The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-11
Large Debts and Bad Government 60
Together.

The Governor called attention to q
statement the salient points Of which
are that in four years the rate OF munich
nal taxation has increased almost rs per
cent. The total amount of municipal
taxes has increased over 81 per cent, and
the municipal Indebtedness has increased
about 100 per cent, or more than thirteen
and n half million dollars. In view OF
these figures the Governor declares that
he does not think that experience Justl-
fes the expectation; that an adequate
remedy for these evils is found in the
laws as they exist He thinks that TO
the subject of local Indebtedness the
General Assembly should apply the
principles OF the State Constitution on
the subject of State indebtedness. On this
subject he says: 1t is not enough to
require in every grant of special author
ity to incur debt as a condition pre-
cedent that the people interested shall
approve of it by their votes. 1t ia well
known how easy such elections are car.
ried under the Influence of local excite
ment and local rlvalries. If the rule OF
the State Constitution, which forbids all
debts. except in certain specific
emergencies, Is deemed too stringent
to be applied to local affairs,
the Legislature should at least accom-
pauy every authority to contract the
debt with an imperative requirement
that tax sufficient to pay of the indebt'
edne.s in brief period shall be imme'
diately levied and thus compel every cit
izen who shall vote to increase the debt
to vote ut the same time for an immedi-
late increase of taxes sufficient to dis
charge them. The wisdom Of this
policy long since adopted ol
placing judicious Limitation on
the power Of the municipal authority
to lew taxes has been vindicated by ex-
per,ence. 1t must, however, ultimately
iail to accomplish its object, if the in
crease OF municipal Indebtedness is allow
ed to go on; to authorize town to con-
tract a debt, whose expenditures alresdy
require taxation up to the limit allowed
by law, is in its necessary effect, tanta-
mount to repeal of the limta
ton. An important part Of
our CONSTITUTIONAL paw
which have been so successful in State
finances, is the section which requires
the creation of sinking fund and the
annual payment of constantly increas-
ing sum on the principal OF the State
debt. Let a requirement analogous to
this be enacted in regard to the existing
local Indebtedness; let 'judicious limita'
ton of the rate OF taxation which the
local authorities may levy be strictly
adhered to, and allow no further
Indebtedness to be contracted, except
in conformity with these principles, and
we mav.~I believe, conf iently expec,
that within a few years the burdens ol
debt now resting on the cities and towns
OF our State will disappear, and thai
other Wholesome and much needed re-
forms in the whole administration ot our
municipal government will OF necessity
follow the adoption Of what may be
called the cash system in local affairs.
The Governor recommends the proper
care and support of the State
penal and benevolen: institutions, the
creation Of State Boards Of Charities
and Investigations 10 determine whether
there are not some offices that can be
abolished. He also recommends concur
rance in what Governor Allen suggested
relative to the centennial and short
session OF the Assembly.
The members of the General Assembly
then proceeded TO the Senate chamber
where the oath of office wss administered
10 the Lieutenant-G Governor elect, Young
After the ceremonies Governor Hayes
had a public reception in the executive
chambers, which was largely attended.