Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-24

own VIII, Eelf- government In taxation
will be established, the fundamental
principle of the natural law of jus-
tice will be applied. Each local gov
eminent will have equal rights which
1t will be free to exercise with due
regard for the similar rights Of others.
A CORRECT AND UNIFORM SYs.
TEN OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTING.
Whenever the people delegate to
the state the right to exercise the
power Of taxation, and whenever the
state delegates to public corporation
Of Its creation--a township or county,
village or city-the right to exercise
this power, 1t Is the duty of the peo-
pie, and of the state, to safeguard
the exercise of the power delegated
by prescribing the manner In which
it shall be exercised, and requiring
q correct accounting of the results
Of its exercise. The performance of
this duty requires the state to pre-
scribe correct system of accounting
for all public accounts that shall he
uniform throughout the state for all
accounts of the same class and to
audit the same. Based upon statistics
derived from such an accounting sys-
tenn comparative statements can be
made that will accurately show to the
people the true development in econ
omy and efficiency attained by their
township and county, their village and
city governments. 1t will enable them
to know In what particulars their To-
cal government excels, and will direct
their attention to the precise details
Of their public administration that
show less economy OF efficiency than
has been attained by some other gov
ernment of a corresponding class. This
system will reduce the adoption of and
the efficient administration of business
methods in public affairs. 1t will in
duce the practical interest of all citi-
zens in the public policies adopted by
their local governments, in the shaping
and administration of these policies
their opinion will be the sovereign
power, free from interference by the
state legislature.
A MOVEMENT TO EMBoDY THESE
PRINCIPLES IN STATE LEG
ISLATION.
For six years the Ohio state board
of commerce has devoted its energies
to the discussion Of these subjects.
1t has now adopted a definite plan for
a campaign of education, designed to
be uniform in its application through
out the state, and to place back Of
every member of the house of repre-
sentatiyes and of the senate, an edu-
Gated constituency prepared to intelli-
gently demand the enactment Of gen.
eral laws:
/. For the organization Of villages
and cities that will secure to each
Of them every desired power Of mu-
nicipal elf-government and render
special legislation as unnecessary as
it is undesirable.
2. For an amendment to the consti-
tuition to permit local option in taxation
and general simpliication OF our
system Of taxation by means of which
gains Of great and permanent value
to every business interest can be Sc
cured
3. For system Of public account
ing and auditing that shall be uniform
throughout the state, designed to pro-
mote economy and efficiency in the
administration of all branches and
departments of public business.
For the accomplishment of these
purposes, every one of which has a
direct and vital interest for every
citizen and for the general welfare
Of every self-governing community,
the township and the county, the vii
lage and the city, and over
all, including all the state,
the Ohio state board Of conf
merce confidently appeals for co-opera-
ton to every organization of business
and professional men, and to every
citizen and business man in the state.
The accomplishment Of these pur-
poses will promote good government
and develop economy In the admins.
tration of public affairs. This will
save millions of dollars of taxpayers
money annually and make Ohio, in
all of these respects, a leader In the
federal community of states. Upon an
intelligent application of correct prln-
ciples to public affairs, the prosperity
and stability of the American local
governments and commonwealths de-
pend. Allen Ripley Foote.
Cleveland, o., July IL, 1901.
| ---~-------