Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-01-03
.HISLASTMESSAGE
Gov. Bushnell Sends 1t to
the Legislature.
A Lengthy Review of the Work Per.
formed by the State Institutions
During the Past Two Years,
Together with Number
of Recommendations.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-

Gentlemen of the Senate and House OF Repre-
In fulallment OF the duty prescribedby the
constitution OF the state OF Ohio. have the
honor to submit TO the general assembly my
second ana final message reporting upon the
various anars OF the state government during
the last two years. and making certain sug-
gestions as to legislation and other matters OF
interest and probable eXpediency
In this closing year OF memorable century,
the record Of which contains the whole history
Of the state OF Ohio, 1t can be seen that the
people have every reason to be satisfied with
the combined results Around us are all the
evidences OF progressive and advanced civili2-
alton: proper uses have been made of the
blessings OF rich natural resources bestowed
by Divine favor; industry and thrift rule in
our citizenship and the future is one Of prom
ise. Through the enforcement of good laws
Justly Interpreted, and through the ready and
patriotic support from the people, there has
come to the state government condition In
nearly all affairs which is fitting to mark the
end OF an era and herald another The review
which will follow should demonstrate again
the reasons for the pride of our people In Ohio
1t displays fine financial status, an unrivalled
system OF public, benevolent and educational
designs. and the record OF conscientious dis
charge Of duty upon the part of all who serve
the commonwealth
FINANCES oFoHIo
At the close of business on November Is,
1899, the end OF the fiscal year. there was a
balance in the general revenue fund OF Sl,O3S,-
which every debt had been discharged when
due, in which there were no advance drafts up
on county treasurers, in which there had oc-
CURED a war, which necessitatcd the state
government making large expenditures to
cover the cost OF the mobilization Of troops
answering 10 the call OF the president Of the
United States of volunteers, in which extern
sive building operations connected with the
state capitol and with many Of the institute ms
we're inaugurated, and in some instances COM
pleted, and in which there were many eGtraor-
dinary expenses Of various characters
The funded debt OF Ohio all bearing per
cent interest is at this time 81 OBI, Coz 90, and
of that amount 81, l65 OO represents a lost canal
bond upon which interest has long since
ceased. OF the payable portion OF the debt.
81 10000, 100000 will fall due July !, 1900:
$500 900 on July /, 1901; S250000 on July |, l9O!
and 10000 (war loan on July l, 1908
The borrowing of money to meet the war eN-
penditures seemed absolutely necessary at the
time, but in view OF the result of the prompt
measures taken for securing reimbursement TO
the state from the general government, II now
appears that the loan effected could have been
materially reduced and perhaps have been
avoided. However, there was no way Of fore
seeing that outcome. In the portion OF this
message dealing with the part Ohio took In the
Spani ish- American war there will appear a
statement Of the disbursements on account OF
the war and the receipts from the general gov
ernment in payment OF Ohio's claims.
To more clearly show the meaning Of the
present financial condition OF Ohio and to
demonstrate the satisfactory nature OF the
revenue system. 1t is well to call attention to
the extraordinary expenses authorized and di-
rected by the last general assembly. The appro-
priations in the fiscal year 1888 for new build
ings, improvements and extraordinary eX-
penses designed to cover the cost OF permanent
structures, amounted to over 100000 In the
fiscal year 1899 these extraordinary uppropria-
tionS, distributed to the various state tnsJitu-
! tions, amounted to over E6JJ,OOJ, making to-
tai for two years Of over Sl ,SoVOo1 OF TINS
| building, designed to extend the accommoda-
| tions OF the state capitol The remainder was
| expended to provide for increased accommoda-
tipns for imDrOVampnts and
| emergencies at tho institutions which care for
! and educate the afflicted, and provide for the
| keeping and education OF the criminal and in
| corrigible classes
There was credited in the year 1893 from the
| law which laid an excise tax OF one-half OF !
