The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-03-04
COLUMBUS CORREsPONDENCE
COLUMBUS, O., Feb. 25, 1873.

ED. SPIRIT: lhave delayed writing &c
you, and through you to the patrons ol
your excellent paper, partially for want
OF time and partially from lack OF cxcit-
ing news.
There has been less political contro-
versy in the Legislature during the pres.
ent winter than ever saw before, and
consequently less excitement than usual,
This, however, has not caused any de
crease in the amount Of business, both
general and local that has been presented
for consideration.
The bill known as the Smith Commits
stone r bill has become law While it
bears the name of its original author, it
has scarcely vestige of its substance,
when introduced, left This law requires
that one member of the Board shall be
annually chosen to preside; that on all
questions involving the payment of taxes
or expenditure of money, the record
shall show who made the motion, and the
yeas and nays shal be called and record
ed that any question involving any mat
ter for the consideration of the Corumis
sioners. together with the decison there
on, shall be recorded, and if demanded
the yeas and nays shall be entered; that
nyperson interested in any way in the
decision of the Commissioners may have
his exceptions to their proceedings noted
ontheir record and that any matter in
volving the expenditure of one thousand
dollars or more sha! not he passed Upon
by the Commissioners, until after twenty
days from the time the motion is made,
except by unanimous consent.
The,leyy for State purposes has been
increased six tenlhs of one mill The
necessity for this grows out of the unfor-
tnIate condition of the Lunatic Asylums
of the State. One-half of this levy
should have been made last year, but the
party in power refused to do so for po-
litical reasons. There is now but one
Asylum of the State that is in proper
condition to accommodate patients The
No-thern Asylum, which was partially
burned last Fall, requires immediate re-
building ,and the work has already begun
The Athens. Asylum, which has been in
progress for the last four years, land which
hasbeen managed in it's construction bet.
ter than the others, is now ready to re-
ceive patients The Central Asylum,
which was burned over four wears ago.
seemsto be unfortunate either in its trus-
tees or contractors; my opinion is, it is
both. This building has now been under
contract for nearly four years, and has
only reached the top of the second Story.
AT this rate of progress it will take not
less than five years yet to complete it.
cannot see why private enterprise can
construct the largest and finest buildings
in one and two years. while the trus-
tees OF this Institution, with the State of
Ohio at their back, are maudiing along at
this rate. If there were no other reasons,
the Expense of supervision alone should
require more rapid progress. This mat
ter has been nnder investigation for the
past six weeks, under The close scrutiny
of the "Ball Investigating Committee
hut thus far they have elected very little
that may be called even irregularity. Oh.
servation has Convinced me that investi-
cations very seldom uncover the tracks
of rascals in public places, for the reason
that they ALWAYS work by combinations,
and cover mp their tracks; but when they
fall out and quarrel among themselves ,as
in the Credit Mobilier,' then they expose
each other Investigations, however,
generally have good effect in this, that
they keep parties who would otherwise be
guilty Of fraud from committing it.
Anact has been passed allowing head
Of family to claim homestead in land
tothe amountof $500 provided he draws
support from it, whether he livesupon it
oinot
The Mdnson Bill to establish gas
works at the Ohio Penitentiary has be-
come law The object of this actis
thit the State shall furnish its own light
TO- the public Institutions situated in Co
l"nbus, and il is claimed that it will be a
grat saving of expense for light, With
the capital that will be required to build
these works and the expense Of running
thm, it is at mosta speculative venture,
resilting In the truism that it costs more
to lun public than private enterprise
While writing this letter / have been
informed the State Industrial Home for
Giis, at White Sulphur Springs, was de-
stpyed Yesterday (Feb 24) by fire. A
pat of the Legislative Committee of this
Institution were there at the time the fire
occlrred. The buildings were erected
forn fashionable summer resort and were
entirely unit for the use for which the
Stae bought them. Being lightly built,
and entirely of pine lumber, the wonder
is that they escaped as long as they did.
Ih@e not been able to learn the probable
cau,e of the fire or how it originated
Mott of the furniture was saved, but a
part of it caught fire after it was removed
from the buildings.
When, / began this letter there were
several things l intended to write about,
but must defer at present for want of
time "A.