The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-16

That amount includes A3. .4sc. .oes 81. the ag-
grogate asked for BY the various state In
stitutions and state departments for the
three-Quarters OF the fiscal year OF 1895.
appropriations subject to draft on November
ID, 1895. the 1884, SCI "a Of deficiencies author-
lied by the emergency board and s6.5ii.23 Of
outstanding warrants It can thus be seen
that the prcpriation asked for and demand
cd by present obligations are in excess Of the
probable available resources. si. .s44 1888. 1t
is apparent that there must be either re-
duction In the amount Of appropriations asked
for, Or there must bo On increase OF the reve-
nue.
Such statement Of the financial condition
OF the state might suggest that the only proper
remedy is that Of increasing the tax rate and
thus providing additional revenue In q brief
address made In the city Of Springfield on the
ist day Of June, 1895, to the committee on noti-,
fcation appointed by the GAINESVILLE conven-
tton to ofhcially inform me Of the honor con-
ferred by that assemblage OF the delegates OF
the republican party. said: "Recog-
nizing the question Of taxation as one
OF great Importance. and there having
been complaint that the burdens are un-
equally distributed, will do all In my
power to correct whatever evils there may be
In our present system with view OF tighten
ing the burdens and securing economy In ex-
penditures to the fullest extent consistent
with proper support Of the charitable insti-
tutions OF the state and the proper conduct Of
its affairs. p" That declaration l now desire to
reaffirm, and In connection with 1t express the
hope that some other method than that Of in
creasing the tax rate to cover the deficiency
may be found. and that in any event you will
not make appropriations in excess Of the rev.
enues Of the state.
The temporary loan Of $500 900, provided for
by certificates of Indebtedness, falls due on
July I, 1896 1t seems proper to suggest at
this time plan Of meeting the difficulty in
frt.
tenths Of one mill for sinking fund purposes
will produce S5i9 1922. 49, according to the esti-
mate OF the auditor of state. To this is to be
added $3 900 to be received from miscellaneous
sources. To meet the interest on the irre-
ducible debt, which may more properly be
called trust fund the sinking fund commission
asked for S2s0000, an amount slightly In
excess Of the actual interest charge. The in
terest on the funded debt will amount to S53,-
700 The office and bond expenses Of the sink
ing fund commission will be 81, 200, and, il this
general assembly directs that the interest
shall be paid UPON the debt of the board Of
agriculture, as was done by the. last general
assembly, there will be another item Of 81 100.
The aggregate Of the liabilities Of the sinking
fundswhen added to the $3.50, 900 of the fund
ed debt falling due July /. is sela6 SO. On the
18th day Of November, 1885, the sinking fund
had balance OF s265, l76 "A, making the total
available resources s7S7, ,998 o.
The aggregate Of the levy for sinking fund
purposes for the year 1896 and whatever ball
ances there may be, will not be sufficient to
meet the obligations, and it is therefore in
cumbent to refund the $780, 900 Of the funded
debt falling due July 1, 1896, to July 1, 1901.
one year subsequent to the final maturity
date proposed for those bonds, says the new
governor If this S250000 Of the funded
debt is thus carried forward and the
amount applied to the payment of the
temporary loan and the balance of the
temporary loan refunded to July 1,
1897, and at the same time the $780,
600 Of the funded debt falling due
July l., 1897. refunded to July 1, 1909,
the entire payment of the tenn
and. in case Of emergency. the gov
ernor says. we would be able to bor-
row temporarily to the full constitu-
tional limit Of s7500OO. and it would
seem best to make this disposition Of the
debt
7p1 ,665, o sum comparatively insignificant
when compared to the Importance Of the state,
our progressiveness and our values This
debt is being discharged at the rate of sa5O,OOC
annually and there Is every reason to, hope
that the closing year of the century will show
Ohio practically without any interest-bearing
obligations There is q satisfaction In such q
prospect that should be . matter Of pride fof
all
The subject of state and county taxation Is
Our commercial bodies, boards Of trade f1nan-
ciers and citizens generally, are devoting at
tention to it in the hope that such amendment
of the Ohio tax system may be secured as will
tighten the burden and protect the interests
Of the people. Various plans have been pro.
posed to remedy the conditions and to all such
as come before your honorable body, 1 trust
that you will give consider ration and close
study. a One Of the propositions which will
doubtless be advanced is that OF local option
or home rule In taxation, which contemplates
that counties shall provide their own system
Of taxation for the necessary revenues of the
county. This idea has been endorsed by many
authorities on taxation and 1 commend 1t to
you for special onsideration.
In treating the subject of taxation, the pur-
pose should be to effect result which will
provide that the burdens shall bear as equit-
ably as possible upon all the people. Double
taxation should be avoided and all laws that
tend to drive business energy ana capital from
Ohio to enrich other states at our expense
should be repealed. our system Of taxation
should while producing sufficient revenue SO
distribute and tighten the burden as to retain
and attract capital to be employed by our own
people Ohio should have as good a tax system
as any state. l again commend to you the ne
cessity Of giving the tax problem your most
earnest consideration.
have spoken of economy in public expendi-
lures. Among the ways this can he secured is
by the creation OF purchasing board, the duty
Of which should be to purchase all supplies for
all the state institutions. There might be a
board to be appointed by the governor, by and
with the consent of the senate. to consist OF
three members and secretary, to meet not
oftener than once month. and at their meet
tngs pass upon the acquisitions for supplies
from the state institutions and enter into con-
tracts with those who may choose to submit
bids based upon and in accordance with ad-
vertisements inviting proposals for such sup
plies as may be needed The duty Of the Sec
retary could beNo keep all the books, accounts
and records, audit all bills and sign all vouch-
ers, which later would be submitted for the
approval OF the president of the board The
secretary would probably need assistants and
the board would have to authorize their en-
ployment.
This plan Of purchasing supplies on the
basis OF advertisements inviting proposals for
certain material, goods and provisions is used
by the Federal government with conspicuous
success in every way. A purchasing board for
the state of Ohio would concentrate RESPONSE
bility, and by making purchases In large
! quantities, would secure the lowest prices
Its business operations could be made as plain
! and as easily understood as those OF any busi
4 ness concern. The different institutions could