Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-01-12
WHOLE NO. 2sO6.

prepared and printed will be promptly laid
before you.
No financial interests more important than
hose connected with tie Public Works de-
mand your care. The immense sums invest
ed in them: their extent and their magnitude;
thtir business relaiinns. and the large reve-
nues collected and disbur>ed in their admin
isTration. justify the solieitude always felt by
the people concerning their condition and
The Constitution confides their
sdpriutendance and control To Board OF
three members: and to secure the constant
advantage of Judgement imprJSed by ex-
perience, through the constant presence Of
some members who have served for consider
able periods, assigns three Years as their term
of office. ard requires The election Of one
member each year. The authoritY. entrusted
TO the General Assembly. prescribe the pow
ers and duties of the Board and its several
members must. in my judgment. De limited
necessarily By its nature aud object So linn
tied. il Is an authority to prescribe the pow
ers and duties Of the Board in general superin-
tendence and control, AMI net an auth .gisY to
diyest the Board of these Constitutional fune-
tions: it is an authority to prescribe the pow
erS and duties of its several members in sub
ordination to the Board. and not ah authority
to constitute each member an independent
Board. in seperae and substantially uncon-
Irolled charge of the whole or part Of the Pub
lie Works. IL not so limited the authority of
the General Assembly over be Public Works
Is clearly unlimifed- It may restrict the
supriL Ltende4ce Of the Board to the Walhond-
ing Canal with its Insignificant revenue Of
seven eight hundred dollars year. and
give 10 some one member the entire manage
ment of the rest IL may abrogate the Con-
siiIutiUnal Board Of three members. and sub
stitute three Legislative Boards OF one mem
Der each. giving in charge 10 each just as
much and just as litrle of this great aud i'm
portant property as It may see fit ] cannot
think thai such construction Of tn; Consti-
turt can commend iiseli to your judgement,
and therefore venture 10 recommend the re-
consideration Of those provisions OF the act OF
the lzstseSsion which divide the Public Works
into sections, and. excluding virtually all
suprintende Of the Board. commit each
section in appointment o otfcers, disbuse'
ment of moneys. and general man cement, to
a single member.
IL this connection, the sys' EN- Of repairs
and pay ms nts ON these works shoald receive
consideration. Under the act Of the last ses-
sion, the member in charge of ach section,
sppoints the Engineers assigned 10 IL. These
Engineers certify claims for work and materi-
ais TO the member in charge: fhe member in
charge. upon lhese certificates, draws his
check on tho Auditor for payment; and the
of the claim, To issue his warrant for the
amount upon the Treasurer. No fact has
Come 10 my knowledge exciting suspicion
that this large discretion in The expenditu .
OF the large sums appropriated Tor the Public
Works has been abused, but il Is Certainly
worthy OF consideration Ehetler he principle
Of checks and limitations upon Disbursements
" hich has been applied in other departments
of expenditure may not De properly introduced
lntO Ihis.
Tie exfraordinary foods Of last summer
were attended by disastrous consequences T.,
the canals. So numerous and extensive wete
the injuries to the southern portion Of the
Ohio Canal and on thr Hooking Canal that is
was impo- sihe to make the repairs necessary
to navigation, ard consequently to revenue.
without con-iderab le expenditure beyond the
sums pTopriated to that purpose. In this
emergency did not hesitate 10 advise wha.
the interests of the State clearly required.
prompt repairs and payment Is far "a tht,
money could be spared from the Treasury.
by drafts in excess Of the appropriations. /
do hot duubt your approval of what was then
dUne. or that provision W II promptly be made
for the draft drawn in this emergency, but ts
guard sgainst the recurrence Of similar exi-
gencies, recommend that a contingent fund
&c provided by law, from which expenses
made indi~pensably necessary by unforeseen
contingencies Of this character, may be regu-
lsrly pad.
The expenditures on the Psblic Works have,
during the past year. again exceeded the rev.
enues, and the question Of their future dispo-
sition must necessarily demand your attention.
NV own views upon this subject have been suf-
fcien:ly stated IN former commuEi ations.-
The p0liev ef sale in proper sections. for sde-
oGate prices. uLder such guards and restrict.
IONS as vill ensure the continued use Of The
canals for the purposes they were designed to
serve, and exclude the control of the interests
now connecting with them will probably best
fulfil the wishes of o majority Of the people.
Neither public sentiment, however. nor sound
policy recommend sale for less than their
real value, nor measured by one or two years
of disaster. but aseertained by thorough exam
iaation of all the deter mining circumstances.
or without such limitations as will ensure, be-
yond any probable contingency, the ends CT
their construction.
The agricultural progress of the State during
the past year has been sfeadv. and upon the
whole satisfactory. By the unfavorable wealth
er aud the stacks Of insecs enesnies, some
crops have been dipini~hed and some alin0ss
entirely destroyed. while one or two have ex.
ceeded the usual average aad the deficiency
in quantity of others has been cnmpe nsa,ed by
excellence Of quality. The health Of :he Poo
pie has been go.id, and constant imp ovemens
has characterized the instruments and methods
of cultivation. ] renew the recommendations
addressed to u at your last session relating
to this great and leading interest; and espe-
cially recommend - your attention the admi-
rable Report of the State Bssrd, which cannes
fail to exert a most beneficial influence.
think il again my duty to recommend to
you. the repeal Of the act allowing interes; az
the rate of ten per cent 1t would be far BIT
ter. in my judgment. to leave the subject OF
interest without regulation than to regulate it
in such way as to encourage usury, emtar-
rass enterprise. and impoyerish industry.
Ny opinions fully communicated TO you as
your last session. in respect to the Jus. claims
Of this State upon the Federal Government. a.
well az IN respec: to the proper interest Of
Ohio in the due ADMINISTRATION Of that Govern.
ment. and especially at this time, in It's action
upon the mOmeutous question Of Slavery,
remain unchanged and n-ed not be re stated.
Permit me to Congratulate you upon the
auspicio1s circumstances Tnder which you
resume the grave duti, Of legislation. The
storm Of financial disaster which swept tho
land in the summer and autumn Of 1851, has
abaIed. and, though its effects are vet visible
in much remaining embarrassment, there II
every reason to anticipate the speedy return OF
general prusperiiy The defalcation which
tlen oppressed our finances. has been Supplied
by your provident legislstion; aud general
fidelity aud efficiency have marked the sege-
raj departments of administration. From this
point we may well look to the future with
hope aud confidence. Differing. as We oftea
may, as 10 the best IN. ans Of promoting tas
public welfare. yet, differing over with ma
ual respect and mutual personal good VIII.
tive may often find our elves able to harmon
ize differences by mutual concessions. and
combine our efforts for the common good
Accept my assurance that in all your endesy-
ors towards this sols end Of virtnoas patriot.
ism, You may confidently rely upon my zeal-
Gus co operation. and that my sincerest wishes
Will be accomplished. if, under the guidancs
of Divine Benignity your legislation shall be
directed 10 such Prosperous issnes that this
General Assembly may ever be remembered
with gratitude by the People of Ohio.
s. P. CHASE.
coIuxSrs. January ,, 1889.