The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-11
COLUMBUS.
Inauguration Of governor Hays.

COLUMBUS, January l0.-The inaugu-
ration Of r. b. Hayes us Governor, occur.
ed to-day in the State Capitol in the
presence Of a vast crowd OF spectators
from all parts Of Ohio. Military cOmpn-
nies were present from Cleveland, Spring
field and Columbus, and brass bands
from number Of points. The street
procession was very attractive one. AT
2;3O P, NJ. the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor, accompanied by the Governor
aud Lieutenant Governor elect, accom-
panied by the Legislature, appeared in
the rotunda Of the State House where
both branches OF the General Assembly,
State officers and citizens had assembled.
After prayer, Gov. Allen, without any
formal speech, pre.ented Gen. Hayes to
the audience, who took the oath andle.
livered his inaugural address, OF which
the following is very full abstract:
The Governor called the attention oi
the general assembly to the increase OF
local ,axes'and Indebtedness found main
ly in cities and large towns. lie re.
marked: "This is certainly great evil" !"
How to govern cities we'll, consistently
with the principles and methods OF pop
ular government is Que Of the most i'm.
portant and difficult problem'i OF our
times. Proaigate expenditures is the
fruitful cause OF municipal mi.govern-
ment. II a means can be found which
will keep municipal expenses from large
ly exceeding the public necessities its
adoption will go far towards securing
honesty and efficiency in city affairs. In
cities large debts, and bad government
20 together. The Governor called alten-
lion 10 statement, the salient points
of which are that in four years the rate
Of municipal taxation has increased al.
most % per cent. The total amount,of
municipal taxes have increased over 81
per cent, and municipal indebtedness has
increased about one hundred and ninety
per cent or more than Is, 100000 In view
Of these figures the Governor declares he
does not think that experience justifies
the expectation that an adequate remedy
for these evils ia found in the laws AZ
they exist. lie thinks that TO the sub
iect Of local Indebtedness the General
Assembly should apply the principles OF
the State Constitution on the subject OF
the State Indebtedness. On this subject
he says: at is not enough to require
in every grant OF special authority TO in
cur debt as acondition precedent that the
people interested shall approve it by
their votes. 1t is well known how easy
such elections are carried under the in.
tlucuce OF local excitement and local
rivalries. II the rule OF the State Con-
s,itution, which forbids all debts except
in certain specific emergencies, is deemed
too stringentto be applied to local affairs,
the Legislature should at least accom-
pauy every authority to contract debt
with an imperative requirement that n
tax sufficient to pay off the Indebtedness
in brief period shall be Immediately
levied and thus compel every citizen who
shall vote to increase debt to vote nj the
same time for an immediate increase Of
taxes sufficient to discharge them. The
wisdom Of this policy, long since adopted,
Of placing n judiciOus Limitation on the
power OF municspal authorities to levy
taxes has been vindicated by experience.
1t must, however, ultimately fail To nc.
complish its object il the increase OF
municipal Indebtedness is allowed to so
on. To authorize n town TO contract n
debt whose expenditures already require
taxation up to the limit allowed by law
i in its necessary effect tantamount to a
repeal OF the Limitation on the import
ant part OF our Constitutional provisions
which have been so successful in State
finances, il n section which requires ere
alton Of sinking fund and the annual pay
ment of constantly increasing sum on
the principal Of the State debt. Let &
requirement analogous to thi- BE- enacted
in regard to the existing local indebted
ncss. Let n judiciouS limitation Of rate
of taxation which local nulhoritie4 may
levy, be strictly adhered to and allow uc
further Indebtedness to be contracted eX
cent in conformity with these principle
and We NAV, believe, confidently cxpcc
that within few years the burdens o
debts now resting on the cities Hnd town
Of the State will disappear, and that othcl
Wholesome and much needed reforms il
the whole administration Of our mnnicI'
pal government will Of necessity follow
the adoption Of what may he called th'
cash system in local atEiirs.
The Governor recommends proper
care md support ot the State penal ant
benevolent institutions; the creation Of
State Board OF Charities, aud an inve,ti
CATION to determine whether there are no
some offices thn, can without dctrimen
be abolished. lie al1o recommends con
currcncc in what Gov. Allen suggc't'
relative to the Centennial.