Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-24
TAXATION AND EXPENDITURES.

Z
in county and township affairs, we most
cordially agree with him: but when he
raises his voice against reform of the
road laws we most emphatically disagree
with him, and he will pardon us when we
suggest that in that respect, if we under
stand him, his observations are incon-
sistent with his demand for other reforms.
1t is not proposed by the friends of the
/ Tryon bill to increase taxation to the ex-
/ tent set forth. Our correspondent says
our road taxes are to be increased ten
| fold, in many cases more" The declara-
tion is inexplicable, except upon the the
ory that, as road taxes are now paid by
working out the tax, that much taxation
is avoided. If our correspondent does
mean that, his talk about reform falls to
pieces.
Land in this part of the county seems
to be holding its own fairly, and in the
country at large has not deprecated to
any greater extent than personal proper
ty of many descriptions. Our CORE
spondent's statement as to depreciation
in his neighborhood is indefinite. If he
means that land which sold for 500 per
acre in deprecated paper twenty years
ago has been sold for $50, or less, in gold,
or its equivalent, his statement proves
nothing. The known condition of our
farmers, as a rule, will not justify the
gloomy view taken by cur friend. On
the contrary, farmers who have watched
their interests and worked, as have mer-
chants and professional men, have pros
pered in greater measure than any other
class of people. If our friend will look
around him, he will discover the wrecks
of broken fortunes in mercantile pursuits
in every direction, while, almost without
exception, farmers who attended to their
legitimate business and avoided all man.
ner of speculation are much better off in
this worlds goods than they were a de-
cade ago.
The Tryon road bill deserves fair treat
ment. 1t is not perfect, but it is a step
in the right direction. Our correspond
ent wholly misapprehends its meaning.
Its author is one of the most enlighten-
ed farmers of Ohio. He would not put
unnecessary burdens upon farmers. He
believes our present road laws are ineffi-
cient, bungling, and wasteful, and real
ICES that our roads are disgrace to the
civilization of the age, and yearly cause
farmers great loss because crops can not
be moved over them when prices are the
best. Only last Monday a farmer of Go
shen township said to US that everything
in his neighborhood had been paralyzed
for months because of the condition of
the roads. Nothing can be moved off
the farms to market, and the people are
burning wood to heat their houses, be-
cause of inability to haul coal over the
roads. Is not such state of affairs a re-
proachto our laws, and wasteful to the
last degree? In another part of the coun-
ty we read of people threatening to sue
Supervisors, because the roads are i'm
passable. Yet, what can Supervisors do?
They are helpless because of our absurd
laws.
Instead of resisting proposed improve
ments in the methods of road making,
farmers should turn their attention to
the expenditure of public moneys, town
ship and county. There is where they
are hurt, and there they should keep
watchful eye constantly. But they do
not. To illustrate: Three weeks ago at
tention was called in these columns to
the fact that the Trustees of Richland
township had caused to be paid $500 of
the township money for purpose that
is as foreign to the law as would be the
redemption of that amount of Confeder-
ate bonds. The transaction was fully set
forth, so that all could understand it. So
far two farmers have expressed will
ingness to contribute to the expense of
its recovery. If any others have mani
tested any interest in the matter, the fact
has not reached our ears. SUIT ought to
have been brought within five days after
the expose. A year and a half ago atten-
ton was called to large overchargeS by
the County Auditor; but the masses ap-
peared to manifest little interest in it,
and took no steps to recover the money.
A few months ago the Auditor re-
ceives about $4,000 per year, net, for his
services set up claim for $1,250 for
extra services. 1t was thought in influ-
entail quarters that he was entitled to it,
and he drew his warrant and received
the money, but afterward paid it back
under duress. So matters swim along
on all sides, the masses apparently giving
little thought to what becomes of the i'm
mense sum, in the aggregate, collected
off them every year.
Rather than demonstrate against the
tax that should most benefit them of all
taxes paid, farmers should organize a
Taxpayers League, employ the best at
torney in the county, and prosecute to
the death every violation of law in the
disbursement of public money. That
would furnish practical relief from bur-
densome taxation, and afford x-payers
some benefit.
WHILE the subjects of roads and road
| rnnkinor are annaninn the attention of