Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1927-03-31
COLUMBUS LETTER
(By Chas. w. Rife)
Esea1orsilip Is Lacking

(By Chas W. Rife)
leadership Is Lacking
The most interesting question one
can hear in public discussion just
now is When will the Legislature
adjourn?' No one seems willing to
make even guess as to the time.
Three months in session so far, and
&hey appear just as far away from
settling the main issues as they did
after the first week. A dozen prob
Gems face them which must be solv-
ed The most important is of course
&hat of raising additional revenue
without raising ''hell0" among their
Friends. Each member of both the
house and senate seems to havetheir
s0wn remedy, but none of them so
Ear meet with the approval of the
inexperienced leaders. Gasoline
atax, amusement tax, and dozen
aother taxes are talked about, but
athere seems objection to each of
them, and the legislators listen TO
@he oh lection rather than the ar
sgument in favor of this or that plan.
Everybody knows chat the state
treasury is running mighty low, that
the cost of operating the growing
state of Ohio is sincreasing. that the
unfortunate wards of the state are
getting moro plentiful while the
ipTtson population is swelling the
walls of the penal institutions. But
what are you going to do about it?
Governor Vic Donahey has made his
suggestions, has studied the prob
Izems and knows what the people
want. He played 40 favorites in his
suggestions and as bad as the Repub-
lican legislators would hate to adopt
mis- plans and suggestions they may
reventuaIy realize that he is about
the best qualified man in the state
sto tell what medicine to take, and
sthe number of doses to heal the
present run down condition of the
trea5ury. The Republicans of Ohio
never lacked leadership so much as
Ghey Go at tho present time, this
FAC beceraing more evident every
day
owner of ONO automobiles paid
into the state treasury during the
year 1926 total Of S13,O57,227.-
\ So or s35,773.22, for each and ev-
cry one OF the 3S5 days Of the year.
This is at q rate in excess of over
81 900, GOO eve~y month of 1926.
This year The cost OF operating au-
h0mobileE will 30 higher. These
figures ase for "asoline tax alone,
and does no. include the millions
collected for state license tags, per-
fEOnal taxes, recording fees and 9TH
ser little contributions made by auto
Swnefs IN support of the state and
county government. The grand to-
tai of taYes collected from the auto
owner last Year in Ohio was close to
the $40, COO, 900 mark. No wonder
Essaifo owners are opposed to a 100
spsrcent Increase in the gasoline tax.
Gre ..ltag is very certain and that is
that officials of the Ohio State
Automobile Association are on the
job, and referendum on any gaso-
Eina tax is certain, according to
Ghas G. James, it's secretary Which
means that the collection of such
lax will be held up for at least two
years
t+t
Donalrey's Good Judgment
An emergency must be just what |
fahe courts have declared before Gov
errcr Vic Donahey approves any So
called emergency measures passed |
by the general assembly. This was |
proven to any who may have doubt |!
ed his position when he sent back /
Ewo bifls recently One was that |
which provided for the leasing of |
county, township and school district |
Hands, and the other was for the /
Iprinting of session laws. Both pass
ssad the general assembly as emer-
lgency measures. The governor did |
mot d.sapprove Of the contents of /
vshe measures, but did hold tht neith.