The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-20
Inauguration OF GOV. HAYES.

& After the assembling in the Senate
Chamber of the Judgesaof the Su-
preme court, members Of the Press,
the Mayor and members of the City
Council of Columbus, officers of the
Executive Departments, the Clergy,
the Sergeant-at-Arms and Clerks of
the House, the President pro tenn of
the Senate and Speaker of the House,
and members of the General Assem-
bly,, as previously arranged, the Coy
ernor elect, Lieutenant Governor
elect, Treasurer of State and Attor-
General elect were escorted to the
platform in the rotunda, when the fol-
lowing order of exercises was pro-
ceeded with: Music. Prayer by
Rev. Isaac Crook. Then followed
the inaugural address of Gov. Hayes
presented below: i'sz H
Gentlemen OF the Senate and House
of Representatives.: -l-' a.
In the annual message transmitted
to the General Assembly, a few days
ago, brief exposition of the eondi-
ton of the State government was
given, and such measures were recon-
mended as the public good seemed to
me to require. 1t viii, therefore, not
be expected that, on this. OCCASION
| should again discuss subjects per-
tanning to the usual routine of legisla-
ton. S-,ss .5.,..a5l
The most import questions concern
ing State affairs which IN the ordinary
course of events will engage the at
tention of the people of Ohio, during
the term of Office upon which now
enter, are those which relate to the ac-
ton of a Constitutional Convention
authorized to be called by a vote of
the people at the October election in
1871. The present organic law pro-
Yides for submitting to the electors of
the State once in twenty years the
question of holding A Convention
to revise, altar or amend the Consti-
tution.n It is no disparagementf of
the work of the last Constitutional
Convention to say that experience has
already demonstrated the wisdom of
this provision. Jtwould be strange,
indeed, If the last eighteen years had
developed no defects in the Gonstitu-
ton of 1851.,a5' sfg:.s.fe .si4af AZ
It is, perhaps, not improper at this
time to call attention 10 some of the
amendments of the existing funda-
mental law which the next aCenstitu-
tional Convention will probably. be
required to consider. ,5.t..,,jr.s,.s 81;
The provision of the present Consti-
tuition which prohibits the General
Assembly from authorizing /" any
hcounty, city, town or rsftoWnshipJ by
vote of its citizens or otherwise" "
from giving aid to any company,
corporation or association" was de-
signed to remedy an evil Of the grav-
est magnitude. Unlimited power to
authorize counties, cities, and towns
to subscribe to the stock efa Railroad
Companies, had burdened the. people
of the State with indebtedhess and
taxation to an extent which threat
ened bankruptcy. Experience has
shown, however, that the clauses of
the Constitution on this subject are SO
sweeping that they are almost equfva-
lent to prohibition of the construction
of railroads, except where those who
control the existing railroad lines. fur
nish the means. In many localities
the people are thus deprived of the
only artificial zinstruHaentality for in
tercourse with other parts of the State
and country which is now, regarded
as valuable. BY reason of it, impor-
tant sources Of wealth in large sec
ftions of the State remain tndevelop-
led. 1t is believed TINT amendments
can be framed under which effective
local aid can be furnished for the
building Of railroads, and which, at
/ the same time shall be so guarded and
limited as to prevents a dangerous
abuse of the power; .ssaIls u 28lif
For many years political influence
and political services have been essen
4 tial qualifications for employment in
lffile civil service, whether State oeI Ma
ltional: As a generali ruleesheh en-
ployments are regarded as terminal.
/ ing with the defeat of the political
party under which they began. All
IpoIiticaf parties have adopted this
lrule..a In Inanya9offces the highest
qualifications. are only obtained by ex.
/ perience. Sueh. are, the. positions foi
the Warden of the Penitentiai.y ;and
Ills ,sub6rdinates, and the Superinten.
Edents of asyi1ms, and reformatories
and their assistants But the, rule il
applied to, these as well as to othel
/ offices and empioyments.. "A change
lin the political character of the exec
iutive and Legislative branches gof tn {
government Isl followed Ebysa schange
of the officers and employees, in all sol
the departments and, Institutions oi
| the State. Efficiency and fidelity to
duty do mot profong the unemployment
ilntitnessl and neglect Of duty. do moi
always shorten it. The evils of this
system in Slate affairs are perhaps oi
small moment compared with those
(which prevail under tile same system
hin tbatransactionlt of the business Of
the National Government. But at nc
distant day they are likely. to become
serious even in the admi1iistration OF
State affairs. The number Of persons
5employed in the various Offices and in
bstitutionstef the. State must increase
under the, most economical manage;
ment in equal ratio with the growth
Poi our population and business. 'ai9
In A radical reform in the civil SER
vice of the General Government. has
been proposed, The plan is to make
qualifications and not political services
Fand influence the chief test in deter
mining appointments, and to give
hsuberdinates in the civil sseryice the
same pernanency of place. which is
enjoyed by officers Of the, army; and
navy. The Introduction of this re
form will be attended with some diff
ficultiGs. But in revising sour State
Constitution if this object isn KEEP
constantly in view, there, is little rea
son to doubt that il. can be successful
tly accomplished lspi 70 81 ss'ti On
Our Judicial system is plainly IN
adequate to the wants the people
of; the: State. Extensive alterations O
existing provisions must be made
The suggestions T desire to present ir
this connection, are as'to the manner
Eof. selecting judges, their terinsrif a0f
, fee, and their salaries. It is sfortu
nately true that the judges of ouI
courts have heretofore been, for tn,
most part, lawyers of learning, abili
bty and integrity. But it must be, re
lnembered that the tremendous events