The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-04-12
CORRESPONDENCE
CoLuMBUs, Ono. April 6.

/
two weeks ago, l was of the opinion that
the Legislature would adjourn before
this-n fact resolution had been pass
ed to adjourn on the 31st of March. AT
present there is no more prospect of ads
iournment than then. However mem
5ers begin to Show a desire to get home.
/ This desire, it is hoped, may culminate
in q speedy close of the session;
A bill has PASSED to fund the State
debt and extend the time of payment ten
years. A large portion of the debt was
due December 81, 1870, and it was ne
cessary to extend the time for payment
| of it over reasonable time. 1t would
have been much better had the State
never contracted this debt; but it was
done when the State went wild on the
subject of public works, some thirty
years ago, and we have from that time
tofthe present been paying interest and
gradually reducing the principal. 1t is
to be hoped that within the next ten
years it will be paid off. That our pres
ent constitutional rule shall forever be
! retained and we, as State, be guarded
from ever again running into excessive
debt by building canals or public rail
roads. It is the duty of the State To
protect alike public and private enter.
prise, but whenever it undertakes enter.
fprises outside the necessary laws and
rules for government and protection the
majority is made to suffer for the benefit
of. the few. l regret to say that these
funding bonds were made exempt from
taxation, contrary to the will of a urge
majority of the Democratic members
and many Of them voted against the bill
for that reason.
The Hamilton County reform bill, as
it is called, has become a law. 1t is sim
!. ply ridiculous. This bill proposes tc
!, reform the Probate Judges Office, on it:
Ipassaoe; the Clerk of the Court aftel
October /, 1870, and the other Offices
when the next incumbent comes into
office. The sequel to this ls,the present
Probate Judge is Democrat tue Clerl
is Republican, but was appointed il
consequence of the death of the electet
Clerk, to whose widow he agreed to give
half his salary; the rest of the Offices arr
held by Republicans. The Democrats
made strong effort to make it applica
BILE to all of the Offices, but every prop
osition was voted down by the opposi
ton. One argument used why these
amendments should not prevail was, ,tha
the officials had spent very large sums o
money to get their offices, and ii woult
do them injustice to cut them down.
This is protecting corruption; but i
speaks to the credit Of the Democratic
Probate Judge. A better plan wsult
be to entirely reform Cincinnati pollti
clans This night depopulate the city.
/ A bill has passed the house which
gives the minority party one of th'
Judges of an election, and its object is tt
prevent frauds upon the minority in an,
township or ward. This is the law il
New York, and had it been the law O
Ohio, both Mr.. Pendleton and Mr.. Thur
man would have been elected Governo
when they were candidates for that office
] The bill is so drawn rs not to be regard
ed as conflicting with the Constitution 0
the State, that ''township officers shal
be elected by the qualified electors 0
their respective tow nships.' The neces
ity of this law is not felt, or even re
quired in Monroe County and in man,
other counties, but in parts of the Stat
where corruption controls the election
/ and men buy themselves into Office, it
necessity is greatly felt; indeed it seem
to be the only attainahle remedy.
Rather an amusing occurrence too
place in the Senate q few days ago. Th
). Judiciary Committee have made sewers
reports that the Senate has not agree
to, as is often the case in lcgislativ
bodies. This time the Committee ha
made report that the Office of Presiden
pro tenn, of the Senate, expired ever.
time the Lieutenant Governor, returne,
after his absence, and that each success
siye time he went away new Presiden
pro tenn must be elected. They ha
taken considerable time and trouble t
get this up and fortify taelr position wit
authority, and when they reported th
resolution, it gave rise to considerabl
:. discussion and resulted in their resolr
ton being amended by the Senate, an
declaring that when this officer was cleo
ed, at the commencement Of the session
he held the office during the time fo
which the Legislature was elected,whic
has always been the practice in Ohio
I. The next day they reported back ever.
thing they had before them withoy
Recommendation, and successivcly ros
in their seats and resigned their service
as members of that committee. G
course the Senate refused to discharg
them. They are now thought to be cor
, valescent. -
A bill has passed to require the CON
S mittee Of Teachers Associations, befor
drawing the Institute fund from til
s treasury, to give bond for its proper dis
hursement, and requiring a report to b
{ made to the Commissioner Of Commo
O. FTyI n \