| per cent upon the gross receipts OF corpora
! tions enjoying quasi public franchises, the sum
| of 1858, ,6O0 This tax is charged for collection
| In November OF each year. but on account OF
! the fiscal year ending November Is, the result
| Is that tho true amount levied and collected
| for each year Is not expressed by the returns
the treasury statement At the end OF the hSell
| year often including portions of the tax for thC
| preceding and ensuing years. Thus the
| amount levied for 1898 was S49I24l SO, while the
| apparent receipts for the year were, us has
| 1899 was Sbe COS 49, OF which, at the eud OF the
hscalyear 1869 there was collected isi,l239
! As usual very nearly all the balance has been
| collect. d. there being but slight loss each
! year. II can be seen therefore that the excise
| law in 1899 produced the greatest return In the
life OF the act 1t might be well to amer the
law so that the auditor OF state can make this
collection in October or December OF each year
and thus enable the true result or the tax u
be expressed in ench years financial state
ment. The Dow law tax in the last two years
has provided a., O52, 69553
Allow me the privilege OF counseltng for the
future such careful consideration as TO ap.
propriatons as will continue the prudent pol
Icy Of keeping within our income, Ohio has
now the prospect Of enough revenue but the
promise Is not such as to warrant any eXtraya'
Rance. II there is TO be q radical departure OF
any kind, let it be in the way Of reducing tht
state levy thus giving benefit 20 ali the peo.
Pile and afIording q satisfactory object lessor
for municipalities OF the state
EMERGENCY BOARD.
Since the adjournment OF the Seventy THIRD
| general assembly the board, consisting Of tint
! governor, the auditor of state the attorney
| general and the chairmen Of the house and sen.
ate finance committees and known as the emer
! Rency board, has held various meetings, ant
| authorized deficiencies 10 the amount Of t2jI 3,
| SO. This, at first glance, may seem large
/ sum to be covered by the deficiency apprOpriu.
tion bill, but 1t should be understood tina
| too 900 OF II is practically transfer OF funds
| IL having, as is explained elsewhere, been al
lowed for uniforming and equipping of thu
| Ohio national guard
The other large items of expense in the lis
OF deficiencies authorized are principally q
provide for emergencies which have arisen u
| system on account Of floods necessitatcd thl
| expenditure Of Sl2 900 The abandonment of I
| cottage at the boys Industrial school by Ordc
of the inspector OF workshops and factories re-
| quired an appropriation OF q 900 for the con
| struCtion OF a new building. 1t was founC
! necessary to allow $4,000 for necessary eX
| penses In connection with the new school build,
| Ing at the institution for the deaf and dumb
for various necessary things at the Massllor
/ state hospital s25, $40 was allowed new boilers
ordinary repairs and improvements, changes
OF sanitary conditions at the various hospitals
. account for many OF the other large amounts
again express the opinion that through the
! emergency board there Is q satisfactory way
OF attending TO such business during the In.
| terim Of legislative sessions According tC
! my view there is every reason for continuing
the wise and prudent policy OF biennial ses-
| sessions OF the general assembly. The bien-
. nal session plan is heartily approved by the
. great majority OF the people and experience
| has yet TO demonstrate that there Is necessity
/ for the return TO the old policy Of annual ses'
Bions BY the meeting OF the general assem-
! bly, once every two years a large amount Of
money is saved TO the state, and through the
! emergency board the interests OF the state'
/ institutions and departments, which require
! extraordinary expenditure at certain times, CC
! not suffer. 1t is undoubtedly true that tht
| people at large will cordially endorse the con
! tnuance OF the biennial session PLAN end OF
! the other hand there are but few who will ad
! vance any argument In favor Of the old system
! Of annual sessions
No subject for mature and careful considers
| tiOn will come more prominently before you
! honorable body than that which relates TO tax
alton in It's several branches, While u ma!
| not lie within the power OF the general assem-
| bly, during this session to enect the reforms
which are needed. there is still the opportunit.
/ OF doing much through tne laws unueI Wnlcl
| the state board Of equalization will act, 1t I
| to be assumed that this general assembly vii
| provide for the meeting Of the state board o
| equalization, or win define process OF doin
! the work which decennially has deyolved upoi
! the board. Whether the oldplan OF having IN
! state board of equalization consist OF mum
! Der equal TO the senators In the general assem-
bly, is authorized, or whether new system
| creating a smaller board Is devised IL Is equal
! ly incumbent upon you to amend the genera
| law SO that the board which reviews the re
turns made by county boards snail have NOR
| power TO act equitabiy and In the greater in
| terest OF the people AZ the last meet
! ing OF the state board OF cuuuliZatiO