The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-03-11
COLUMBUS CORRESPONDENTS
CoLUMBus, O., March |, 1873.

y
Ed SPIRtr: The Legislature of Ohio
isla large body, and like all bodies of
mammoth proportions moves slowly. -
A great number of bills have already
been introduced-over six hundred and
ffty-but the majority of them are of
an unimportant character, and no doubt
nine-tenths of them will be Indefinitely
postponed and forever sleep the sleep
Their merits deserve-oblivion.
The bills amendatory to the Boesel
Railroad Law-passed last winter--are
new pending,and predict their passage.
The ti.ls have been extensively lobbied
maeh more SO than meritorious
measure needs. and the result will be the
passage of such bills as will cure the de-
fects of the original. The amendments
are so numerous, and so lengthy, that l
shall not attempt giving even synopsis
of them. In fact, the amendments pro-
posed cover more paper by two or three
pages, than the old bill.
One great curse of legislation is the
large number OF local bills passed each
session. Local measures, covering almost
every subject, are being constantly pre-
sented and passed. A township Treas
urer loses his money, bill is passed to
make up his loss; an individual becomes
dissatisfied with his name, local bill is
put through to change his hideous cog
nomen the directors of some school dis
trict want a-school house, another local
bill goes through; in word every want,
from an insane asylum to a bull pup, is
secured by the aid of local legislation
Now it does seem that our Constitutional
tinkers should make some provision to
cut off this fungi from the body legis-
lative. The codification and amendments
of the present code could be made so as
to reach all local needs. don't want
to advise the eminent gentlemen who
will congregate here next May to patch
up our fundamental law, but there can
be no doubt that thousands of dollars
would be saved the State annually by re-
moving the power from the Legislature
to pass local bills.
Another matter needs correction:
that is our benevolent institutions. Year
after year their wants grow, until to day
they eat up the substance Of the tax
payer. If your readers will take the
pains to examine the appropriations
made from year to year, they will see
that these institutions consume the
greater part of all taxes raised. Just
take the amounts appropriated last year,
and any one can readily see the enor-
nous expenditures for charitable purpo-
ses. There was appropriated to the Cen
trail Lunatic Asylum last year for all pur-
poses 234a4975 9S this asylum is in pro.
cess of erection; Northern Ohio Luna.
tic Asylum, S2l7,344 70; Southern
Ohio Lunatic Asylum, $175,s40 so;
Athens Lunatic Asylum, in process of
construction, S260,03O Sc; Longview
Asylum, $256,360 15; Deaf and Dumb
Asylum, S12I,0S7 OIL; Blind Asylum.
S221,56S 79; .Idiotic Asylum; $94 1916
80; Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphan
Home, S265,0SS 63; expenses of Trus.
tees of Benevolent Institutions, $3,6S1
Is; grand total of 81, 1864, ,354 So.
Is not this startling showing for the
people of Ohio? 1t is true they did no,
draw all the money last year, but it is ir
the Treasury awaiting their orders, and
by this date is sin all probability swal
lowed up. Instead of building plain
neat comfortable residences for the pool
unfortunates of the State, we are provi
ding palaces at an outlay of millions o
dollars, whilst the poor tax payers are
content to live, and if they be not con
tent, must live in rude log houses. W.
all want these unfortunates suitably and
comfortably provided for, but it does
seem that nearly tsco million dollars each
year, is carrying forward our charitable
schemes with vengeance. But enough
| of this theme for the present.
AS your readers are well aware, bill
is now pending to do away with all in
: terest laws, and permit any amount o
! interest named in the contract to be col
lected, which will come before the House
/ for passage before long, having already
passed the Senate by a vote of % fol
and IL against the bill. Appropos t
this, / extract the following from Mas
sachusetts paper, where the law is al
ready in force; to show its workings:
j [From the Springfield (Afass) Union.l
/ s'A visit now and then to the office 0
Register of Deeds, and random look
| ing over the book of mortgages, woul'
reveal state Of things cold bloode'
enough to make the dead chilly. Il
! these tight times men are hard pressed
! for money, and women too, and it mus
be raised in one way and another, espe
cially upon their little homes. Wha
would the people think of widow
paying six per cent month, or Y pc
cent a year, for money with which t
: make necessary repairs upon her house
Twenty, thirty and forty per cent ar
5 very common rates on mortgages. T
the pawn brokers and professional mon
d ey-lenders six per cent day is now 2ai
+ by men hard up for funds with which t
s push by the first of the year. Perhap
: in a good many cases these rates al
e paid to raise money for expenses ii
: Cured for living beyond ones means, j
: putting on airs and in aping the rich
, The old word economy has well mig
gone out of use in these days. Ho'
many families in this city spread table
with luxuries which they cannot affort
and buy a multitude Of things just bt
cause they can get trusted? Pay as 20
e go, is correct rule, or, at least, nevt
!. let bill run beyond month, and the
no Shylock will ever come for his poun
{ OF flesh. The haggard, troubled face
: of men on the streets. tell the story a
! too plainly Of debt, of high rates of il
a terest dmly gnawing the life out Of the
J. hearts, and devouring their little home
0 God pity them, for man does not.
!. Connecticut has tried the aw,and no
! both parties incorporate planks in the