Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-09-25
Total $40, $50, ,529 75i

The first thing that will strike the
eye of the reader in these comparative
statements is that the Republicans in
the year 1861 reduced the principal of
| the public debt S1,474,2O7 43, while the
Democrats in the year 1850 did not re-
puce the principal of the debt one cent
Had the Democrats made an equal re-
duction, the difference in their favor
would be less than half million, which
is no more than might be reasonably an
ticipated in the steady decline of prices
and the cost of maintaining public in
stitutiOns. In fact, they ought to have
| been able to make a better showing, and
could have done so but for the prOtrac-
ton of the session of the Legislature to
consummate partisan legislation, that
has not been in any way profitable to
the people of Ohio. Gen. Rice, whose
time was absorbed in pushing his Ar
rears of Pension Bill, in which was an
entering wedge to get the rebel soldiers
on the pension rolls, is. to be excused for
his inaccuracies, that being character
istic defect also of Gen. Ewing.
The Republican Legislature, it will
also be observed, expended for the
building. furnishing and permanent i'm
prevent of the State institutions 81 ,007,-
62S 5S; the Democratic Legislature only
S374,755 IL. But this difference of over
5000, 900 is due to no undue exrayagance
or prOfligate waste of money. Mr.. Scott
says:
"Now, when tell you. my fellow. citi-
zens, that the Republicans Of 1857 ap-
propriated $52S,415 S3 of this for the
completion and furnishing Of the Insane
Asylum at Columbus, on which over 900
insane in our jails and poor houses. were
waiting for admission, and S134,00O for
the enlargement of the penitenti8ry
to accommodate an increased number of
convicts and save the building Of new
one to the taxpayers, and that the DEM
Ocratic Legislature had no such emer-
gency to meet in 1889, you will be as
tonished at the claim that money has
been lost by the Republicans or saved
by the Democratic Legislature"
The point where true economy could
be shown was in the expenses of the
Legislature itself. The interest on the
State debt, the appropriations for the
public schools and the current expenses
of State institutions have to be provided
for, and, as the tables show, do not vary
much from year to year, but the expen-
ses for the O'Connor Legislature, &c,
were S336,742 50 more than those of its
Republican predecessor, every cent of
which might have been saved to the peo-'
pie had the Democratic Legislature con-
fined itself to legitimate business and
not wasted weeks and months in legis-
lation to debauch public institutions
and violate every principle OF home
rule for which the party makes such
lofty prentensions of devotion.
Its not surprising that Mr.. Scott, af-
teK an analysis, much extended, of the
pretentious claim to economical admin
istration, should remark:
"You would suppose from this claim
of saving, made by the Democratic Leg
islature, that your taxes would be re-
duced. No, my friends, the levy is the
same as it was in 1851, when the Re
publieans finished and furnished the Co
iumhus Asylum and paid nearly one
million and a half on the State debt.
And that is not all,-the last Legisla-
ture has added to the burden of the tax
payers ever 81 100000 by local legisla-
ton"
The fact is, the people of Ohio have
grown weary of Democratic financial
as they have of Democrat
ic financial ideas. The tax levy remains
Notwithstanding the claim
of large savings, and there is nothing in
the history of the late Legislature prom
lsing any better results, should Its sue