Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-07-29
OHIO HIGHWAYS
SUFFER BECAUSE
OF ACTS OF COX
ADMINS TRATION
Revenues Gut 0nG-thlrd and
Deficit Must Also
Be Made Up.
COWAN ISSUES STATEMENT

1910 Gould NOT Be Let Until ACTS
OF Former State Administration Are
CounterbaIanced - Facts Every
Lover of Good Roads In Ohio Should
Carefully Consider.
Especial )-That it is
necessary to operate the state hign-
way department on returns decreased
one-third because of tne action OF the
Cox legislature last summer, and that
road contracts for 1915 can not be
made until funds are first secured 10
pay quarter of a million dollars !lle-
gally contracted for by former High.
way Commissioner Marker. These are
the interesting facts given in letter
Just dispatched by State Highway
Commissioner Cowan and Budget
Commissioner Fullington to the boards
of county commissioners in the vari-
GUS counties.
In a detailed explanation. which
bristles with facts, Mr.. Cowan's letter
shows how the road department was
made the tool Of partisan politics last
year and how the roads of Ohio must
suffer as consequence The letter
Is as follows:
Columbus o., July ., 1918.
"The Honorable Board Of County Conn
mssioners, Adams County, West
Union, o.:
"Gentlemen-The relationship in
-oad matters between the boards Of
county commissioners throughout the
state of Ohio and the state highway
commissioner is one which requires 3
thorough mutual understanding of ex-
listing conditions, and for this reason,
and with view toward closer CO.
operation, we deem II proper at this
time to call your attention to certain
limitations under which the state hish-
way department is now operating.
The original law providing state
levy for highway improvement pur-
poses was passed by the legislature
April 8, 1913, and provided for levy
of 5-10 of mill on all the taxable
property of the state. Taxes levied
under this act were first collected in
December. 1913, and the total amount
which came into the state treasury
by reason of this levy during the year
1914 was $3.276,45717. OF this amount
of $3,276,457.17 coming into the state
treasury in 1914 for highway improve
ment purposes, $1,689 ,769.7s was re-
ceived at the February settlement and
$1,5S6,6S7,39 was received at the Au-
gust settlement.
"On July 20, 1914, the legislature of
Ohio was called in special session by
the then governor, Hon. James NJ
Cox, the purpose of the session being
to reduce state levies. The then gov
ernor, in his message to the general
assembly, recommended that the levy
for highway improvement purposes De
reduced from fve-tenths of mill to
three-tenths of mill, and advised the
members of the general assembly that
the new rate suggested by him, to-wit
threetenths of q MILL would produce
almost s3.000O00 year. The conf
dence of Governor Cox in this regard
Wdo pubocNluGllt ueNtI
opments have proven tnat the reduc-
tion in the state levy for highway i'm
provement purposes, made by the gem
eral assembly in July, 1914, has result
ed in a very large decrease in the
amount produced, as compared with
the year 1914. While the levy of Ave.
tentns of a mill made in 1913 produced
$1,689,769.7S at the February 1914,
settlement, the levy of three.tenths
of mill made in 1914 produced only
S1,133,065.31 at the February. 1915.
settlement. 1t is therefore apparent
that the state highway department
this year will be compelled to operate
with an income which has been re-
duced one-third, as compared with the
income of last year, this reduction
being due to the decrease in the state
levy made by tSe general assembly Of
Ohio at its special session in July,
1914.
''The above constitutes only one of
everal facts tending to restrict the
ctiyties of the state highway depart
ent for the year 1915. To be frank,
0 department is compelled to oper-
not only with an income that has
N decreased approximately one
d, as compared with the income OF
department last year but It has
been compelled to use a substan.
}art of its 1915 income to meet
tions created by the department.
4, over and above the income OF
partment for that year. Wiile
te highway department In the
"A had $S19,114.41 available for
Instruction of main market
department attempted dur
year 1924 to enter into con
the construction OF main
ada 10 the amount of $685..