Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-03-16
New Series, Vol. 80, No 1
A CARD.
Some Comments on Special Legislation by
Judge Hof.

Some Comments on Special Legislation by
Judge Hoff
Editors of The Chronicle.
The meeting held on the I'd inst for the
purpose of discussing the financial con-
ditiOn of the county will, it is to be
hoped, awaken taxpayers fully to one of
the causes of the present shortage
special legislation This county has been
grievously favored with special latcs, if
the word lar is permissible in such con-
nectiOn. Under the color of the author
ity thus given there has been drain
upon the county fund, which constitutes
one large amount of the shortage now
confronting the Commissioners.
By juggling of words and figures which
to some extent has unfortunately re-
ceived the approval of the State Courts
the inhibitions of the Constitution are
evaded, and the principal occupation of
our General Assembly is enacting special
laws. Unconfined by party lines, having
no opposition of partisan character,
fostered and engineered by the lobbyists,
this so-called legislation has grown to be
bipartisan monster of enormous pro-
portions. But few counties in the State
have escaped its impositions. Taxes are
levied, collected and disbursed under pur-
ported warrant of law, as expressed in
such special acts, notwithstanding the
fact that it was supposed and generally
understood that in adopting the Consti
tuition of 1851, such legislation was ef-
fectually prohibited.
Itrequires but brief examination of the
volumes of laws published annually, and
with unintentional, but nevertheless cut
ting sarcasm, entitled and labelled Laws
of Ohio" to discover the magnitude of
the oppression thus inflicted upon the
counties, cities and villages of the State.
The solemn enactments in which the last
census is referred to, and made con-
spicuous part of the so-called act, and
then by some clerical stickler for the Con-
stitution marked &C." to designate that
the act is general; and the further fact
that no good citizen of the State without
the census report at hand, could tell
where the lap was expected to strike.
Our greatest humorists have never pub
lished anything so farcical and ridiculous.
The humor of a word of Twain may
cause only passing laugh, but the grim
jokes hatehed in the General Assembly
do not end in smiles, but in taxation and
wastefulness. 1t is no laughing matter
to taxpayers to have to submit to such
exactions, and then see money thus con-
tributed, in many instances. benefiting
only the promoters of the scheme.
For a State claiming to rank first in
the intelligence of its people and in the
production of statesmen, such evasive
subterfuges, in so-called law making, re-
sultlng so injuriously to the special vic
tins, is, to use modest word, disgrace
full An outsider might weIl ask why our
statesmen do not perform some home
work?
1t is not fair to hold our Representa-
tives altgsther responsible for the special
acts. The way having been opened, there
is a disposition on the part of few in
nearly every locality to avail themselves
of the opportunity to get at the money
to be raised by such measures, by going
through the fence, as it were, and feed
ing on a pasturage otherwise inaccessi
ble If there is anything men do thought
lessly it is to sign petitions without in
vestigatiOn as to the probable conse-
quences if the petition be granted. TAX
ing advantage of this well known care
lessness papers are secured, and pressure
thus made upon a reluctant member of
the legislative body, and the bill goes
through, and returns conscien-
tiously marked &C., to rest as burden
upon the people residing in subdivision
of the State unfortunate in fitting ac-
cording to the census, the place where
the law was to be general, and there rests
until the grumbling but patient taxpay-
ers have fully complied with its man.
dates. In most of the special acts there
is always something to be paid by the
it is almost impossible for
the Commissioners to so manage the fl
nances of the county rs to keep expendi
tnres within the limit of the levy-there
will be shortage.
1t is possible that the present agitation
will work out great good, in calling at
tention to the Oppressiveness, as well as
of special legislation. The two
political parties join forces in the Legis-
lature to pass special acts. Can not their
constituents combine and Sc
cure amendments to the Constitution
that will prohibit special legislation by
terms so plain and positive that there can
be no evasion, direct or indirect; also to
have removed the restrictions as to the
subject of taxation, and such other
as will secure uniform leg
lslation in every respect, leaving to the
people of each county, city and village
the right to vote for or against taxation
for local improvements-in other words,
to give the taxpayers the right and the
means of exercising self-proteetlon.
March q, 93. W. ID. HoFF.
New Rooms New Stock of Carpets, Etc
+. TROLL x Sons have finished an ex-
tension to their business room by adding
three rooms on second floor, and are now
prepared to show one of the largest line
of new Carpets in Eastern Ohio, consist
ing of two grades of Body BRUSSELS,
three grades of Tapestry BRUSSELS, two
grades of 3-ply, grades of Extra Supers,
five grades part wool, and all cotton, five