The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-01-11

have no doubt, be greatly enhanced BY such
an investigation.
Should you regard a sale Of the Canals as
inexpedient. and, in sny ease, SO long As they
remain under State management, The proprI-
ETY. OF strict complisnce, in their adininistra-
ton, with the directions Of the Constitution
will not be questioned. The separation of
them into several divisions, and the assign
neut Of each division to the control Of a SIN
gle member of the Board of Public Works,
p Independent, in most important respects, Of
the Boald ITSELF seems to me not only mex
psdient but of more than doubtful constitu-
tionality. recommend therefore, such mod
i6cations Of the act of the last General As.
sembly on this subject as will secure 10 the
whole Board the control OF the Public Works
which the Constitution commits TO its super
intendence. ! also recommend the re'tora-
tion of that provision OF the act of 1874 by
which the Governor, with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, is authorized TO ap-
point collectors and inspectors; and / renew
the recommendation addressed to your pre-
decessors, Of more stringent provisions regu-
lating the settlement Of accounts for repairs
and other expenses on the canals. Under
the law as it now stands, there is too much
room for abuse, to the serious rejudice ofthe
public interests
During the year 1853, as was fully explain
ed to your predecessors, the sum Of Sl6,433
was advanced by the Treasurer OF State up
on my advice, concurri1g with that of the
other Executive Officers, for repairs OF the
Hooking Canal, greatly injured and seriously
endangered by recent haods. The emergen-
cy did not permit delay; and as the Legisla-
ture had made no provision for extraordinary
contingencies, an occasion seemed to have
arisen in which public officers ought to take
the responsibility of providing the means ne
cessary to protect the State tram great loss,
and the citizens, dependent on the canal
for transportation, from great injury. The
responsibility was taken, the means provided
by an advance from the Treasury, unqucs-
tionably the most economical mode; larger
amount than the sum advanced was saved to
the Treasury in tolls, and the benefits of the
navigation were secured to the people Of the
locality. am still ofopnion that this mon
ey was prudently and properly advanced
A public officer who, in times Of overriding
emergencies, will not take responsibilities
clearly necessary to the public good, as little
deserves confidence, as he who raShly as
sumes them on ordinary occasions aud With
out necessity. 1t will be for you to deter
mine whether the action of the Treasurer
shall receive the legislative sanction which
the last General Assembly omitted to give.
1t gives me great pleasure to say, that in
the department Of Public Instruction con-
slant progress and regular improvement have
been conspicuous.
Its burdens, however, now press somewhat
heavily upon the resources of the people.
Prior to the adoption OF the present Con
stitution, the fund annually raised by gener-
al taxation, and distributed to the counties,
was comparatively small. For several years
the sum for distribution was fixed at $780,
600; less than one fourth Of which was deri-
we'd from general taxation. After time this
annual sum was reduced, for q number OF
years, to Sl50OO0; but finally increased to
100000 During this period in the history
of our schools, somewhat larger sums than
that derived from the State were annually
raised by local taxation; but the aggregates
from all sources, State and local, did not
reach one third Of the totals under the ex-
listing system.
s The tax for Schools and School Libraries
now constitutes somewhat more than three
eighths of the entire levieS for State purposes,
and nearly one fourth of those for local pur-
poses. The State and locol school taxes in
'a 1858 weae S2,79l,824, or nearly one third
1859, the same levies amounted to 81, 1872, lis
aud bore about the same proportion to the
whole. These facts will suggest to the Leg
stature and to the local authorities the ne-
cessity of prudence and the most carelu
economy.
Few citizens, trust, are disposed to a.
bridge the means and opportunities Of educa
49, tion now offered to the youth of the State
They know that the power created by educa
.gtion, and made available in all forms Of Ia.
Dor, in all processes Of art, and in every
sphere Of useful action, is worth many times
its cost. They feel, however, that the cost
is great, and care is needed, lest by improvi-
dence and extravagance datection may be
excited towards a system so beniticent.
With view to the increased efficiency O
The system again direct the attention Of the
Legislature to the proprety Of moro ettec.
tive aid TO Teachers Institutes, and of some
provision for agents to be appointed by the
State Commissioner to fulfil those duties 0
addressing public meetings and comforting
personally with local authorities, now i'm
possible to be adequately performed withou
prejudice to demands on his time and atten
ton even more important.
With view to greater economy, it de
serves inquiry whether some limitations ma,
sot he usefully imposed on the powers nov
exercised by the Township Boards Of Educa
zion.
The interest Of the Irreducible Debt aris
ing from sales of School Lands is now dis
F sributed among the counties according t
their respective interests in such lands. |
the counties it is again distributed among tn
townships in proportions determined by sim
liar considerations
1t cannot be doubted that the FEEDERS
Government in granting these lands, intend
- ed equal benefits to all parts Of the State
The terms of the grants, however, were orig
inaliy construed as vesting the title to theI
in the State for the use Of the townships
which the sections sixteen were situated,
for the use Of larger districts for which prt
vision was made by grants of land not With
their limits. Whether this construction WI
correct or not, it may rot now be wort
while to enquire. Il has long been acted OF
and may perhaps be regarded as settled.
defeats, however, to a certain extent, tt
equal intent OF the grant; imposes great Il
Dor on the State and County Auditors; pc
plexes the public accounts; and embarrasS'
somewhat the general operation of our scho
system.
Upon examination Of the apportonmei
r. smong the counties OF the whole fund thu
distributed, am satisfied that very little,
any, cause Of complaint would arise, if tt
various divisions of the Irreducble Debt in
7 Virginia Military, United States Militar
Section Sixteen, Sectson Twenty Min
Western Reserve and Moravion were conso
idated into one fund, and the whole intere
distributed among the counties in the san
proportion as the general School Fund.
The saving Of labor and expense wh
L. Al Ip and n