The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-09-04

welfare. / remember once to have
heard Judge William Caldwell IA
very able and worthy man, who might
have been the Democratic candidate
for Governor if he had not declined
it), when attacking an unconscionable
administrators account, say that
''God Almighty made man, but God
never made a Trustee. A Trustee is
the creation of the law" 1t may be
so; but if God has made an honest and
upright man, the law will make him
q faithful and reliable Trustee. Our
public Institutions cost US three
fOurths of all the State taxes; but they
are the pride of our people, and there
is nothing for which we are more will
ling to be taxed than to defray the ex-
pense OF providing for the necessities
and comforts of the poor unfortunates
who MI our asylums, and the friend
less boys aud girls who in the re-
form schools are being saved from
vice and crime, and fitted for honor
able and successful lives.
Such then, has been the manage
ment OF the finances of the State. Is
there any cause of complaint?
TAXATION SHOULD BE EoUALIzED.
There are various matters of State
legislation to which it seems to me
desirable that the attention of our
people should be called this fall Some
Of them / had hoped would be made
the subject Of constitutional provision
by the convention, and supposed the
convention would conclude its lAbOrs
in season for the result to be cOnsid-
cred in this political campaign. But
the adjournment makes that impossi-
bic. In selecting members of the
! Legislature it would be well to bear in
mind that the laws regulating taxa
| ton ought to be revised and amended
so as more perfectly to equalize the
burdens OF the people. Certain classes
of men who do a large and lucrative
business are accustomed to pay no
taxes at all, except upon Office furni-
ture. Such is notably the case with
many of the private bankers. Many
of the railroads escape taxation. And
| it IL possible more effective system
could be devised for ascertaining the
taxable property of merchants, whose
wares are constantly changing in
kind and quality. As IL now is, those
who are honestly disposed pay more
than their fair proportion of the taxes.
This is subject which should be
thoroughly considered, either by the
Constitutional Convention or the Leg
islature, or both; but it is likely the
whole matter will be left to the Legis-
Iature, as understand it has so been
decided by the committee of the con-
vention having the matter in charge,
PROTECTION OF FMINERs-sTRIKEs.
In my last annual message, called
the attention of the Legislature to the
necessity of some legal provision for
the protection of persons engaged in
hazardous enterprises, especially
miners. The life of the miner Is q
peculiar one. Shut out from the world,
with no associates for the most part,
except his own thoughts and a few
men engaged like himself, he natural
| ly becomes morose, suspicious, and
dissatisfied. He has little in common
with the world, and feels that the
world has no sympathy for him.
When aggrieved he has little DISPOSE
ton to discuss or compromise; he
simply quits work and starves rather
than yield to what he regards as hard
and unjust terms. He goes down to
his work through an opening in the
mine, well knowing that in case of
fire, or the falling Of the earth in the
shaft above, he must roast. alive or
suffocate, as there is no possibility of
escape. Such disasters have become
SO common as to excite reasonable
apprehensions. Now, in my judgment,
the Legislature should provide against
such dangers, by compelling coal op-
orators, in mines where they do not
already exist, to furnish. at least two
openings and provision should be
made for thorough and frequent in
spectiou of mines by practical and
scientific men, competent for the task
assigned them, and clothed with au-
thority to afford the proper relief.
And while the personal safety of
those engaged in mining should be Sc
cured, there should, If possible, be
such legislation as would effectually
guard against strikes. The suffering
and loss occasioned by the strikes OF
workmen, especially coal miners. does
not end with the workmen themselves
or their families, nor with the coal Op-
erators. The manufacturers who buy
coal for their workshops and factories,
the mechanics who use it, the labor
ers who transport it, the poor and
sick whose homes are warmed by it,
all suffer as well. The means of sup
port is cut off from large classes of in
nocent and industrious people the mo-
ment the supply of coal is exhausted,
or the price largely augmented. In
all strikes it is not the capitalists who
suffer most, it is always the poor man
and the labOrer. All reasonable cause
of complaint on the part of the miners
should be removed, and it is believed
then all difficulty might be obYiated.
In cases of dispute between the opera
tor and the miner, some authority OIL
tribunal, some commission or refer
ence, such as now exist in England,
might be established for arbitration,
whose decision should be final for q
specified period. Any method Ol
peaceful settlement is better than re-
sort to strikes. / am aware that this
subject is a difficult one to manage,
but approached in a proper spirit, /
have no doubt q satisfactory result
may be brought about. The Goa
trade Is such an important branch in
our industry, and the danger to be
ayerted is so great that the expert.
ment suggested is worth a trial.
| commend it to the candid considera-
ton of our people. %
LOCAL INDEBTEDNESS.
There is one other subject pertaining
to our State affairs to which desire tC
call your attention, my fellow citizens
and then / will pass to the considers
ton of matters having broader ap-
plication. No man who wishes vel
for the State can notice without con.
Germ the rapid and enormous increase
in the local Indebtedness of our small.
er political divisions. Incompetent
irresponsible and reckless officials of.
ten squander the public money; and
sometimes the better judgment o
communities is improperly swayed BY
} specious arguments and false repre-
sentations, for purposes of privatt
gain. While the State debt is de.
creasing, our cities and counties are
preparing burden which will b,
found heavy and oppressive In com
ing years. All good citizens should
set their faces against this mortgage
of the future, and this evil should By
borne in mind, while the people ar
selecting members of the Legislature
and their county officers.
; But pass to the consideration o
topics having a national application
and importance.
RAILROADS AND THE FARMERS.
Fhere is a widespread feeling exist
ing throughout the west and north
west among the producing masse
that railroad corporations, by the con
solidation of capital, by com mbination
! Of management and the eentraliZa
ton of authority, are exercising 70
their own advantage an undue AM
pernicious influence upon the busines
interests of the country. This feelin
is less prominent in Ohio than in tn
great grain growing States fnrthe
west, for the reason that we are rap
idly becoming a manufacturing State
that we are nearer the great markets
and that we have several eompetin
lines of railroad leading to the east
But there is dissatisfaction among tn
) people of Ohio.
From n. V. Poor's Railroad Man
ual for 1874, / gather the folIowin
/; summary of statistics, detailed state
ments of four hundred and twenty
five roads being given in that work
In the United States there are
Miles Of railway 5I.S