The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-01-17


The taxes levied in 1871 and collected in 1875 are
,State taxes 6o31s 6S
County and local taxes % 16
Delinquencies and forfeitures. 2001 096 IA
Total 749 So
The Governor says: The remarks of
the Auditor of State, under the head of
lures" should engage your careful con-
sideration. ESPECIALLY desire to renew
the recommendation of my predecessor
in concurring with the Auditor in his
opinion that the asylum fund should
be merged into the general reve-
nue. fund; that the consolidation, while
tending to simplify accounts and facili-
tate the transaction of public business,
would do so without impairing the safe
guards of the Treasury or the data upon
which statistics or other estimates are
based. A bill to accomplish this object
passed the House of Representatives
early last session, and failed to reach
vote in the senate, from misapprehen-
sion, as / have reason to believe, of its
purpose and scope.
Your serious attention is also invited
to the statements and exhibit, made un-
der the heads "The Sinking Fund and
"The Funded Debt" pages 50 and SO of
the same report. During the last two
years, the levy for State taxes was re-
duced two-tenths of mill from the rate
of 1875, being at present two mills and
nine-tenths. In view of the payment
of the debt maturing in 1881, the re-
duction was i'll advised, and in order to
meet the requirements of the Constitu
ton and keep the plighted faith of the
State it will be necessary to restore the
levy, to three and one-half mills for the
next three years, after which it may be
materially reduced. The Auditors ex-
hibit very clearly makes the increase
imperative, if the debt is to be paid at
maturity.
Attention is called to the report of the
Treasurer of State on the subject of our
ad valorem system of taxation-page Al,
ct SEQ. The Constitution provides that
claws shall be passed taxing by a uni
form rule, all moneys, credits, invest
ments in bonds, stocks, joint stock COM
panies, or otherwise, and also all real
and personal property according to its
true value in money"
That laws have been passed in accord
ance with this provision is true, but the
Treasurer's statement as to the execu-
ton of the laws in the various localities
of the State will command investigation
and some remedial legislation to enforce
uniformity and equity in placing the
burden of taxation where it properly
belongs.
PUBLIC WORKS.
The lessees of the public works on the
1st day of December, ultimo, abandoned
them, and refused to pay the rent there
for oslo, ,037. .5W, falling due on that day
for the then ensuing six months. The
alleged reason for this action was, that
certain acts of the Legislature, and
particularly the act of April "a, 1877,
authorizing the city of Hamilton, upon
certain specified condittoSs, to fill up a
part of the basin in that city, amounted
to, or operated in causing, an eviction Of
them from what they claimed to be 8
valuable part of the leased property.
The failure thus to pay the rent con
stituted ground, under the statute, fol
the forfeiture of the lease by the BOARD
} of Public Works. But the board, upor
due consideration, refused, in my opinion
wisely, to take any steps or do any act
in advance of your meeting, looking tt
such forfeiture or the acceptance of thu
surrender.
The statute under which the lease wa
made, among other things, provides that
, at shall be part.of the contract be
tween the lessee or lessees and the State
that the lesseeor lessees n shall faith
fully perform all the legal contracts %
, the. State or the term aforesaid contained
in the water leases on said public works
or on leases of ground for collector
, offices or lockhouses, and all arrange
ments or agreements entered int
by the State of Ohio by act
, Of the General Assembly or other
wise, with any person or persons
. State, corporation, or company, or witt
, the United States relating to said publ
works during the term aforesaid; an,
shall, at all times when the season will
permit, and the water is not necessaril
r drawn out of said public works, for re
I pairs, or new construction, or when sal
V works are not obstructed by ice, or b
e reason of some unavoidable breach @
:: some structure CT said works, or othe
I casualty, or on account of scarcity Q
t water, produced by drought, keep tn
s same in good condition and repair, fo
s prompt, speedy, and successful navigs
!. tion by all boats not drawing more tina
t three feet of water, and shall, from tim
e to time, make all necessary and prope
e repairs and reconstructions as the boar
n may require, and under the directio
!; of the board, or an engineer appointe
d by said board, so as to keep said work
in good and proper condition of repair
and deliver up said public works to tn
r State of Ohio at the termination of sal
n lease in like good condition.
!. Whether all these stipulations and IT
!, ouirements, for the ful6llment of whic
). the lessess are held on their bond, hav
a been performed is a proper subject fe
!, legislative inquiry and investigation
While it is asserted on behalf of I'll