Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-06-12
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER.
The Liquor Question-Our Public
Institutions, etc.

COLUMBUS, o., June 9TH, 1873.
There is probably no single question
that the Constitutional Convention ha:
to deal with, and which the people
generally manifest SO much interest, a;
the liquor question. Quite a large
number of petitions have already been
presented to the Convention from all
portions of the State. Some praying
for a prohibitory clause in the new
Constitution, some petitioning for a
clause authorizing a license law, and
yet others praying that the matter be
left as it is in the present Constitution,
and optional with the legislature
Certain it is that those praying that
the sale, manufacture and importation
of intoxicating liquors be prohibited,
will not be gratified by the enactment
of any extreme measures by the Con-
vention. The drift of public senti-
ment, thus far, seems to indicate that a
license clause would be most in accord
ance with the wishes of the people,
and in view of the fact that large
portion of the temperance people OF
the State are favorable to the latter
proposition, there is a growing posi-
bility that this sentiment may find
recognition in the new CONSTITUTIONS
1t is said that the Committee on the
liquor traffic are about equally divided
on license law. However it will be
among the last of the committees to
report as the delay is necessary to get
the expression Of the people on the
subject. The matter, in the end, will
be left to the people for adjustment, at
the time the Constitution is To be
ratified or rejected.
OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
Among the more important events
of the week, has been the discussion of
substitute for article seven of the
Constitution, reported from the Com
mittee on Public Institutions. 1t is
very similar to the original article,
differing in that it provides for the es-
tablishment of a House Of Discipline,
an institution to intervene between
the Reform School and the Penitenti-
ary, to benefit class of youthful of
Tenders, too cid to be sent to the Re-
form School and too young to be COM
mitted to the penitentiary when all
hopes of reformation are at an end. 1t
further provides for Board of three
Commissioners to have jurisdiction
and control of all the punitive, reform
atory, and charitable institutions OF
the State. The power Of appointing
the officers, is vested in the Commits
sioners, the same to be confirmed by
the Senate. The chairman of the
Committee is Lew Campbell, eX-Re-
publican, ex-Johnson man, ex-Minis-
ter to Mexico, ex-Congressman, ex-
Senator, ex-everything, apparently for
the purpose of manufacturing some
political capital for the Democratic
party, ofwhich he chances, at present,
to be member, made long state
ment, during the debate, giving long
array of figures tending to show that
our State Institutions have been fright
fully managed, and in manner that
has piled up the expenses, SO that at
the present time there is cause for the
people to become alarmed. In 1851,
with population Of 1881, ,3S9, the total
cost of maintaining these institutions,
was $50, ,S79; in 1860 with population
of 2,339,511, the cost was $14l, ,O53.-
While the population had increased
is. the expenses had increased 150 per
cent; in 1870, with population of 3
665, ,26O, the amount expended was
S74O,770; while the population had in
creased 147 per cent. in the last decade
the cost of supporting these institu-
tions had increased 425 per cent. After
dwelling emphatically on the enor'
nous amounts expended in the foster
ing of these institutions, the honorable
! Lew proceeded to argue in favor OF a
Board of Commissioners to govern
these institutions, and while seeing
that the unfortunate were properly
cared for, they would also see that the
money of the people was judiciously
and carefully expended.
On the succeeding day the debate
was continued. Mr.. Hitchcock, 6
clear-headed, sensible Yankee, from
Geaugua county, obtained leave to re
ply to the statements made by Mr.
Campbell on the pl plecedins day. TAX
ing that gentleman's own figures, he
showed that the increased expendi'
lures were perfectly natural, being Oc'
casioned by the increase in numbers Of
those who were cared for. In 1850 the
cost per capita for caring for this class
of persons was S105, and in 1860 S100, 8
marked decrease, while the increase
from 1860 to 1870 was occasioned by the
high prices of living caused by the
war. The discussion was resumed and
continued this afternoon, and the Con
vention is, apparently, as far from 6
conclusion, and perhaps little farther
than when it commenced. At the rate
the business has progressed this week.
many of the older members will die
before they succeed in ''framins" 6
new Constitution.
| MOVING.
There has been considerable agita.
ton over moving the Convention
Cincinnati wants the venerables to &C
down there. The principal induce
ments are cheap beer, fried bacon AID
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