The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate
and House of Representatives..
d3 [Continued ]
THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

lions are herewith presented. They ar
pear to have been managed with the usu:
|econemy and fidelity, and continue t
merit the fostering care and protection {
the State. The Legislature and the pee
lple will not be surprised to learn that th
appropriations necessary for their main
lteuanee must be increased over past years
The principal reason for this is the ad
Vanced prices of supplies of every kind
and of attendance and labor. This is fel
in every condition of life; and, of course
our institutions eaanot be exempt from
it. As our people thoroughly under
stand and appreciate this fact, they will
End in it a full justi6cation for the in
creased burdens you will thus be eem
PEELED to impose upon them. am salts
fed they would net approve any attemp
at econsny that would tend to cripple
these Institutions, or impair their useful.
ness.
In this connection yeu will be called
upon to consider the sugge.tiens made by
several of the Boards as to the salaries
of Superintendents and teachers. In
many cases these are undoubtedly iaad
equate to the actual support of the par
ties employed. The general principle |
have elsewhere commented upon, as regs-
latiDg labor and compensation in public
service, is specially illustrated in this
class Of cases. Other States, that in pop
ulatisu and resouces are vastly inferior
to Ohio; ara paying much higher compen-
satien to managers ana teachers of smi-
lar Institutions; aud, if act securing su-
persr talent, are constantly holding out
inducements to these whom it is our in
terest te retain in car service. AS men
become valuable to US, they are taken
away by ether institutions We cannot
censure them, They are willing to serve
as, but ask in return that we give them
at least living compensation. They
merit, and should receive it.
AT your last session you directed the
erection Of new building for the Deaf
and Dumb Institution. In view ef the
enhanced cost Of building, the time was
but the movement ceula
net have been longer delayed The pres
ent building. apart from its inadequacy
to the wants Of this class of population, is
cid and much dilapidated Though not
past occupancy, it viii soon become so;
and is no. such building as should be
kept in use any longer than the erection
of a new enc may render actually neces-
sary.
As directed by the law / tsek early
for the erection of the new struc-
ture. Mr.. j. Nj. Black burn, of Clcve-
land. was appointed Superintendent, and
in short time laid before me full plans
and spe cifcatiens.
They provided fer plain, but substan-
tial structure, with even less of ornamsn-
tatiss than my own judgment, under 9th
er circumstances, would have sanctioned.
The capacity and interior arrangements.
with some slight smsdifications, were ap-
proved by the Trustees aad Ssperinten-
dent Of the Institution. But the estimates
were large I had directed they should
be made fully up ts the actual cost. They
to TIVE hundred and eighty Eve
theusand dollars. AT the same time, it
was shown that the same building could
have been erected, at the prices OF labsr
and materials in 1862, fer enc hundred
and fifty two thousand dollars. Under
these circumstances, 1 isyitea the lneHi
bers of the committee on Benevolent In
stitutisns to meet me at the Capitol for
the purpose Of consultation. After full
Of opinions, the conclusion
was unanimously arrived at, that, in view
Of the condition Of the present structure,
We sheuld progress with the new build
ing. atlsast TO the extent Of the founda-
tiens; upen the plan submitted. Te ac-
csnmodate the Eumber Of pupils fixed by
the law it will net be praeticable to re
ducs the size of the building: while the
prose Mt foundation can readily be accom-
n,odated to any changes that may be deem
ed advisa BILE or ecsns mical in tho super
structure. Hae sshaHe Hsy j. ~
ses Accordingly L directed the progress o.
the work, under the most careful. and
ecenonieal system ofscontraets and su
iperintendsnce, consistent with good anc
per nanent RESULTS The report OF the
|Superintendent 10 herewith presented
He has been attentive aud faithful to hi.
trust, andshas proven himself prudc ct ant
competent. Keeping within the limits Q
your 'apprepriatien, he has accomplished
all that was practicable during the sea
son. Ii would have been gssd economy
had the means permitted, to have mad
larger purchases Of lumber this season
and TO have let the contracts for bricks
but l was unwilling to cmbarrass you
future action, by any liabilities, even of
contingent character; and therefore tn
Expenditure has been kept within tn
means provided. The Superintendent CO y
sidsrs it practicable to enclose the build
ing during the current year;hbut for ths
purpose be will require an appropriate
Of about TIVE hundred thousand dollar
| do not see how the necessity is to be el
Iyiatea. The expenditure is large on
but we are probably better able to NEE
lit now thar we would have been to eret
lsueh a building, even at the reduced ces
tive or three years ago. | only trust thi
in. seeking to reduce it, you will not cor
tract the capacity Of the building, nc
unnecessariiy extend the tirse Of its cen
lpletion. The first, ], think, would be ar
wise; the last. / knew. cannot safely b
done The subject is commended to YOU
! careful consideration,