The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-01-13
INAUGURAL ADDRESS or
GOVERNOR HAYES.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiVes:

GOV EhNOIS MA ESs
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatives:
In the annual message transmit.
ted TO the General Assembly, a ieW
days ago, q bfiefexposltipn Of the |
condition ofthe State government
was given, and such measures
were recommended as the public
good seemed TO me TO require. 1t
will, therefore, not be expected
that on this occasion, 1 should
again discuss, subjects pertaining
to the usual rontine of legislation.
The most important questions
concerning State affairs which in
the ordinary course Of events will
engage tho attention of the people
of Ohio, during the term of Office
upon which l now enter, are those
which relate to the action of o Con-
stitutional Convention authorized
to be called by a vote oftbe peo.
pie at the October election in 1871.
The present organic law provides
for submitting to the electors of
the State once in twenty years the
question of.holding "A Convention
to revise, alter or amend the Con-
stitution." It's no disparagement
of the work OF tho last Constitu-
tional Convention to say that ex.
perience has already demonstrated
the wisdom OF this provision. 1t
would bo strange, indeed, if tho
last eighteen years had developed
no defects in the Constitution OF
1851. gl.I 9at 10 ega ms I t44
1t 10 perhaps not improper at
this time TO call attention TO some
j OF the amendments Of the existing
fun ndamentall law which the next
Con Institutional Convention will
4 probably berequired to consider.
The provision Of the present
Constitution which prohibits the
Gene eral Assembly from autboriz
ing "any county, city, town or
township by vote of it's citizens or
otherwise, from giving aid to any
company, corporations or associa'
ton" was designed tojremedy an
evil ct the gravest magnitude. I'm
limited power to authorize counties
cities and towns, to Subscribe to
4 the stock of Railroad Companies,
had burdcned the people of the
State with indebtedness and taxa
Ition to an oxtent which threatened
bankruptcy. Experience has
shown, however, that tho clauses
of the Constitution on this subject,
arc so sweeping that they are al'
most equivalent to a prohibition Of
the construction of railroads. Tex.
cept whore those who control the
: existing railroad lines furnish the
D means In many localities the
/, people are thus deprived of tho on
iy artificial instrumentality form
2 tercourso with other parts Of the
. State and country which is now
J regarded as valuable. BY reasor
8 oiit important sources of wealth
din largo sections OF tho State re
q main 'undeveloped. II is believed
. ,ha, amendments can be franco
under which effective local aid car
be furnished for tho building o
), RAILROADS, and which at tho sam'
: time, shall be so guarded and lin
1 tied as to prevent q dangerou
} abuse ofthe powor. olI w ~
7 For mary years political infu
enco and political services hav
n been essential qualifications TO
:, employment in the civil service
u whother State or National. AS
Q general rule such employments ar
= regarded as terminating with tn
d defeat of the political party unde
v which they began All politica
d parties have adopted this rule
" In many offices tho highest qnali
y iications arc only obtained BY eS
0. porieneo. Such arc the position
10 of the Warden Of tho Ponitentiar
r and his subordirates, and the Su
" perintondents of nsylums, and re
T. formatories and thoir assistants
is But tho rule is appliedto those 0
ID we'll as to other Offices and employ
b ments. A change 10 the politics
). character Of the executive and leg
70 islativo branches Of tho govern
l. ment is followed by q change
J. tho officers and employees in a
10 of the departments and institution
|. Of the Stato. Efficiency and fide
ity to duty, do mot prolong th
~ employment; unfitncss and nee
81 lect of duty do not always shorte
or 10. Tho evils Of this system !
n. State affairs are perhaps ofisma
:, moment compared with athot
y which prevail under the samo sy
re tenn in tho transaction of tho bus
10 ness OF tho National Governmer
III But at no distant day they a
~ likely to become serious even
:. tho administration of State affair
=" Tho number of persons cmploy'
III iE' tho various offices and instit
k tions of tho State, must incroa
under tho most economical ma
n, agement in equal ratio with I
growth Of our population and bu'
Nv moss. '.HU .i lri -.'HI
're A radical reform in tho civil &c
Ve vicc of tho General Govcrnmo
is has been proposed. The plan
,ot to make qualifications and not r
= litical services and influence t
~ chief tost in determining Gppoir
~ ments, and to givo subordinates
tho civil service tho same perma
bro ancy of place which is enjoyed
nd officers Of tho navy. The introdl
!, ton of this reform will DO alton
u'' cd with somo difficulties. But
rm revising our State Constitution,
l.e A a = 4 -. = -. - a.