The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-04-18

"S'Si "sS e'y hOSSSSiUy W. e"'S ~" AAA
Monroe County, as our deeds were re-
corded by writing; but in many parts OF
the State the printed forms have been
used. 7zs-eHz.s',sss-as~Es--
Many of the Trade Unions and man.
ufactarers are sending in memorials and
remonstrances against .he present. sys
tenn Of Penitentiary labor They claim
the present system of convict labor cna-
bles the contractors Of the Penitentiary
to sell the articles there made cheaper
than they can he produced elsewhere =
They ask for change of the business
in that institution 1t would seem that
if by the present management Of that
institution the State can clear a profit of
over $4,000 annually, Trade Unions
ought with their own free labor be able
to compete; besides, these prisoners mnst
have employment A change of em-
ployment wonld only be source Of com
plant on the part Of those whose work
might possibly be effected by the change.
The labor and products of the State Of
Ohio are not likely to be very much
damaged by the compulsory labor of 1,e
600 men who are prisoners. ~ .a
Our present system can undoubtedly
he so changed as to make it more re.
formatorv in its character; but this cam
not be done BY keepingith the prisoners in
idleness. Work is necessary element
in reformation, and it has been relied on
toe much as The only element in the
prison. system Of .Ohioland other States.
What we want in connection with this is
q system of gradation among the con-
victs, according to their moral standing,
with series of advances as they adj
vance in moral character. Experience
teaches every one that this would do
much in the way Of reformation. liq III
A bill has been introduced to allow
the. excess of conyicts earnings, after
paying for his support and the cost of
prosecution to be paid to the support Of
his family. There is humanity in this
proposition, yet it meets considerable
opposition. ~. ls ssT ie ~, ,s.iilal.sf .5at
The bill reducing the salary of the
Railroad Commissioners from "a, 900 TO
5000 has become q law: It is too high
yet, and doubt very much if the Office
was abolished altogether whether the
public interest would suffer very much
The central and northwest part of the
State are great on ditch laws, and it
seems they never can get a law to suit
them. / can not say whether this is to
beimputed to their excess of water or
the excess of gas iu their legislators.
thave heard considerable of the latter
Nature has done us the favor to drain
southeast Ohio-one blessing at least in
billy country. aas lse AZ i
A bill has passed, and is q law,amend-
| ing the Probate Court acts, so as to al
low appeals to the Common Pleas in ca
ses where the Probate Court has increas-
ed or diminished the allowance Of the
appraiser to the widow or minor chill
dren for the one. year support.
Ohio has got its Winnie Ream. Itis
one Miss c. L. Ransom. She is anxious
to adora the capital by painting the ,por-
trait of Gen. Thomas, She thinks it
would be a great encouragement to the
ladies Of Ohio if she was employed to
10 so She believes o variety of useful
spheres for female employment would be
opened if she could be engaged, and,
| least of all. to heriit would give So, ,000
OF the peoples money. Gen. Thomas
is muchl loved by the people of this coun-
try, and SO should every other person be
who served his country in its defense
but fail to see how his future happiness
can be increased by this. unnecessary
expenditure OF money. Better give il
| to the widows of the. soldiers whe fell in
his command, Should Ohio once &c
| into the picture business it is uncertain
where this thing will stop. li fso
The appropriation bill is still under
consideration in the House. 1t has been
severely trimmed: cutting dowE general
expenses, and in many instances cutting
off entirely the employment of several
clerks about the State House. During
| the war the clerical force was necessa-
riy increased in several departments oi
/ the State. This force has been kept up
but by the passage Of the present appro-
/ priation bill many OF them will be left
without salaries and will lie dismissed.
| The bill prescribing the rate of State
taxation authorizes for general revenue
purposes one mill ION the dollar; for
sinking fund eight-tenths ofone millsfor
| the support of Common Schools one
mill. This will reduce the State. tax
$606, 600 below last year and will make
it about what it was two years ago. 3
The bill amending section 80 of the
poor law has become q law. This law
provides that where an insane pauper
owns property, before the In6rmary Di-
recters shall take it, those who would he
his heirs in case Of his death may give
bond for his support while pauper and
pay into the county treasury an amount
annually for his support. In case they
fail to do this the Directors may take
and sell the property. sji.iss,i
The billfpreventing railroad directors
from serving as County Auditors lacked
a constitutional majority. b
The bill to authorize the trustees of
the Northern Lunatic Asylum to com
tract with the Commissioners of Lucas
County to lease new building recently
erected on their 1nfirmary farm has been