Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-11

have occurred which have not been
reported. Many of these fatol acci-
dents happened in the streets of
towns and cities and ut street and
road crossings. 1t is perfectly prac-
ticable 10 protect citizens from these
dangers, by enforcing proper regula-
tons as to the speed of trans, an0
as to the occupancy and crossing of
streets and roads. Your special st
tention is called to this subject
One of the most difficult and inter
esting practical problems which now
engages the thoughts of the American
people is how to maintain economy,
eiIlciancy, and purity in the admins
tration Of local affairs, and especially
in the government Of towns and cities,
without departure from principles
and methods which are deemed essen
tial to free popular government.
Many of the most important func-
tions of government are in the hands
of the local authorities. They are
directly charged with the expendi
turc of large sums ofmoney, with the
protection of life and property. and
with the administration of civil and
criminal justice. These duties in one
way or another, touch nearly and
constantly the interests and feelings
of every citizen. Upon their faithful
formance depends the prosperity,
happiness, and safety of the commu
nifty. 1t is true that, as yet, Ohio is
happily, in great measure. free from
the operation of causes which. IN the
commercial metropolis of the coun
try recently led to such extraordina-
ry corruption in the government of
that city But those causes do not
belong alone to the great cities in the
East. They are already at work in
our midst, and they are steadily and
rapidly increasing in power. No po-
litical party is altogether free from
their influence, and no political party
is solely responsible for them. We
have laws prohibiting almost every
conceivable official neglect and abuse ;
aud penalties are affixed to the viola
ton of those laws which can not be
regarded as inadequate. The diff
Guilty is to secure their enforcemo n
Those whose duty it is to detect and
prosecute, are often interested in
maintaining good relations with the
wrong doers. The contractors for
public work and supplies not unfre
quently have q community of inter ests
with those who are the agents of the
public, to let aud superintend the per
formance of contracts. Where these
abuses exists, there is apt to be alarge
circle of apparently disinterested cit
.izens who labor to conceal the facts.
and to suppress Investigation. What
the public welfare demands is prac-
tical measure which will provide for
thorough and impartial investiya-
ton in every case of suspected neg
lect, abuse, or fraud. Such an iEves
tieation, to be effective, must be
made by an authority independent, il
possible, of all local influences
When abuses are discovered, the
prosecution and punishment o.
offenders ought to follow. But ever
if prosecutions fail, in cases of full
exposure public opinion almost al
ways accomplishes the object desired
A thorough investigation of off1cia
corruption and criminalitv leads will
great certainty to the needed reform
Publicity is great corrector of cfIi
cial abuses. Let it, therefore, be
made the duty of the Governor, OF
satisfactory information that the pub
lie good requires an investigation o.
the affairs of any public officer, oil
the conduct of any public office
whether State or local, to appoint one
or more citizens who shall have am
pie powers to make such investiga
ton. l., by the investigation, viola
tions of law are discovered, the Gov
ernor should be authorized. in his
discretion, to notify the Attorney
General, whose duty it should be, or
such notice, to prosecute the offend
ers. The Constitution makes it the
duty of the Governor to see that TIE
laws are faithfully executed. Some
such measures as the one here rec
commended is necessary to give force
and effect to this constitutional pro
vision.
In compliance with the Constitu
ton, the last General Assembly sub
mitted to the people the question oi
holding a convention, 'to revise, alter
or amend" the Constitution and al
the October election large majority
of the voters of the State decided in
favor of a convention. 1t is the duty
of the General Assembly, at its pres
ent session, to provide, by law, fol
the election of delegates and the as
sembling of the convention.
The vote on the question of call
ing the convention which formed the
present Constitution was taken at the
October election, 1S49. At the mex
ses sion of the General Assembly ar
act was passed which provided fol
the election of delegates to the con
vention the first Monday of April
1850, and the convention was con
vened on the first Monday of May
following.
In conclusion, / wish to make my
greatful acknowledgements to thi
people of Ohio for the honorable
tr@sts they have confided to me, ant
to express the hope that the harmo
nv, prosperity, and happiness which
they now enjoy in such full maasurc
may, under Providene, be perpetual
R. B. HAYES