Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-15

true condition of Institutions at theil
very doors. recommend the printing
Of an extra number of copies Of theiI
report, believing that the full detail:
contained in it should be widely
} known, and that the knowledge would
arouse a public sentiment which would
most efficiently second such legislation
as the subjects will undoubtedly re
ceive at your hands. will also rec
ommend that the Board be made more
efficient, by providing g permanent
secretary for them. whose whole time
might be devoted to continuing and
extending the investigations they have
SO well begun.
ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT.
The reforms needed in the organiza-
tion and administration of the local
correctional institutions, naturally lead
to the consideration of reforms in the
criminal law. The Attorney General,
in his report, urges the Importance OF
codifcation of the crimes act, and OF
the simplifcation of the rules and
practice Of criminal procedure, so that
they may be freed from cumbrous tech.
nicalities, which are too often found to
impede instead Of furthering the cause
of substantial justice. Much labor was
bestowed upon the perfection of bills
Tor the above mentioned purpose at
the last session of the Legislature, but
they had not been finally acted upon
at the adjournment. An act was, how
ever, passed allowing accused persons
to testify upon their own trials for
crimes. Although this measure was
supported by most respectable authori-
ties upon the bench as well as in the
Legislature. my observation of its prac-
tical workings as they have been re-
vealed to me in my examination of ap-
phcations for pardon, compels me to
believe that the change is, upon the
whole, an unfortunate one. When q
prisoner has the right to testify in his
own behalf, his failure to do so is
almost sure to be taken rs q confession
of guilt When to the knowledge OF
this fact is added the temptation to
invent a plausible theory to account
for circumstances proven IN evidence,
in the kOpe of escaping punishment
thereby, few criminals will be found
who will not add perjury to the crime
already committed. The possibility
that in some rare exceptional cases in
nocent persons may be the victims OF
circumstances which only their own
testimony could explain, does not, as l
think, oYerbalance the injury done to
the general administration of Justice
when perjury becomes a regular and
expected part Of 8 judicial trial, and
the detestation of the crime is greatly
lessened by Its frequency. Ny exami-
nation of the cases of prisoners sent to
the Penitentiary during the past year
satisfies me that am not exaggersting
the real evils which result. Another
practical effect is the abandonment of
the old principle of our Law that no
man shall be forced to criminase him
self. He does this when his omission
to testify is taken for admission of guilt.
If this principle Is Absndsued, / should
prefer to adopt the French system of
interrogating prisoners by the Court,
as avoiding at least the great tendency
to voluntary perjury. | am cOnstrain-
ed, therefore, to recommend the repeal
of the law.
PARDOSs.
The increased number of prisoners in
tie Penitentiary has made the duty of in
vestigating applications for pardon more
burdensome during the past year than
common. In large class of cases occur
ring Immediately altar the close of the
war, the sentences we're more severe than
had been usual before, owing to the ne
cessity felt By the Judiciary to check the
apparent tendency to crimes Of violence.
In a considerable number Of these cases
the Judges have regarded it proper TO re-
commend the remission of part of the
sentence, especially when the community
seemed to have regained its ordinary quiet
and law abiding character. 1 have en-
deavored to use the right to exercise elem
ency in strict cooperation and good un-
derstanding with the Judiciary, and the
detailed report Of psrdons issued will
show very few cases in which the judge
who tried the cause has not urged the
pardon.
SECRETARY OF STATES REPORT.
The Secretary of State, besides present.
ing the usual report from his Office, has,
10 obedience to the requirement. Of the last
General Assembly, collected with great
industry such inf1rmrhon as could be |
in regard to authentic portraits
Of the earlier Governors of the State, |
which there had been some thought Of
preserving in the Capitol. Whatever in
formation on the subject can now be made |
available is thus laid before you in authen- |
tic form for such action as may seem ap- |
propriaie.
PkINTISG AND BINDING
Ths Supervisor of Printing reports that
the cost of printing public documents and
binding the same, for the year past, has I
been but little over one-third the amount /
expended the preceding year; and that
this change is mainly. owing to the differ
ence in contract price for the unit Of meas
urement, the quantity of work being about
the same. He also reports himself ready
10 assume entire charge Of the binding for
he State under the statute for introducing
printing and binding into the mechanical
Of pupils in the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum, if small additional ap-
is made for that purpose.
RAILROADS, sc.
The Commissioner of Railroads and Tel
,graphs has in the comparatively short
lime since his Office was created, made
investigation Of the history, cost,
management, &c, of the
rarioas lines within the State. The col
ection and arrangement of these facts, in
form, is in itself of very great
7alue, and not only affords reliable basis
'o- legislsting upon this important class Of
interests, but exhibits to the world the
most authentic evidence of the extent to
which great public improvements have
,een carried in Ohio. The practical sug-
,estions of the Commissioner upon the
many delicate and intricate questions
rising between the people and these useful
are worthy Of the most care
ul consideration.
PUBLIC WORKS.
In accordance with the directions of the
tatute on that subject, the lease of the Ca
lals and Public Works has been renewed
nd extended for ten years. so that 1t now
uns to June lsb 1881. The Board OF
public Works express great satisfaction
With the energy and promptness with
which the lessees have made the costly re-
airs required on the canals in consequence
f the great freshets of 1866, and give !
.ood reasons for believing that the inter
SIS of the State are not suffering by the
ondltions and terms Of the lease. The
routh of the past season has greatly in
erfered with water transportation on the
anals and rivers, but it would seem that i
has been done which was pos {
ible to overcome that difficulty. 9
GAS INSPECTION. I