American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-01-13

NAAAS " NtA-4N " ~ AlNAlUAAlkpUQCuAo VI tuN
various BepeEolsBtaad RsformstOry Iu-
slitu6Ops Of The State for comparison and
Improvement Of plans Of administration,
methods Of Seposung. snd syslsWs Of 80,
counts, l cannot doubt that much good
would result from sneh conferences. -
l suggested alsD that the time for ma
king the reports nov directed by law to
be made BY the Goth Of November. be ex.
tended to the lst Of December. in each
year and that the provisions OF law ap-
plicabls 70 these docunaents be SO extended
as to embrace all reports required to be-
laid befUre the General Assembly. Such
q regulation. uniform il operation and du-
" enforced. would essentially aid the Ex.
ecu.ise In preparing proper statement Of
the condition Of tbs State, and greatly "a
cilitale the dispatch Of business by the
Legislators. SacI repuris as have been
PrePAfed and printed will be promptly laid
before you. -sN
No financial interests more important
than those connected with the Public
Works demand your care. The immense
sums invested in them; their extent and
magnitude; their business relations, and
the large revenues collected aud disbdrssd
in their administration. justify The soiioi>
tude always felt by the people concerning
their condition and management The
Constitution oonfides their superinlsn-
dence and control to. Board Of thrHe
membersi sud TO secure the constant ad-
vantage Of Judgment improved by expert
eDee, through the constant presence Of
some members who have served for con
sidsrabls periods assigns three years and
requires the election Of one member each
year. The authority entrusted 70 the
General Assembly, TO prescribe the pow
eIs aud duties Of the Board and its sever
81 members must 10 my judgment. be lin
tied necessarily by its nature and object
So limited il is au authority TO prescribe
the powers and duties Of the Board in gen-
etal superinteudenos and control. and not
an authority TO divest the Board Of these
Constitutional functions: it is an authority
10 prescribe the powers and duties Of its
several members in subordination to the
Board and not an authority 10 constitute
each member an independent Board, in
separate and substantially uncontrolled
charge Of part or the whole Of the Pub.
lie Works. II not SO limited, the aulhori-
~ Of the General Assembly over tie Pub,
lie Works, is clearly unlimited. Il may
restrict The superinlehdeDce of the Board
to ths WAlhonding Canal with its insig.
uiticant rsyenue Of seven or eight hundred
dollars year. and give TO some one mem
Der the entire management Of ths rest
Il may abtogate the Constitutional Board
OF three members, aud substitute three
legislative Boards Of one member enc b,
giving In charge to each jus. as much and
just as little ofthis great and important
property as it'may see 6t. / cannot think
that such aconstruciion OF the Constitution
can commend itself to your Judgment. and
therefore venture 10 recommend the re.
consideration Of those provisions Of the
40; Of the last session which divide the
Public Works into three sections, and,
excludiDg virtually all superintendent oil
the Board. commit each section 10 appoint
ment Of officers disbursement Of moneys,
and general management, to single mem
Der.
] In this connection, the system OF re-
pairo and payments on these works should
receive col sideration. Under the act q
last session, the member in charge Of each
section, appoints the Engineers assigned
to IL. These Engineers certify claims fol
work and materials to the Member ia
charge; the Member 10 charge. upon these
certificates, draws his check on the Audi
tor for payment; and the Auditor is reuui.
red without further evidence 10 issue his
warrant Tor the amount upoa the Treasu
rer. No fact has come 10 my knowledge
exciting suspicion that this large discret
ion 10 the e1p nditure of.hs large sums
appropriated for the Public Works has
been abused. but it is certainly worthy ol
con federation whether the principle ol
chechs and limitations upon disbursements
which bas been applied iu other depart
menis Of expenditure may not properly be
introduced in this.
The extraordinary doote Of the last sum.
mer were attended by disastrous conse
quenoes to the canals. So..numerous and
ex tensive were the injuries to the southern
portion OF the Ohio Canal and on the
Hooking Canal that ii was impossible 10
make the repairs necessary to navigation,
and consequently TO revenue, without cons
siderable expenditures beyond the sums
appropriated 10 that purpose. In this
emergency did not hesitste TO advise
what the interests OF The State clearly re.
quired. prompt repairs and pay ment as far
as the money could be spared from the
Treasury. by drafts in eIoess Of the sp-
proprialions. do not doubt your appro
val Of what was thsn done, or that pro.
vision will promptly be made for the drafts
drawn in this emergency; but 10 guard
against tue recurrence OF similar exigsu-
cies. I recommended that contingent
fund be provided by law. from which ex-
penses made iudispensNbly necessary by
unforeseen contingencies Of this character,
may be regularly paid.
The expenditures on the Public Works
have, dnring the past year. again exceed
ed the revenues. aud the question Of theft
future disposition must necessarily demand
your attention. Ny own views upon this
subject have been sufficiently stated 10 for.
mer communications. The policy Of sale
in proper sections. for adequate prices, un
der such guards and restrictions as will
ensure the continued uso OF the canals foI
the purposes they were designed 10 serve