The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-05-06
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

The Democratic Legislature submitted
two constitutional amendments to the
voters of Ohio. to be decided at the next
October election. The sole object of
these amendments is to put money and
offices into the hands of hungry Demo
Gratis.
The first proposed amendment pro
vides that the Governor. with the advice
and consent of the Senate, shall appoint
five commissioners. to hold their Offices
three years, and these commissioners
shall receive the same pay as Judges of
the Supreme Court, and may appoint
such attendants as are appointed by the
Supreme Court. These commissioners
shall aid the Jupreme Court in the trans
action of business. The Legislature may,
at the expiration of the three years, ap-
point like commission for two years.
This, in fact, is the creation of two Su-
preme Courts, to do the work that one
Court could easily perform, if the Judges
would go to work, and not loaf more
than half the year. This commission
would make places for five Democratic
lawyers, with their host of attendants,
and would cost the people of the State at
least one hundred thousand dollars.
The other proposed amendment pro
vides for the taxation of dogs different
from the taxation of other property. The
constitution as it now stands, provides
that all property in the State shall be
taxed according to its value. Now it is
proposed to tax the poor mans dog at
another rate than that assessed upon the
rich mans carriage, jewelry, &c. The
pretext will be set up that dogs do much
damage Admit it. So do beer and
whisky. Will any sane man, even a
Democrat, claim for one moment that
beer and whisky do not cause as much
loss of property, and entail as much mis-
cry on the people of Ohio in one year, as
all the dogs in the State could cause in q
thousand years ? Suppose a proposition
had been submitted to tax beer and
whisky different from other property
The Democracy would have raised such
howl as would have drowned the noise
of all the dogs in creation.
This provision is aimed especially a.
the poor man. Look at this part of it:
Notwithstanding the provisions of the sec
ond section of this Article, the General Assem-
bly, shall have power 10 provide by law, for thu
assessment of a special tax on dogs without re
gard to value and 10 provide for the confisca
tion and killing of such animals upon failure
or refusal of the owner, keeper or marlboro
thereof, to pay sue h special tax.
That is, you will levy a special tax
one that the poor man is not able to pay
and if he should fail, then you kill hi:
property. And then there will be {
swarm of new Democratic officers for the
people to pay They will be known al
''dogpelters-"
We have no special regard for dogs
If dogs do damage, make the owner re
sponsible, or if he is irresponsible, lie
him be held criminally liable; but is i
not interfering too far with the private
rights of the citizen to say that his prop
erty shall be destroyed for no caus'
whatever, only that the owner is unable
to pay the tax that is not equally as
sessed on all kinds of property.
Just so soon as you admit this dis
elimination in the constitution, the Pro
hibitionists, and other temperance peo
pie will demand that special tax shall
be levied on ardent spirits, wine, beer
&c, and in default of payment, tina
these poisons shall be destroyed. 9ol
open Pandora's Box when you breal
down the safeguards which now SURROUND
private property.
There is another feature Of these pro
posed amendments which we approve
The publication of them in all the Dem
ocratic papers of the State for si7
months, will put some twenty-five thou
sand dollars of the peoples money int
these halfstarved institutions. The!
need it so sorely that we think this j
the best feature of the whole business.
Should these amendments carry, thu
Democratic papers, the new Judges
called commissioners, the attendant
upon this duplicate Court, together will
the swarms of dog-pelters in every town
ship of the State, would cost the people
half million dollars in the next ter
years.