The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-03-15
c0LrMnus conRrsroNpENcE.
! CoLrMUs ONO,
Marco, llth. 1861

buiVmIU@ OHtut
lMARcH, llth. 1861.
DrAR TRinUSr.--The past week was
one Of tciive labor on tho part Of the
House. Members ore anxious to .close
their labora and return home, somo 10 Ia
Dor and intrigue for reelection, others be.
csusc they prefer home to ar, silcnee here
and could not be induced 20 return. Tie
Senate has passcd bill approPriating
twenty thousand dollars for a new Peni-
tontiuty. The site Ia yet 70 bo selected,
on which thoro will be a big fight 4
bill for the protection Of bees has become
a law. a lino Of not more than ono hum
drcd dollnr, anil imprisonment In tho
County Jail not Ices thnn ten nor more
than thirty days, is tho penalty for steal.
ing honey or disturbing bees a law of
this kind has been much needed A bill
requiring Justices TO deliver their dock
cts to successors N Office has passed
This il right.
The important measure before the
House now, is tho bill for leasing tho
public works. a proposition to sell was
voted down by about two to one. The
bill to lease, will pass the House, after
prolonged discussion. There is a power
nil interest nrraycd against the sale or
lcnSe, and every ar,iies will be resortcd
70 in order to rotain State control.
Tho question is ono ofyast Importance,
and should be carefully considered and
wiscly determined, II such decision il
possible.
The public works under cconsmical
management would certainly sustain
themselves. But how can this manage
mcnt be o. tuinod under State control, is
the question to be answered There oan
be no economy when the State pays the
bills, for every one plumbers to tho ,xtt mt
Of his ability.
When tho canals were first projected
it wns confidently predicted, that they
would, in few years, after pay ing ell
necessary repairs, also pay the principle
aud interest Of construction. This pre-
diction hrs siCnnlly failed. The Public
Works have not, and never will pay, the
interest Of construction. To show your
readers the decrease in tolls for the past
ten years, take from the report Of the
board Of Public Works az follows: In
1851, the receipts were Ss siG,7ss,5l; in
lsCO, e903,935, In 1851 the excess Of
receipts over Expenditures was SI53,.
3Ji,55i in 1879, S227ls0,i4; in 1853,
sl6o,Cso,lii in 1854, sl42,656,O6i m
1855, Sl5i 1864; In 1853, tho deficit
was S76,663,l3; In 1857, S22 ,o63,lO; in
1868, S6s, ,lO3n6g In 1902, $50 ,s95 81; in
1850, Slao o.233,IG These results arc
brought about mainly by tho active COM
petition OF Rail Roads. What will final
ly be done with thcso public works is
grave question Tor consideration. They
have done a good work in developing the
resources Of the State, but in the end We
win likely pay heavily for all the advan-
tages gained in the way Of burdcnscms
rnd prolonged taxation.
There is much important work to be
done before adjournment. A bill for the
relief Of insolvent Rail Roads, is under
by the Senate.
A Joint Committee for distrieting tho
State will not report for some days.
that report will be satisfactory
or not Is unknown. II will probably
cause political fight, as we have so ma.
ny interested parties wishing districts
formed for their special benefit. trust
the work will bo fairly and honorSbly
done.
The Senatorial question Is string up
the candidates to unusual activity. They
have been here in person, or by agents,
working with an energy worthy the high
prize, ard the work still goes brOvcly on
with increased and increasing activity
Feom the zeal manifested by applicants
for office, wo must conclude that thoy
have confidence in tho Perpotuity Of the
Union. In this contest, rm satisfied
the people are with John Sherman
There are othsr worthy and true RsPub-
licans urging their claims.
! have not time to write more At pres.
cnt. In haste, Yours.
J.
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