The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-01

The Pill authorizing the sale OF the ca
nails is, We belieye, 10 come to decisive
vote to-day, in ths House Of Represents
tiyes. IN common with majority Of the
public press OF the State, and we doubt
not, with a PreponderaGce Of public senti.
ment, we haye looked upon measure Of
this character ~ sure to become o public
necessity. We believe il to be 90 now. II
q regard TO economy and character OF the
Stste can ever constitute public necessity.
We shall not now repeat at full length.
the argument iHfayor OF the proposition
Itlis known Gar and wide that for keeping
the canals in repair, the State Treasury 10
out Of pocket over one hundred thousand
dollars, for the last two years; and we have
yet to hear any system suggested by which
this loss is to be either Temporarily or per.
manently checked, and the canals at the
same time keptin such a condition as prop.
erly TO answer the purpose Of their construc-
tion. We have no doubt the existing sys-
TEN Of repairs may be materially improved,
though no plan to that end has been .propos.
ed, Of which weare aware; but Il could only
be done by largely increased outlay oi
public money, with horeliable prospect, eli.
ther speedy or remote, .of any adequate re-
turn 10 the Treasury; or by the permanen,
and continuous application OF private en-.
terprise to their management.
II anything can bring these thoroughfOres
ct commerce up 10 the proper capacity fol
all the demands upon them, it may be moSl
eftecthalfy and speedily done by private en-.
terpriSe Suppose the State had underta.
ken the exclusive construction, care, and
management, of the present or any other
general system Of railroads, opening them
to all the iDPtOyidence and scramble Of
party patronage; what would have been the
condition OF those works, and of the treasu.
ry now, TO say nothing Of the countless
evils which wcuid have crept into and fas.
tened upon the politics of the State! The
Legislature, however, had learned wisdom
from experience, when railroad enterprise
came into vogue, and, avoided the errors of
other States, RENTED this great interest en-.
tirely to private capital and responsibility.
Any public Improvements necessarily To-.
cal, provcrbiulIy fares better In private
hands than under State control. II is more
likely to be governed upon proper principles
of business. Where, however, such works
are charged upon the treasury, they inevito.
bly, suffer more or less by incupacity, mis-.
management, inadequate responsibility, con.
fusion among the public agents, or occa sion.
oil want OF tes0urces-for prompt application
when Suddenly demanded; or it may be
iron all these causes combined. The pres.
ent condition Of our canal system is a per.
feet illustration. 1t has be en- under the con.
troll OF men of every variety of talent; i,
has been within few years in the posses
sion OF all the political parties, and it is idle
to suppose thI superior ability or greater
industry will be brought into their m manage.
ment in futute, should they remain in q
public charge. Let any man remember the
gentlemen who have been called to the Ca
naa Board by the legislature, or by the peo
pie since the ofi;e became elective, anc
consider whether it is probable that men OIL
more sagacity or integrity will be put into
this service for any length of time hereafter
we mean no reflection upon future mem
bers OF the board, when We cav we indulge
no such expectation; because simply ,he
State is inherently unequal, as experience
has always shown FIRST or last, to the bes
practicable management of such an interest
and it naturally belongs. like all other for m.
OF trade and commerce, to the province o
private enterprise. ..t.-'s
The political aspect Of the subject is o.
the highest impo tanec. It is significant
fact .hut no purity has had control Of ou,
public works for years, which has no, bro
ken down under the burthen. The patron.
age OF this department is immense and va.
rious. IT is necessarily both personal anc
peruniary. And no matter how seduIousy
the Board may strive to CRAFTY all interests
among their political friends, there is al
ways inevitable disappointment, and dssuts
I'iaction' But the temptation presented Il
THIS appointing power to interfere in party
management by means Of official favori,ism
ana Innaence, has very often proved superi.
or to their vittue. We need not recount
the result txperienc. d by all parties. 1t is
enough to say that the people have come to
regard the Board of Public Works." no
matter BY what party held, as power above
control, and to leok upon every thing ema
mating from 1t as savoring of political favor.
ltlsm and corruption. Whether this senti.
ment be justified by the fact in all cases,
we shall not assert; but at all events it is
impossible that public confidence can ever
DC restored, so far us to free this department
OF State from an inveterate popular and leg.
lslative mietrU.t, or the service itself from
the manifold embafrassments arising from
this confirmed condition OF public opinion.
Were the canals productive of simply
the revenue required for their yearly main.
tenaEce, it would compensate to some de-.
gree for the aversion OF the people against
these political vices and abuses. When we
add to these the heavy losses in money they
occasion the State; the critical condition OF
the treasury. and an already onerous system
OF taxation, we think public economy, pub.
lie morality, and the best interests Of the
canals themselves, combine to recommend
the proposition before the House to all par
ties its details being well matured, as a
timely and salutary measure of REFORM
Sta teSmGn.