The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-10-12
A POWERLESS GOEERNOR.



10 the Editor Of the Sun
SIR--l have just finished reading Mr..
Nordhof's recent letter to the New York
Herald, and am not little surprised at
the ignorance displayed by its author in
respect to our Ohio system of State tax
alton, and the power and influence of
our Governor in shaping or directing leg
islation. He says: ...ta.t. I.
Gov. Hayes has been quite as energetic
and successful reformer in Ohio as Gov.
Tilden in New York. During the years
in which he has been Chief Executive,
he has reduced the State debt by nearly
So 0,000 has effected an annual saving
in the State expenditures of nearly 81
100000, has reduced local taxation over
$l7 900, 900, and the State tax from three
and a half to two and nine-tenths mills,
and has secured the passage oflaws very
strictly limiting the powers of local au-
thorities to borrow and spend money.
Now, when it is known that in this
State of Ohio the Governor is mere fig.
urehead, possessing no power beyond
the appointment Subject to confirmation
| by the State Senate) of few trustees of
benevolent institutions, the filling of va
canCies in certain offices, the al point
ment of notaries public, and the right to
call out the State militia 10 quell public
disorder, and few like acts; that he
does not possess the veto power; that un-
der our Constitution a sinking fund has
been created for paying the principal and
interest Of the public debt; that the Au-
ditor of State, Secretary Of State, and At
torney General land not the Governor)
are, by the Constitution, made the "Com-
missioners of the Sinking Fund.-" that it
is the Legislature of the State that fixes
the rate of taxation for State purposes;
that tie local taxation of the State is reg
ulated by the County Commissioners,
Township Trustees, School Boards and
the Councils Of Municipal Corporations;
that it was neither the efforts nor the in
huence of Gov. Hayes, but the overwhel-
ming sentiment of the men of all parties
that compelled the Legislature TO restrict
the power of the local (notably munici-
pall authorities to levy taxes and borrow
and disburse money; that in the four
years and eight months of Gov. Hayes's
occupancy of the Gubernatorial Office,
the Democrats had a majority in both
branches OF the Legislature two years,
and that by virtue Of his Office the Gov
ernor has no authority to reduce or in
crease State expenditures, the assertion
of Mr.. Nordhof that he (the Governor)
performed such grand feats of reform
and reirenchment betrays profound ig-
norance on his part. .e0al
SO far from making special efforts to
obtain legislation on any of the points
mentioned by Mr. Nordhoff, it is well
known fact that Gov. Hayes, beyond ma.
king a few recommendations in his an
nual messages (such as are customary
with all inchmbents ofthe Office, wheth.
or Republican or .Democraticb has taken
very little open interest IN the action oi
the legislative branch of the State Gov
eIument. When our Democratic Cover
nor, William Allen, was in Office, hesent
in special messages to the Legislature
on the subjects Of retrenchment and re-
form in taxation, fees, salaries, &cS AND
he would frequently show himself OF
the floor of both Houses, and drop in
upon the members at their boarding