The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-06
POWERLEss GOVERNOR.
Tho Nature and Duties of the Onlce Held By
MIR. Hayes of Ohio.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: I have
Just finished reading Mr. NordhoGs recent letter
to the Nec York Herald, and am not a little sur
prised at the ignorance displayed by Its author In
respect to our OHIO system. OF state taxation,
and the power and influence Of our Governor In
shaping or directing legislation. He says:
Coy Isyes 9ss ben quite energee sHa .gccsisdGl
arctofuier IN ONO ae Gov. Illdcn IN New fOfk Out
ing the wears III whlcl ne has been Chet Executive he
n @ suST e s .synS seS' bG sy
ssaro 81 9VOoo has reduced the 4cai taxation eyer
Two and ninetenths mills aud has occurred the passage
thoritiSs 70 borrow and to .ped money VI
Now, when 10 IL known that In this state OF
OHIO the Governor is q mere 1gurehead possess
inR no power beyond the appointment (subject
to confirmation by the State senate) OF a few
trustees of benevolent Institutions, the filing Of
vacancies In certain Offices, the appointment Of
notaries public, and the right to call out the
militia OF the state 20 quell public disorder and
a few like acts that he does not possess the
veto bower that under our Constitution sink
Ing fund las been created for paying the princi-
pal and interest Of the public debit that the
Auditor of state, Secretary Of state, and Attor-
ney. General land not the Governor are, by the
Constitution. made the Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund !" that It is tho Legislature Of the
State that fxes tho rate OF taxation for
State purposes; that tho local taxation
of the State Ia regulated by the County CommIs-
sioners. Township Trustees, School Boards, and
the Councils Of Municipal Corporations; that II
was neither the efforts nor the influence OF Gov.
Hayes, but the overwhelming sentiment of the
men Of all parties that compelled the Legislature
TO restrict the power OF the local (notably NUM-
cipaD authorities TO levy taxes and borrow and
disburse money: that in the four years and
eight months Of Gen. Hayess occupancy OF the
Rubernatoral ONCE the Democrats had ma
jorty In both branches Of the Legislature two
years, and that by virtue Of his office the Gov
ernor has no authority to reduce or increase
estate Expenditures" the assertion OF Mr..
Nordhon that "he" (the Govsrnorl performed
such grand feats OF reform and retrenchment
betrays profound ignorance on his part.
so far from making special efforts TO obtain
legislation ON any of the points mentioned by
Mr. Nofdhon, II Ia a well known fact that Gov.
Hayes, beyond making few recommendations
ia his annual messages such as are customary
with all incumbents OF the ONCE, whether Re-
publican or emocratic), has taken very little
open interest In the action OF the legislative
branch OF the State Government. When our
Democratic Governor. william Allen, was in
ofiice he sent In special messages to the Legs-
lsture on the subjects Of retrenchmeut and re-
form In taxation. fees, salaries, &C.: and he
the two Houses, and drop In upon the members
at their boarding places, and upon every proper
occasion would give them the benefit OF his
views and experience upon the various topics OF
legislation particularly ichere economy and the
reduction Of tdres tCere under consideration.
Not so. Gov. Hayes: he neither attempted by
| the influence which his political position might
be supposed TO give him, nor by his social status
to affect OF direct legislation In the interests OF
| reform. He has in no manner been factor in
the ends which, by implication, Mr.. Nordhon
alleges were accomplished during his several
terms of ONCE. II Is not denied that he has, in the
main, performed his duty; but when 1t Is
| claimed 10y his friends that he has worked such
tlervels OF reform In this state It cannot be per-
| mitled To pass without contradiction. Mr..
| Nordhof says that the " record " Of Gov. Hayes
(referring no doubt u his deeds as a reform er)
| sis less generally known than II would he II he
had ever taken the least pains to aitr lct public
| attention toward himself" Now think differ
| emily: undoubtedly the reason why Gov. HAYES
has never claimed credit for the good work
| which Mr.. N. attributes to him Is that he has
| too much good sense TO do so. knowing that he
| Is no more entitled to II than Is the most OBJ
| scure citizen Of the State. X.
CANTON, Ohio, Oct. g