Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-01-14

State, as they were when they were
sentenced" The vital question is,
how to remove this reproach on
our penal legislation. In consider
ing it, I commend to you the re-
marks Of the Board of State Chari-
ties on the Irish convict system.
The distinguishing merit Of that
system is that ''it enlists the coop
Grafton of the prisoner in his own
amendment, without Withholding
from him the punishment due to his
crime If the adoption Of that
system, with such notifications as
our condition requires, is deemed
an experiment which it is expedient
for the State to try, until its advan
tages are better understood, sub
NIT that the least that ought now to
be attempted is to provide for a
classification of convicts, so as to
separate beginners in crime from
hardened offenders. Whether
this can best be done by alterations
and an extension of the present
Penitentiary or by the erection of a
new one, is for your wisdom to de-
termine.
In several other States voluntary
associations have been formed to
provide for, encourage and furnish
employment to discharged convicts,
and their efforts have been of in
calculable benefit to this unfortu-
nate class. If a similar association
should be formed by the benevolent
citizens of Ohio, they will reason
ably expect to receive proper assis-
tance from the General Assembly,
and in that expectation I trust they
will not be disappointed.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The total number of persons of
school age in the State in 1869, was
officially reported at 1,O2S,675, an
increase of II, Jos over the previous
year. The total number enrolled
in the public schools in 1869 was
740,382, an increase of S,61O over
the year 1868. The average daily
attendance in the public schools in
1869 was 435, ,S65, an increase over
1868 Of 24,144.
The total taxes for schools,
school buildings, and all other pur-
poses, the present fiscal year. is Ss6,-
57S,197 S3, an increase over the tax
alton of the previous fiscal year OF
$6I6,7S5 6S. OF this increase OF
taxation, the sum of S17,S33 Sc is
in the State taxation for school
purposes, and the sum of $690, ,96l
80 is the increase of local school
taxation.
The State Commissioner of Com
mon Schools, in his report, vii
recommend the adoption of county
superintendency, the substitution
of township boards of education
for the present systemaof township
and sub-district boards, codifica
ton Of shool laws and other impor
tant measures, to which your atten
ton is respectfully called.
| BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
Prior to the organization of thu
Board of State Charities in 1867
there was no provision for a syste
matte examination of the benevo
lent and correctional institution!
under the control of the State an(
local authorities. The members O
the board serve without pecuriary
compensation. 1t is simple justic,
to them to say that they have faith
fully performed the thankless tasl
Of investigating and reporting th
defects in the system and in the ad
ministration of our charitable an(
penal laws, and have furnished il
their reports information and sug
gestions of great value. If it is tru
that an abuse exposed is half cor
rect, it would be difficult to over
estimate their work. They have
| their reports show, discovered abus
es and cruelties practiced, under col
or Of law, in the midst of commu
mites noted for intelligence and vir
tue, which would disgrace any age
) Let the board be granted increas
ed powers and facilities for the dis
charge of their duties, and it will al
ford security-perhaps the best at
tainable- to the people of the State
that the munificent provision whic
the laws make for the poor and un
fortunate will not be wasted or mis-
J applied by the officials who or
charged with it's distribution.
THE CHRONIC INSANE.
During the last year more tina
nine hundred persons, classed a
3 incurably insane, have been lodge'
) in the county infrmaries, and al
, most one hundred have been confin
in the county jails. Besides thes
large number of the same class Q
unfortunates have been taken car
of by relatives or friends. Th
State should no longer postpon
making suitable provision for thes
unfortunate people. The treatmen
?. they receive in the infirmaries an
jails is always of necessity unsuite
to their condition, and is ofte
: atrocious. To provide for them,
1 would not recommend an increas
Of the number af asylums for th
insane. 1t is believed by those bcs
acquainted with the subject. tina
both economy and the welfare O
the patients require that the chroni
,, insane should be provided for b.
additions to the asylums alread,
built, or to those now building. I
;; is probable that in this way such pa
tients can be supported at less ex