Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-24
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.
Tho Fec ana Bond system of Ohio OF
Far More importance IN Tnxpny-
crs Than the Tariff Question,

rhulically In favor of nbolishing the fee
system for county officers and urges the
payment Of stated srlary, thus turning
the lees into the treasury for the benefit u
the tax ,nyers. Referring 10 It's own coun.
~ IL calls attention to the fact that II
Judge Of the CouttS, after years II study
aud spccial resenich which nlunc can en-
allie him 10 III that position. receive ohly
which require no special study, mud can
lie filed by the average business man pay
from So 600 To SiS 600 nnnunllv--lhus en-
aiding the holders 10 become wealthy in
one or two terms; aud another objection
| IL urges is that the vicinii- system uf lees
II mn incentive IN mn ifcinl 10 ret all
TINT he can out Of the office, aud Occnsiun-
ally an official rpSoris tU undue means TO
accomplish his desires.
This 10 substantially true of Lucas Co.
The most that our Common Pleas Judges
eau lie pad is SO 500 year while some
of the county offices nre said to pay from
$4,000 10 100000 per year, and perhaps
more. The injustice of this IL evident,
The officers should he paid good living
@lnry-much more, II you please, than
they can make In amy business avocaiion,
because they are obliged, M II rule, TO re-
| linqmish other business TO attend TO the
duties Of public office. II may be argued
on the contrary TINT there are plenty Of
people willing 10 take office and make the
necessary business saciifices, all Of which
is true, but that Is no reason why those
who hold Office should not receive liber-
nj salary, but there is n difference in n
liberal salary aud an excessive one, mud
the true policy should lie against enrich
ing officials nj the expense Of the people.
Such y course is unjuS, and TN Democrat
ic.- Toledo Bee.
Is there any one thing connected with
American politics TINT calls louder for re-
form than this one evil We ask the
people Of Wood county to reflect back
over the financial standing of, we might
say majority OF the men elected 10 office
in the county during the past twenty
years. In several instances poverty was
made The plea-tley were worthy young
men give them an office for few years
that will enable them to make a start in
life.
What has been the reward for this be-
nevolence on the part Of the people? This
question was partially answered few
days since by n prominent Republican,
who in deploring the demoralized condi.
tion of politics rnid "it was n piliful sight
to see so many ex officials hanging around
the connly-senIs trying 10 steal a living
off the people," With honorable excep-
lions they are not content to retire TO the
farms, secured while in ,,oflice, but claim
the right 10 select their SUCCESSORS in Of.
flee, iarm ont the Offices and run politics
generally. The way some Offices are run
OF course 1t Is important to the ing
officer to select his successor. The tax
payer might select some one, il left to
make his own selection, that would expose
the tricks by which some officials can
spend large SUNG in securing nominations
and election and save enough from small
Office to purchase farms, build fine resi-
dences, with plenty Of ready cash to tai 9
stock in all stock companies formed, and
in the mean Time he liberal contributors TO
churches and all charitable institutions.
Aud yet the people wander why their tax
ed are 80 high.
A gentleman who was familiar with the
Investigations OF official robberies in Hen
ry county ten years ago, which revealed
the fact that the taxpayers OF that county
had been robbed of 100000 by the issu-
ing of bonds and clean steals of money
rSised by heavy taxation on the people
told us that in the investigation the fact
was revealed that dispatch was sent IL
the local organ and. published, from coun'
" auditors in annual convention assem-
bled at Columbus, which gave the audi OF
of Henry county a good send off as having
the best system and best kept book. OF any
auditor in the slale-and this same dispdtcI
was sent to the local-or ring organ, II
the Sentinel is pleased to call Iiself-in ev.
cry county IN the Stale, only substituting
the name OF the auditor TO suit the count,
in which he served. We remember o
such dispatch being published in til,
Sentinel IN 1875 or '76, we believe it was
giving the then auditor Case good sent
of. Mr.. Case can no doubt give you tn
exact date, no you can look it up and ge
the exact wording OF the dispatch.
Thus You can see at n glance the duplC
ity pracliced upon you by the men yo
have honoied with office. Have you eve
saw any published proceedings OF the an
nual conventions of auditors that woul
throw any light upon an economical {
proper conduct Of that office at home, q
. anything futher than the election of off
cers Tor the ensuing year and few Indi
vidual pufs for promotion TO some olhe
office? Have you gained any informatio
or benefit from the annual meetings of tn
county commissioners, whose expenses o
these junkeling tours have been charge
mp 10 and paid by their respective counli,
| without n shadow OF law to warrant IL
Yes, in this county you have gained son,
Information, at least. You have reape
the benefits Of the one-man di,ch law &
well ns the law authorizing the commits
, sioners TO ra ise an unlimited amount {
money by bonds, aside from what Can
raised by the full limit OF taxation. Wit
the aid OF the Shylocks who hang Rroun
, county seats and instruct, officers how /
E run the affairs OF the county in m.nne
!, that will put taxes upon property that ca
, not be met, and Will compel the taxpay,
f, TO borrow money of these Shylooks at 9
, and we have heard Of cases rs high MS 40 y,
I cent, and mortgage TO cover the balnnc
Z which but few, II any, can ever surviy
v such rates Of interest, these officials me,
in annual convention AT Columbus, osten
b sibly for the purpose OF discussing MI
e getting each others views upon the be
| 81. a ~