The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-04-16
ogIo sHouIp MAKE HERSELF
SOLID.

Governor Campbell's brief special
to the Ohio Legislature, grow
inc ont of the re unding to the State
Treasury the sum of 1882 ,O2593 by
the Federal Government, has the right
ring. This sum is 0hio's share of the
direct tax. from the United States,
whose return benefits the several States
are sharing, and affords to Ohio the op-
portunity of restoring herself to a sound
financial basis, a condition she has not
found herself in since the extravagant
appropriations of FIVE years ago.
The sort of financial dicker which
has been going on in the State Treas
ury is made plain, after reviewing
which the Governor calls upon the leg
islature to straightsn up Ohio's finan-
ces, and pass such laws as will forever
make it impossible to return TO that
policy of evasion and subterfuge, which
alone have made it possible to avoid
bankruptcy.
The legislature should act promptly
on Governor Campbell's recommenda-
ton, and forever forbid the policy of
robbing Peter to pay Paul, and i'm
pose no new burdens of taxation upon
the people by an extravagant or frivo-
lous appropriation of the windfall
which has come to the State. AS the
Governor says: "The time to do this Is
now, before the direct tax fund is dis
posed of, and while remedy is at
hand, without resorting to further tax
alton of the people" The financial re-
view affords clear insight into the sit
uation of affairs, and shows how a
State can transact business, year out
and year in, in a manner that would
subject any banking or business con-
cern within its borders, to the just obi
um and contempt of the community in
which it exists.
Prior to 1885 the general revenue
fund of Ohio was solvent but that year,
owing to the excessive appropriations,
it became exhausted, when the State
Auditor inaugurated the system OF
drawing in advance on the County
Treasurers. At the August settlement
of that year the counties had advanced
the sum of $4,000, the following Feb
ruary the sum had increased to $780,
900 and by February 1889 the sum had
increased to $4,000. For several years
past the State has anticipated It's reve-
nues to an average of more than $500,
600.
Then, to prevent paper carefully
drawn on the State Treasury from 60
ing to protest, the State Treasure be-
gan to borrow from the moneys of the
school fund, or sinking fund, to help
out the general fund. Is it not time to
strike balanceY
Following is survey Of the financial
situation, giving grave reasons for
strengthening the general fund:
The cash balance in that fund on the
first of April was $358, 1850, and the
estimated amounts due from the coun-
ties prior to June first is 100000, max
ing the total receipts $4l8,796 80. The
outstanding warrants are $23,272.J o,
leaving net available total for that
fund up to June first of 1895, ,525 %.
The amount of expenditures for April
and May of last year were S72o, 7S4. 70.
The State Treasurer estimates that the
amount to be expended for the months
of April and May of this year will equal
or possibly be IN excess of that sum, so
that deficit of not less than $35O,OO
will occur in that fund before the first
of June. But little if any money could
be obtained from the county treasurers
before that date, even If advanced
drafts were to be drawn.
The cash in the sinking fund on the
first of April was $154, ,501.18, and the
amounts due from the County Treas
uries before June first is estimated to
be $4,000, making total of STA SOL
Is. The amount in the school fund on
the first of April was $97 1911, and the
estimated amounts due before June
first from the counties $4,000, making
a total of Sl38, ,I6l17, or a grand total
of both funds of $3ll, ,662,46. 1t will
thus be seen that the entire amount OF
money now in the State Treasury, or to
be derived from all its funds between
now and the first day of June will not
be sufficient to pay the necessary ex-
penditures from the general revenue
fund alone: and, in the absence of leg
islation, payments of warrants upon
the State Treasury will necessarily be
refused. The payment of warrants on
the general revenue fund out of moneys
to the credit of other funds, will not
avert the danger, for there is not money
enough in all of them to meet the re-
quired expenditures. This condition
arises partly from the decreased levy
for sinking fund purposes, and increas'