The Stark County Democrat

From the hands of Mr. Oglevee, Representative from this county, we have received the annual report of the Auditor of State, which exhibits some curious features in detailing the manner in which the general revenue fund of the State was expended during the past fiscal year.

Beginning with Governor Allen, we find that the most extravagant expense he indulged in was a portrait of Gov. Noyes, which cost the State $485, and we do not believe the investment will ever return one-tenth of one per cent. of the original cost.

It is when we strike the contingent expenses of the Auditor of State that the richest lead is developed. This is under the head of washing towels. It appears that John Williams—who, from the similarity of name, it is fair to judge is a near relative to the Auditor of State—does the washing of towels for the office, in addition to other duties, such as messenger and the purchase of postage stamps. The fiscal year begins with the 15th of November, 1874, and, as it appears in the report, is as follows:

PAID FOR WASHING TOWELS.

November, from 15th. $2.80
December, 3.00
January, 3.00
February, 4.50
March, 9.60
April, 15.60
May, 29.10
June, 3.00
July, 20.40
August, under head of etc., therefore September, 4.50
October, 4.50
November, to 15th 5.80
Total for the year.... $106.50

Presuming that the price for washing towels is about the same in Columbus as in Springfield, we figure out that amount would pay for washing 141 dozen towels.

There are employed in the Auditor's office seven clerks, and this would provide the lot with five clean towels for each working day of the year. That such a number is absolutely needed, is incredible, unless, indeed, the coal heavers employed about the furnaces that heat the State building also dry their blackened faces in the Auditor's wash room.

By a comparison with the expense of providing the luxury of clean towels for the other official departments of the State House we are forced to the conclusion that public economy requires that the Auditor shall discharge John Williams from the washing business, and hand the towels over to some humble and needy washerwoman, who, with less ambition to figure in the annual report, might be induced to do the actual labor involved in the washing at a reduced cost. We find that in the Treasurer of State's office, with three clerks, the washing cost only, for the entire year, $5.50, while in the office of Secretary of State, where never less than eight, and often more, clerks are employed, the washing of towels cost $10 for the year. The fact that this office is occupied by Democrats with 'unwashed' reputations must be taken into consideration, however.

The Attorney General squandered none of the State's money for washing towels, but there is a suspicious item in his contingent expenses for ammonia that should be investigated. If the State is forced to pay for foot-baths, it should first be settled, by careful inquiry, whether podagogue is not less expensive than ammonia.