Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-29

Dollars.
The Democracy have been claiming
that, if their Legislature made a dis
graceful record in some respects, it at
least was very economical, and did
much to cut down expenditures and
diminish the burdens of the people of
Ohio. 1t is well to give this claim a
brief consideration.
Since the advent of the Republican
party in politics, it has held power in
Ohio for twelve years, and the Demo
cratic party for four years, being 1865
50 and 1915. The Republican party
has been in power during all the other
years that have elapsed since and inclu-
ding the year 1860.
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES.
Now an accurate calculation and ex-
animation of the original documents,
shows that during the twelve years the
Republican party held power, the av-
erage contingent and committee eXpen-
ses of the General Assembly amounted
to 81 ,162 u yearly; while during the
four years Democracy ruled, the ave-
rage yearly contingent and committee
expenses amounted to S4,1I6 fl. In
other words, The Democrats expended
for the above purposes, more than three
and half times as much as the Repub-
licaus.
The highest legislative expenses in
any one year under Republican rule
was s.. .446 43, while the highest under
Dap,ooratio riIla WAS 81 6i3 40
The total legislative expenses under
the four years of Democratic rule was
SIG, ,7O5 81, while the total expenses un-
der the last four years of Republican
rule was only half as much, orSS, 429 %.
In addition to the above facts, it may
be remarked that. tie oppropria-
ton for Legislative expenses at the re-
cent session was exhausted the day af-
ter the Legislature adjourned sine die,
since which time authenticated claims
Of that class to the amount of several
hundred dollars have been presented
and remain unpaid. What these may
amount to cannot now be stated, so
that the average legislative expenses
| for the four years of Democratic rule
will really amount to considerable more
than that given above.
CREATION OF NEW OFFICES.
During the twelve years of Republic
can rule, there were created several
new ofices-namely, net increase of
six Judges, Clerk of Supreme Court,
Commissioner of Railroads and Tele-
graphs, Gas Commissioner, and Insu-
rance Commissioner. These last two
offices are wholly unnecessary, and
should not have been created at ALL.
But the united salaries of all the new
offices then created under twelve years
of Republican rule, amount to but S24,-
500; whereas during the four years of
Democratic rule, there were created
sixteen new Judgeships, a Boiler In
spector, Mine Inspector, an Asylum
Commissioner of Construction, whose
united salaries amount to SGT, 200. A
slight reduction in one or two offices
brings the net increase down to S65, leo.
Te recapitulate, the united increase
of salaries of all the new offices created
under Republican rule, are 50, 500; the
united increase of salaries of the new
offices created under the four years of
Democratic rule amount to $50, 100. In
the same proportion, if the Democrat |
ic rule should continue AS long as the
Republican, the salaries attached to the
new offices they would have created |
would amount to $195, 300, or eight
times as much as the Republican! This
is the economy and retrenchment
which they say excuses or mltlgates
the bad and mischievOus character of
the Democratic General Assemblies.
The average yearly increase Of the
salary account under the twelve years
of Republican rule was S1,542, while
during the four years of DemQcratic
rule the average yearly increase
amounted to SIG, ,275, or nearly eleven
times greater than the Republican.
THE STATE DEBT AND CREDIT.
But it may be said the Democracy, if
they have increased the salaried Offices
to this enormous extent, have been re-
ducing the State debt, and, indeed, this
assertion has several times been made
recently in your correspondents hear
ing.
An examination of the figures shows
that the State debt, which, on the 18th
of November, 1860, amounted 10 S15,-
862, ,173 35, was reduced during the
twelve years OF Republican rule at the
average rate of 1881, ,119 IL. The dates
are not at hand to determinue how
much the debt will have been reduced
at the expiration of the present year
(1S75), but the average reduction du-
ring the other three years of Demo-
cratic rule amounted to but SIG, ,583 50,
or one-third less than the Republican
reduction.
PRETENsE OF TAX REDUCTION.
In order to make something of a
showing the late Democratic LegiSla-
ture reduced the levy for general fund
purposes by one-tenth of a mill; they
also reduced the levy for asylum pur-
poses in 1874 by twO-tenths of a mill.
The consequence is that the moneys
borrowed from the sinking fund for the
use of the asylum and general revenue
fvnds, cannot be repaid; and, further,
while the total State levies for 1S74-75
aggregate one-tenth of mill less than
they would have done had the law re-
manned as it wss in 1873, the State levy
this year is actually two -tenths greater
than it would have been under that
law; for the burden is upon this year
instead of last, and the realization of
the taxes postponed to the next, instead
of being available this year when need
ed. This deceptive and rascally reduc- {
ton of the levy has this further result,
that the completion of the Central Lu-
natic Asylum is posponed for one year, .
only about rs per cent of what the
Commissioners of that institution ask
ed for as necessary having been provi-
ded; and this still worse result, that
the State will be unable to pay the in
terest on the public debt and to meet
and take up the loan that is redeema-
BILE and ought to be taken up January
1, 1876.
The Democratic Legislature was
warned by the State Auditor not to {
bring this disgrace upon Ohio, but they
reckIessly disregarded the warning, and !
the deficit that will exist Jan. 1, 1876, !
will amount tn S630. .O43 II. Snch iS :