for themselves and revea
plainly sly practice Of making the lev
les for special funds larger than neces
sary,simply to make them feeders of the
general fund. In this way dust wa
thrown in the eyes of the tax PAYERS =
The levy for the general fund was some
times, as in 1S69-70, only Fraction
above half of its real expenditures
the remainder was made up hy sneak
ings from other funds-not borrowing
lbut stealing"
This is evidently done to evade the re
quirements of the Constitution that brin!
the law maker in direct and imnediat
accountability to the Taxpayer, and th
Enquirer is certainly entitled to grea
credit for the exposure it has made O
this matter. Would it not be well 70
the papers all over the State to enqui.
into the state of affairs in their respect
i've localities and expose any instanc
where attempts have been made to max
large expenditures, and do it in such
way that those who pay these larg
sums do not know in many instance
what the money is paid for? Mr.. Ed
tor, after seven weeks examination G
this subject am satisfied that this
, one of the channels by which large
: part Of the oppressive taxation unde
| which we labor ia reached than any Ott
? er.
, Millions of money are collected fo
purposes for which every right minde
tax payer is willing to pay any reasons
: BILE amount 1t is then transferred to
general fund for the purpose of leachin
, it in payment of set-up jobs which hav
!, been given to tavorites, and many othe
2 things which the people would not coun
tenance for moment if brought direc'l
2 before them; and those necessary laudi
! BILE and benevolent objects not receivin
+ the funds 80 literally supplied for thei
e support fail to fulfil the just expectation
j, Of the people.
The next bill of any Importance. o
account of the principles involved in i
T was the Franklin County Agriculture
I Bill. 1t will be recolected that the bi
authorized the County Commissioners
levy tax to pay of the debts Of the Sc
J. ciety and to improve the Fair Grounds
: The bill did not provide for suhmissio
. TO the people,and it also appeared to col
, fict with the 9th section OF Article 8
e the Constitution. 1t barely passed til
a House and Senate.
' The third bill FOR consideration VS.
/ House Bill No l32, to authorize the Con
e missioners of Darke County to levy Ia
: for agricultural purposes. The purpos
f was to pay the debt on the Fair Grount
t Short work was made Of this bill 1t We
0 voted down by considerable majority
e but it af,erward transp'red that the tit
Y to the Fair Grounds was in the count,
d and the debt was debt of the county
h the bill was reconsidered and amende
# providing Tor submission to the reopl
It In this form | think it will pass,
: The next bill is House Bill No 143, |
J. Mr. Weihle, to authorize the Commi
|. sioners of Van Vert County to bnild
e new court house, at cost not exceedir
/. $l50,000 The bill specially provid
a \ j 4. II.