Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-05
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
[Conclusion.l
IMMIGRATION.

agent III tnc city OF new 1OrK cOulu not
accomplish enough to justify the expense;
for, from tile statistics | procured, 1t was
proven that almost the entire body of Ger
man emigrants not only came to that city
with their destinations fixed, but were fur
nished with tickets through to the deter
mined points. This had been mainly ac-
complished by agents OF other States, oper-
ating in Germany. The expense of estab-
fishing such agencies abroad Iapprehended
would exceed your anticipations; for to be
valuable they must be fixed and perma-
nent. A mere tour of observation, or of
transient information and influence, would
accomplish little good.
Congress had made movement in this
direction. The act, like all other expert
ments, was defective in many particulars;
and will undoubtedly be revised and i'm
proved during the present session. 1t SEEM
ed to me advisable therefore that little
more time should be taken, and if system
of State agencies should be approved, that
it be more fully examined, and carefully
prepared, and put I'm operation. We labor
under the disadvantage of not being able
to present the inducement of large bodies
of public lands, at low rates, to this class of
emigrants; but, on the other hand, the finan
cial, commercial and industrial interests of
the State are so settled and ilourishing as to
invite industry, with the strongest assur-
ances of ample remuneration. If other
States maintain agencies abroad, they will
most certainly largely excel us in the facil-
ties afforded to cmigrants, as well as the in
tluences that will, to material extent, con-
troll their destination in this country. 1t is
for you to determine whether the interests
of the State require us to enter into this COM
petition. We must do it fully, and upon en-
larged and perfected system, or our ener-
gies will be wasted.
apprehend you did not fully compre-
hend, last winter, the exact position of your
present system. The act of April 18th, 1868,
createfa commissioner, without salary; and
with an appropriation of five hundred dol
lars to cover expenses. That appropriation
is yet undrawn; but in an interview with
the commissioner, soon after your adjourn
ment, ascertaned that he has claims for
expenses in books maps, publications and
other matters, including, believe, trip to
Germany, to large sum. l requested the
commissioner to furnish me with state
ment of those accounts; but he has failed
to do so. My recollection is that they then
exceeded three thousand dollars. The COM
missioner was then under the impression
that your appropriation of 1864 was de-
signed solely to cover this class of eXpen-
ditures, and to authorize a trip to Germany
by himself, instead of sending disconnect-
ed agent. have not, at this time, received
his annual report; but | have requested
him to accompany it with statement of
all claims against the State for expenses.
With all the facts presented, you will be
able to determine upon the eXpediency Of
revising or modifying the whole system.
sANDUsKY, DAYTON, AND CINCINNATI RAIL-
Underyour resolution of March 31st, 1864,
/ appointed Joseph r. Swan, Esq, special
agent to investigate the condition of the
He discharged the duty assigned him and
reported to the Commissioners of the Sink
ing Fund that in his judgment, the inter-
ests of the State would be best secured by
signing the proposed articles of capitaliza-
ton. A majority of the commissioners ap-
proving that report, the assent of the State
was given to the reconstruction OF the COM
pany as therein proposed. The commits
sioners will probably present you the de-
tailed result of the transaction. | entirely
concur in the conclusion arrived at by the
agent and the Sinking Fund Board.
MORGAN RAID.
Under the provisions of the act of March
Both, 1864, appointed Alfred McVeigh,
George W. Barker, and Henry S. Babbitt,
commissioners to examine and report upon
claims for property destroyed in the Nor
gan raid of 1863 The sudden death of Mr..
McVeigh in September, has embarrassed
the preparation of the report; and l shall
not-be able to eXamineit before closing this
communication. 1t will be early presented
to you, and upon examination of it, you
will be able to determine what further leg
islation, ifany, is eXpedient The labor of
this commission necessarily extended over
more time than was contemplated; and an
additional appropriation is therefore Deces-
sary to cover its expenses.
SALARIES OF STATE OFFICERS.
AS have several times spoken of the in
adequacy of compensation to different Off
GERS, feel a dclicacy in again alluding to
the subject in general terms; but it cannot
properly be avoided. What was once
question of policy, is now q matter of ne
cessity. am aware the time is unpropi-
tious; but it certainly cannot be possible that
the people of great and prosperous State
are desirous, or even willing, that every
officer of the State Government should re-
main at his post, in the discharge of oner-
Gus and responsible duties, when he is COM
PEELED to draw upon other means than his
salary for his actual support. 1t is fact,
universally known and recognized, that
there is not single State officer who can
clothe his family, and pay his board in re-
spectacle private house, FROM the salary
that is allotted to him. This should not be
so. It's illiberal on the part of the State,
and unjust to the officer.
Our scale of salaries was adopted under
very different state of things than exists
at the present time. Even then it was said
that none but the wealthy or the very poor
could afford to hold office. We have passed
the point as to the latter for the man whose
circumstances required him to rely on the
compensation of the best of your offices,
would be compelled to abandon his posi-
ton. There are clerks in the public offices,
without care and responsibility, who are re-
ceiving equal and. in one or two cases, bet
ter salaries than the Heads of Departments
who employ them. This is stern necessi-
ty, that cannot be avoided. Without 1t the
public interests would suffer- lkfl4a
1t is common argument that there are
seekers enough alter the offices; and he
who Is chosen, understands what the salary
is, and has no rightto complain. There is
such thing, especially in times like these,
as men eonsenting to assume important p0-
sitions from higher considerations than
those of u pecuniary character; and 1t has
been true, and may be true again, thatmen
will consent to take State offices, even at a
pecuniary sacrifice, in order to make of
them stepping-stones to higher and better
positions. In the first case 1T is unjust to
impose upon patriotic impulses so severe a
and, in the last, 1t has been amply
that the public interest is not
by making Of your offices mere
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