The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-01


Small temporary appropriations are
required as promptly as practicable, for
each of the following objects, the exist
ing appropriations having been exhaust
ed, viz: Expenses of the Presidential
election; expenses of the General AS
sembly, Trustees OF Benevolent Institu-
tions, Care of State House, Gas for State
House, expenses of Legislative Com
mittees, Binding for the State, and the
new Idiotic Asylum
In pursuance of an act passed March
IS, 1867, board of commissioners,
consisting of Aaron F. Perry, of Ham
ilton county, Charles E. Glidden, OF
Mahoning county, and James H. God
man, Auditor of State, was appointed
by my predecessor, Governor Cox,
whose duty it was "to revise all the laws
of this State relating to the assessment
and taxation of property, the collection,
safe-keeping and disbursement of the
revenues, and all the laws constituting
the financial system Of the State" and to
report their proceedings to the next
session of the General Assembly. The
report of the commission was laid be
fore you at your last session. 1t dis
closed many imperfections and incon-
sistencies in the existing legislation
touching the finances, and the urgent
necessity for an elaborate revision OF
that legislation. Their report was ac,
companied by eight separate bills, con
solidating the present laws, removing
contradictions, and supplying defects
but introducing no radical change in the
general principles of our financial sys
tenn. These bills have already been
somewhat considered in both branches
of the General Assembly; but no def
mite action upon them has yet been had
l respectfully recommend an early con
sideration of the bills and their adoption
with such amendments as in your judg
ment the public interests may require.
The destruction of the Central Luna
tic Asylum by fire during the night Of
the 18th instant, causing the death by
suffocation of six of the patients, and
incalculable distress and suffering to the
remainder, will require investigation ano
prompt action on your part. In re
building the Asylum, the erection of
fire-proof building will occur to you, q:
alike the suggestion T' prudence anc
humanity.
This calamity also suggests the pro
priety of examining the condition Of th'
other Institutions of the State, with {
view to providing them with every prop
er means of security against a simiial
disaster
The interests of common school edu
cation, in my opinion, will be promoted
by the early adoption of county super
intcndency, as provided in a bill on thai
subject, now pending in one branch O
the General Assembly. / therefore
earnestly recommend the consideration
and passage of the bill.
The Commissioner Of Common
Schools is required, in tie discharge o
his duties to pay out each year, fol
travelling expenses, about 500. The
propriety of refunding to him, out O
the State treasury, his travelling expen
ses, will probably not be called in ques
ton
During the last summer a cattle dis
ease, commonly known as the 81 an ST
or Texas cattle fever, occasioned much
alarm in the grazing counties of the
State, and in few localities caused Sc
rious loss. On the recommendation Of
the State Board of Agriculture, in the
absence of effective legislation, it was
deemed proper to appoint commission
ers to take such measures as the law au
thorized to prevent the spread of the
disease. A proclamation was issued tc
prevent, as far rs practicable, the intro
duction, movement, or transportation
of diseased cattle within the limits OF
the State. The railroad companies and
the owners of stock promptly complied
with the requirements referred to, and
the injury sustained by the cattle inter
est was happily not extensive. 1t is be-
lievcd that, upon investigation, it will be
found necessary to confer by law upon
a board of commissioners, appointed
for that purpose, or upon the executive
committee of the State Board of Agrl-
culture, power to "stamp out" the dis
ease wherever it appears, by destroying
all infected cattle, and to prohibit or
regul late the transportation or move
ment of stock within the State during
the prevalence of the disease. To the
end that proper investigation may be
had, respectfully recommend that an