Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-01-05
HISLAST MESSAGE.
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 n Number
of Recommendations.
Gentlemen OF the Senate and House of Repre-

-
In fulfiilment of the duty prescribed by tho
constitution OF the state OF Ohio have the |
honor to submit to the general assembly my |
second and fnal message. reporting upon the |
various AFFAIRS OF the state government during |
the last two years. and making certain sug.
gestions ne TO legislation and other matters OF |
Interest and probable oxpediency.
the record OF which contains the whole history |
of the state OF Ohio. IL can be seen that the |
people have every reason TO be satisfied with |
evidences OF progressive and advanced civiliz- |
atisn:. 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
tse Through the enforcement OF good laws,
justly interpreted, and through the ready and
patriotic support from the people, there has
come to the state govcrnmfE q condition In
na ny m a er aa harad opn,has nn rsvaw
which will follow should demonstrate again
the reasons for the pride OF our people in Ohio
1t displays o fine financial status. an unrlvalled
system or 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 10.
1895 the end OF the fiscal year, there was
balance In the general revenue fund OF 81 l,UJ3,-
6323h This was the result after two years In
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 war, which necessitatt the state
government making large expenditures to
cover the cost of the mobilization of troops
answering to the call OF The president of the
United States OF volunteers, in which extern
siye building operations connected with the
state capitol and with many OF the institutions
WIRE inaugurated. and in some instances COM
pleted. and in which there were many extraor-
dipary expenses of various characters.
= The funded debt OF Ohio, all bearing per
cent interest, Is ut this time s100l ,66h 10, and
OF that amount 81, los OJ represents lost canal
bond, upon which interest has long since
ceased. or the payable portion OF the debt,
sl 100000. .3C0,OO0 will fall due July !, 1900
$3.50 900 on July l. 1901: s250O00 on July !, 1907
and S2l0UoO Cwar loan) on July l. lS0a
The borrowing OF money to meet the war ex-
penditures seemed absolutely necessary Mt the
time, but in view of the result of the prompt
measures taken for securing reimbursement 10
the state from the general government. 10 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
Spanish American war, there will appear
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. IL Is well to call attention to
the extraordinary expenses authorized and d.
rected by the last general assembly. The appro-
priations in the iiscal year 1898, for new build
ings, improvements and extraordinary eS-
ipenscs designed to cover the cost OF permanent
Structures amounted to over 100000. In the
fiscal year 1899 these extraordinary appropria-
tions. distributed to the various state institu-
tons. amounted to over stOJ,OO0 making to-
tai for two years OF over 81 10000 Of this
amount 10000 was devoted to the new state
building, designed TO extend the accommoda-
tions of the state capitol. The remainder was
expended 10 provide for increased nccommoda-
tions. for necessary improvements and to meet
emergencies ut the 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 1898 from the
law which laid un excise tax OF one-haf OF
per cent. upon the gross receipts of corpora
tions enjoying quasi public franchises. the sum
of s55s 900 This tax is charged for collection
in November OF each year. but on account OF
the fiscal year ending November 10. the result
is that the true amount levied and collected
for each year is not expressed by the returns,
the treasury statement at the end of the fiscal
preceding and ensuing years Thus the
amount levied for 1905 was Ss9i.2il SO. while the
apparent receipts for the year were. as has
been stated. s5Ss, 800 The amount levied for
1879 was az, .90sss, of which, ut the end OF the
fscalyen 1859. there was collected 1854 l23g .
collected there being but u slight loss each
year II can be seen therefore that the excise
law in lssy produced the greatest return in the
life OF the act 1t might be well TO amend the
Law so that the auditor OF state can make this
collection In October or December OF each year
aud thus enable the true result OF the tax to
be expressed In each years financial state
ment The Dow law tax in the last TWO years
has provided 81, ,0Ss. sos 81
Allow me the privilege OF counsellng for the
future sucb careful consideration rs TO ap-
proprintiGr- as will continue the prudent pol
Icy of kee!.ng within our income. Ohio has
now the Lrospect OF enough revenue. but the
promise Is net such Us to warrant any extrava-
Gancs II there is to be radical departure OF
any kind. let IL be in the wny % reducing the
sta.., levy thus giving benefit {, all the peo-
pie Ind nnording satisfactory object lesson
for municipalities of the state
EMERGENCY BEARD.
Since .he nGlourun ent of the Seventy-th third
general assembly the boa-d, consisting OF the
governor, the auditor OF state. the attorney
md tI .lnnfr he hons and
ate finance committees And known as the emer-
gency board. has hello various meetings, and
authorized deficiencies to the ;gnount OF s26i. =
go. This. at first glance. may seem n large
sum to be covered by the deficiency uppropria-
tion bill but it should he understood thai
sl00.00l Of It is practically transfer OF funds
1t having, as is explained elsewhere. been I'll.
lowed for unifor,ning and equipping OF the
Ohio national guard.
The other large items of expense in the lis
OF deficiencies authorized are principally Il
provide for emergencies which have arisen n
system on account OF floods necessita,ed the
expenditure OF sla,0J0 The abandonment OF
cottage ut the boys industrial school Dy order
of the inspector OF workshops and factories re.
-Quired an appropriation OF 5000 for the con.
struction OF u new building. It founC
necessary to allow s216JO for necessary eX
penses In connection with the new school build.
Ing Mt the institution for the deaf and dumb
for various necessary things Ut the MnssilIoI
state hospital a25. 800 WIS allowed; new boilers
ordinary repairs and improvements. change.
of sanitary conditions ut the various hospital.
again express the opinion that through tn,
emergency board there is n satisfactory way
OF attending to such business during the In
terim OF legislative sessions. According [,
my view. there Is every reason for continuing
the wise and prudent policy OF biennial ses'
sessions OF the general assembly. The bien-
nizl session plan is heartily approved by the
.greaL majority OF tho people and experienc,
a, has yet 10 demonstrate that there is necesst,
for the return TO the old policy of annual ses'
I rsions By the meeting Of the general assem-
! bly, once every two years large amount OF
money is saved TO the state, and through th'
-emergercv board the interests OF the state'
institutions and departments, which require
extraordinary expenditure ut certain times, &c
not suffer. II Is undoubtedly true that th'
people ut large viii cordially endorse the con
tinuance cf the bienniul session plan; and OF
ithe other hand there are but few who will ad
vance any argument in favor of the old system
of annual sessions
TAXATION.
No subject for mature and careful considera
-tion will come more prominently before you
honorable body than that which relates to tax
alton In Its several branches. While 1t ma,
not lie within the power Of the general assem-
bly, during this session to effect the reform
which are needed there is still tho opportunit d