The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-13

4
1t thus appears that the whole number OF
persons rendered infirm and dependent by de.
fective or diseased organization is 500; that
of these, 3,04O are in conditions requiring pro-
vision for them in public or private institutions
| that 847 are actually in the State asylums,
leaving 2,l93 unprovided for, except so far as
they may find relief in county infirmaries OF
private families that the average number con
stantly in the asylums through the last year was
| S34 that the total cost to the State of their
maintenance during the year was $l284l0
that the cost of each inmate for the year was
1854 that to provide for those needing, but
not now receiving, the benefits of the asyums
at the same rate, would require an annual ad
ditional expenditure of $337,722, making an
aggregate annual outlay of S466, 1872; and that
these estimates are exclusive of interest. about
$4,000, on the capital, about 5000, 900, ips
vested in the existing asylums, and of the year
ly cost of permanent improvements, which was
last year about $4,000; and of the capital yet
to be invested in new sites and structures, and
of the interest upon that.
PAUPERIsM AND CRIME.
Another important element, entering into
every adequate estimate of social condition, is
that of pauperism. In Ohio, the pauper class
is less numerous than in many other States but
is yet large enough to require thoughtful con
sideration. The number of poor, well or i'll
provided for, either temporarily or permanently,
in infrmaries, houses Of refuge, or other insti-
tutions, is estimated at $500; and the number
of the same class receiving outdoor relief, at
IL, 700; making the total number of poor sup
ported wholly or partially by the public, during
the year, 1880. Estimating the population OF
the State to be 100000, the proportion OF
paupers is one in l62. The proportion of the
same class in England is one in l2 in New
York, according TO the census of 1850, it was
one in so; in Massachusetts, one in IS. For the
prevention of its increase in Ohio, we must RELY
on the aid of education, upon the influence OF
religion, and upon equal laws, securing to labor
its Just share of production. There is no reason
to expect, however, that the poor will ever cease
out of the land. Hereafter, as heretofore, it
will be the duty of States and individuals to
open wide the hand to the needy. Let us hope
that our own State, SO honorably distinguished
for her institutions of benevolence, will never
fail in the just performance of it.
To ascertain the entire number the depend
ent classes, it will be proper to add to the mum
Der of the insane and otherwise naturally i'm
firm, 6,040, and to the number of paupers,
l4,8OO, the average number daily in conine-
ment under charge or sentence for crime, est
mated at l,400; making the whole number of
persons to be maintained, wholly or in part
from public revenues or by private aid, 32, 240.
This aggregate includes all the insane, the
idiotic, the deaf and dumb, the blind, the in
door and outdoor paupers, and the imprisoned.
The whole mass may become at any time what
much the larger portion is at all times, a charge
upon the State. It's what may be Justly called
the inhrm element of society Its proportion TO
the whole constitutes an important indication
of the moral and industrial condition ola State.
That proportion in Ohio is as one to rs; in
Massachusetts,, as one to Al +; in New York. as
one to 20.
Under the general name of crime, as an ele-
ment OF social condition, may be comprehended
all action, associated or individual, which. VIC
lating moral obligation, inficts injury on per-
sons or society. What | have to submit to you
relating to crime in our own State will how
ever be confined to the proportion of offences
against positive laws to the total population.
and to their retarding and disturbing influences
on the otherwise healthful and regular progress
of society. The number of indictments for
crime during the past year. was about 1900
the number of police arrests for crimes against
the State, not prosecuted by Indictment, was
about 800; the number of arrests for offences
against police ordinances, 1856; making the
number OF arrests for crimes and offences OF
lower grade, II 1856. The convictions ealrried
INTO Judgment, upon Indictment, were 1900
The murders during the year were so. s.nd the
suicides 65. The proportion of crimes and of,
fences to the population was one in POS the
proportion of offenders being of course some
what less. The proportion of murders was one
to 10000 that Of suicides one to 1929
| The intrequency of convictions, as compared
with indictments, will doubtless attract vouI
attention. it indicates a defective administra-
ton of criminal justice, to be remedied, not so
much by legislation as by increased vigilance
and hrmness on the part of those to whom that
administration is committed. 1t is worthy your
| consideration, however, whether upon conyic
/ tons for murder in the first degree, it may not
be expedient to authorize the courts to sentence
at discretion to capital punishment, or to i'm
! prIsonment for life. | am persuaded that, in
many instances, murder escapes all punish
ment, or all adequate punishment, through the
reluctance ofjuries to find verdicts which must
necessarily be followed by sentence of death.
1t Is well aScertained, that of crimes of VIC.
lence, nearly one-half have their immediate orr
| gin in intemperance, and that more than four
tifths of the police offences are due to the same
baleful cause. 1t is the abundant source o.
pauperism, lunacy, and disease, as well as o
crime. Its cost to society ia beyond the power
of computation, and its multiform influence.
for evil beyond the reach of estimate. / agair
invoke your attention to this vitality important
SUBJECT and trust that your action in regard t.
| 1t may be wise and efficient.
In this connection | think it nv duty TO REQ
ommend to you the establishment of an ASYLUM
/ for lnebriates. Much evil to individuals anC
society may be averted, and much positive good
accomplished, by means of such an institution
/ IL established on the State Reform Farm upor
| a ludiCiouS plan and scale its cost need not h,
| great.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES
The receipts of the fiscal year 1853. from
taxation, tolls, conyicts' earnings and all Other
sources of revenue, properly so called, including
the premium on the temporary loan, were
S2,93l, 1851. The receipts from sales o
school and ministerial lands, and the principa
OF the temporary loan, and the amount of Jul,
interest not called for in New York, and there
fore returned TO the Treasury-al which item.
constitute debt rather than revenue - wer,
Sozo'9oo.4O. The total receipts, therefore
were 81, 7jS,7 2l.57. The disbursements wnr,
S3,5Io, 41S.77, to which should be added tn,
excess OF the deialcation over former apparen
balance, which was Sl7,l43.S5. MAKING a toto
of S3,532, 6O262. The balance in the Treasnr,
therefore, at the commencement of the presen
fiscal year, was $226, 1885.
VALUATION OF PROPERTY.
Referring you to former communications 70
information relating to former wears, shall
state summarily the amount of taxable values
and of taxes levied in 1853. The total humble
OF acres listed for taxation was 2J,29S. 9Ga
The valuation of these lands was $431, ! So I32
that of town and city lots, 1888, l02. SIS; lha
of chattels, $2j0,5l4,OS4; making the agcre
gate valuation of all taxable property in tn
State, $S4O,S0O,03l. The taxes levied 10
general State purposes were, for sinking fund
Sl,O47, 9O2; for general State purposes
1857, 200; for common schools, $l,259,O92