Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-09-07
DR.. SCOTT ON STATE AFFAIRS.

DR.. Scott, of Warren said, IN his speech on
State affairs, that the Republicans had the con-
troll of the State, with short intervals, for
many years. They have reduced the State
funded debt from $1,749 e2o IL in 1875 to
s., ,576, ,664 or nearly one-half. SIN 1876 says
the Doctor, the Republicans paid 8 "a 2o7 as
1882, $500, 600, and in 1885 s525, 600 more"
But more than this, in 1881 they refunded
81, 100000 of the debt, which was drawing six
per cent. interest, by bonds drawing four per
cent, and these bonds sold at premium OF
slo5,oo0, which, ''when applied to the interest
account OF said bonds. reduced the interest to be
paid thereon to a little less than lilo of per
cent" The result is that the annual interest,
| which in 1875 was $484, 1896 20, now amounts to
but 1891 900, difference and gain to the tax
payers of the State of $2SS,ee 20.
But what did the Democratic party do to-
wards decreasing the State Indebtedness? Let
the Doctor answer, who, as he says, speaks
| from the books"
although the Democratic party had legis-
| latiye control of the State for six years, and
| executive control for four years, since the
war, they never paid q cent of the public
debt.
"The Democracy had legislative and execu-
| tive control OF che State in 1878 and 1879,
and the Republicans in 1880, 1884, 1882 and
| 1888.
"The books in the State Auditors Office show
that the expenditures by the Democratic ad-
ministration for the expenses of the State and
| its institutions were: In 1878, $3359,415 36i
Making an average yearly expenditure of S.
5S5, ,555 SO.
"These books also show that the expendi-
lures by the Republicans were; In 1880, $2-
92l, $3.50 IL; in 1881, S3 142 S43 80; in 1882, 49,,
16s,767 ls, and in 1883, including estimated de-
ficiencies OF $4,000 February l5 1884, the end
OF the appropriation year. s3,3i3,767 ls; total,
$12, ,576,973 go. Making an average yearly ex-
pendture of So, 144,24 As. Difference in favor
of Republican economy of $24l, 81 e4 yearly.
at must not be forgotten in this connection
and what makes the contrast more striking
that two-thirds Of the expenditures OF the State
are for labor material and supplies for our
benevolent, penal and correctory institutions;
and that during the last four years they were
| ten to twelve per cent. higher in the aggregate
than they were in the two years before Again,
| the number of the inmates in almost ell our
institutions is increasing every year, making
| our institutions more expensive
| "There was appropriated in 1882 $175, 600 for
the rebuilding OF the Idiot Asylum, burned at
| Columbus the year before, and, in 1888, 500
! 600 for the building of an additional Insane
| Asylum at Toledo, and $ll2,000 for permanent
improvements on the canals. These expendi-
lures have not been brought into this compare
| tive statement for the reason that no corre-
spending appropriations were made in the
other years named. Such appropriations do
not properly belong to the current yearly e1-
pense account of the State They are in the
| nature of permanent Investments for the State.
| "By the industry of Governor Fosters ad-
ministration over $500, 600 OF old war claims of
the State against the United States have been
hunted up and allowed. One-half OF this has
already been paid into our Treasury and the
remainder is awaiting an appropriation by
Congress for that purpose"
Side by side with this steady reduction OF
the State deb. tho Republicans have gone
on enlarging and improving State institu-
tions-for the deaf and dumb ehe blind, the
idotic industrial homes and farms for
incorrigible children, four insane asylums,
&C., until as the Doctor says, "these institu-
tions are the pride of every citizen OF the State
and tho admiration Of the people Of our sister
} States, and of the world" And all this has
been done at cost to the taxpayers Of one
and nine-tenths of one mill on the dollar Of
the valuation of property in the State annuallyi
On this point Dr. Scott said:
} "If it had not been for the necessity of erect
) ing another asylum forthe insane that are now
crowded in our filthy iniirmaries an. ana }alls
without proper care, or attention. this levy
, could and would have been reduced to one
and seventh-tenths OF one mill
] sin addition to this / $40 of MILL the
State levies on you l. mill for schools, but
this, as soon as it Is collected, is paid over to
the counties in proportion to the enumeration
fof their schoolable children and expended
with their local leyies by their school boards.
'There was levied on the property OF the
State last year 500 $50 A,s q for all purposes;
State purposes. The remainder exclusive OF
the school tax Of one mill by the State, was
levied by your County Commissioners, Town
t ship Trustees School Boards and city
and village authorities. So, my friends,
, when you step up Y the counter of yonE
to twenty-five mills OH the dollar valuation OF
your property, and think it too high, you
) must not shake your CORY locks at the State
authorities or the Republican party but 20
, Trustees, School Boards, or municipal author
itipsn