The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-11

The number of patients under treat
ment in the insane asylums of the
of the State, was, last year, only 1,346
The trustees of the Soldiers and Sail
ors' Orphans Home report that the
number of orphans irf Ohio, needing
care is about eight hundred, and the
number cared for is only about two
hundred and fifty. These facts snffi-
GENTLY demonstrate the Importance OF
the suggestion here made.
renew the recommendation hereto
fore made that the Legislature pro-
vide for the erection of suitable mon
uments on the graves of General Har-
rison and General Hamar.
General Harrison has many titles to
the grateful remembrance of the peo-
pie OF Ohio. He was one of the pion-
Bile fame in two wars against the sava-
ges, and in the war of 1872, q Secreta-
ry and Acting Governor of the North
west Territory before Ohio was or
ganiZed, a lawmaker of conspicuous
usefulness in the State capital and at
Washington, and was Chief Magis-
trate of the nation at the time of his
death. To honor him is to honor all
who were eminent and uReful in the
early settlement of Ohio.
General Hanar served with dis
tinction four times. in the General
Assembly was the speaker in the
House of Representatives was six
years member of Congress from the
Brown County districs, and died in
Mexico in 1916, volunteer from Ohio
in the service of his country, with the
rank of Brigadier General. At the
time of his death the General Assem-
bly,, with entire unanimity, stresolved
that the body of the deceased be
brought from Mexico and inferred in
the soil of Ohio, at the expense Of the
State" Having undertaken, as the
duty of the State to give the remains
of General Hamer a fitting burial, the
Legislature cannot regard that duty
as completely performed until All ap-
propriate monument has been built at
his grave. - ei.'
Since the adoption of present Con-
stitution, the Governors duties have
compelled him to reside at the capi-.
tai. If any change is made in re-.
6PCCt LAC POWO OIS anu dublOo III lu6
Executive in the revision about to be
made of the constitution, the change,
it is probable, will increase rather
than diminish his duties. The evil
dent impropriety of subjecting each
new incumbent of the Office to the in
and expense of procur-
ing and furnishing a suitable resi-
dence for the short period of the Gov
ernor's term of Office, has led, in ma
NY States, to the purchase of a Gov
ernor's mansion. Three of the States
OHIO have adopted this
course. 1t cannot be doubted that
Ohio will, at no distant day, follow
this example. The rapid increase
in the value of real estate in
Columbus in consequence of it's pres
ent growth, and its promise of con-
tinued prosperity in tbe future, gives
force to the suggestion that, if the
State is to purchase governors res
idence at all, it would be well to do it
promptly. , ? 1-. ~ - z...'t o.
: The importance of wise legislation
on the subject of railroads, ina State
having the geographical position which
belongs to Ohio cannot be overestima-
ted. The greater part of the trade
and travel between the commercial
and manufacturing States of the East
and the agricultural States ofthe west,
and the business of the continental
railways which connect the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, passes over the
railroads of this State. Fourteen
years ago, Governor Chase, speaking
of the railroads of Ohio, said .This
vast interest, affecting vitally SO ma
ny other interests, has grown sudden
ly to its present. dimensions without
system, without general organization,
and, in some important respects, with
out responsibility" Then the rail-
roads of the State carried annually
about a million of passengers, and
their gross receipts were about six
millions of dollars year. Last year
sengers, and their gross receipts ex-
,eeded thirty millions of dollars.
g All of the just powers OF the cor
1orations which conduct this immense
business are derived from the laws of
he State. IF these laws fail to guard
the rights and the inter-
,sts of our citizens, it is the duty of
he General Assembly to supply their
iefects, Serious and well grounded
IpprehensIons are felt that in the man
Igement of these companies which are
argely controlled by non-residents of
ohio, practices, not sanctioned by the /
aw, nor by sound morality, have be-
ome common, which are prejudicial |
o the interest of the great body of !
he people, and which, if continued |
will ultimately destroy the prosperity
f the State.
Regarding railroads as the most use-
ul instrumentality by which inter-
curse is carried on between different
ections of the country, the people do
ot desire the adoption of a narrow
r unfriendly policy towards them
,ut it should be remembered that
hese corporations were created, and
heir valuable franchises granted by
he Legislature to promote the inter-
SITS of the people of that State. No
abroad company can sacrifice those
interests without violating the laws of
Is origin. 1t is not to be doubted
hat the authority of the General As
emily is competent to correct what
yer abuses have grown up in the
of the railroads of the
tate.
The late Commissioner of railroads
nd telegraphs, in his last able and
report, directs attention to a
Irge number of what he terms sclear
nd palpable violations of law" by
abroad companies, which are of fire.
uent occurrence.
III relation to the rates prescribed
y law for the transportation of per-
pms and property, he says: "There
not railroad operated in the State,
ither under special charter or the
eneral law, upon which the law reg
lating rates is not in some way vio-
ted nearly every time a regular pas
snger, or freight, or mixed train pas
IS over it."
AS to the laws regulating the oc-
npation of streets and alleys rail I
Dad tracks, the speed of locomotives
! towns and cities, and railroad eros !
ngs, he says that "statues which he