Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-06-19
Columbus Letter.

COLUMBUS, o., June 16, 1878.
EDS. HERALD: A lively discussion
has been pending in the Convention
for a week past, upon the report of
the committee on Public Institutions,
of which committee Hon. L. D. Camp
bell is Chairman. The management
of the public institutions Of the State
is now in the hands of Trustees who
are appointed by the Governor, by
and with the consent of the Senate
There is q Board of Trustees for each
institution. These boards are indie
pendent of each other.
The committee have reported sub
stitute for Article 7, of the Constitu-
tion, by which they propose a Board
of Commissioners consisting of three,
who are to be elected by the electors
of the State at the annual election.
These Commissioners are to have the
general management and control of all
the public institutions of the State,
benevolent, punitive and reformatory.
They appoint the Directors, and super
wise them.
This was the scheme presented by
Mr.. Campbell when in the Senate,
which then failed, and is now again
proposed by him through his com
mittee. What will be the fual con
clusiOn of the Convention on the mat
ter, is somewhat difficult to foretell
I think, however, that the present
Article of the Constitution on that
subject will be retained substantially as
it now is. The Convention will rec
ognize, however, in terms, those pub
lie institutions that have been created
since the adoption of the present Con-
stitution, which are the Reform
Schools for Boys and Girls, and the
Idiotic Asylum.
The discussion on this subject has
assumed more of partisan character
than anything that has yet transpiret
in the Convention. Much severe crit
icism has been indulged in on the par
of the advocates of the PROPOSED
change in the management of thes
institutions by the present plan, whic
has, of course, been replied to, an
the Trustees defended against til
charges made; which, in the yer
nature of the subject matters of tn
controversary has made it assum
somewhat of partisan aspect. Bu
think that this is more seeming tina
real. l entertain serious doubts abou
changing the Constitution in this rt
spect The Trustees of these sever,
institutions are men of high characte
benevOlence, integrity and ability
Not a word Of condemnation has bee
uttered against any of them. Besid'
they have no salary or compensate
for their services, and only such me
are selected for the place as are vii
ing to bestow time and attention to
from motives of benevolence and Il
public good.
The creation of an elective commi
sion will, of course, become a polite
Office, salavied and sought for, b
cause Of it's compensation, and
which such men as Rev. Chidla
Hon. NJ. R. Waite, John w. A
drews, and the other gentlemen
like distinction, who now fill the Tru
teeship of our public institution
would not aspire or seek Ola polite
party. Tie frauds that have be
charged I'm reference to these instit
tions, have been on the part of &C
tractors who have taken advantage
the State. l do not see how a co
missioner elected, will prevent rel
tition. 1 suppose these men elect
by the people, may be imposed up
quite as easily as board Of Trust
appointed by the Governor.
sides, as these boards are now cons
tuted, there is no danger of centr
lied power, as would be by the co