The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-08-13

TO the Editor Of the Standard:
In few days the people of Ohio will be called
upon to vote for against the new Constitu-
ton for this State. There has been no active
campaigning, either for or against ratification.
There has been here and there scattering
speech; and nearly all have been for ratifica-
ton; and made by men who have, perhaps, an
eye on the public crib, and the long tenure of
office which the new Constitution grants.
We hope that the people are canvassing this
thing in their own minds, so as to vote intelIi-
gently. The proposed new Constitution has
many serious defects, one of which is provis-
ion giving the Supreme Court Judges ten
years terms. 1t is theory of the Constitution
of the United States, that the people must hold
the helm of government. If the term of office
be too long, this principle is violated. An ex-
cessive tenure of place elevates the servant
above and beyond the reach of his master.
When the term is of reasonable length, the in
cumbent will be more apt to measure his
course by his responsibility to his elector, than
when there is an undue tether of authority to
neutralize+i it. 1t also gives the Probate Judges
and Common Pleas Clerks four years terms;
and this is done in the very face of "alarming
complaints of official extortion in the offices of
some of the Probate Judges and Common Pleas
Clerks, which reached the Convention" Will
there not be as great a chance for eXtortion and
embezzlement under the new Constitution as
there is under the present one?
Besides, the salaries of the Judges of the Su-
preme Court are increased from $4,000 to S. 900
per annum and the salaries of the Common
Pleas Judges from $500 to $4,000 per annum (;
and the twenty-one Circuit Judges are to be
elected with great salaries-at least S4 200 per
annum. 1t also provides for commission, or
Assistant Supreme Court, composed of five
Judges, having equal authority and the same
salary as the Judges of the Supreme Court.
Let us see how much the new Constitution
will increase the expenses of the Courts. We
look at the figures. There will be an increase
of $4,000 for the two Supreme Courts, and the
twenty -one Judges of the Circuit Court will in
crease it at least $s4, 900, and the fortysix Com
mon Pleas Judges will add $4,000. The total
court expenses in excess of what it is under the
present Constitution, will be S127,O 1t also
provides that the members of the General As
sembly shall be salared hence instead of It's
men, each drawing from the State Treasury,
annually, from $500 to 5000, they will, at the
lowest estimate, draw $1,000, making an annual
increase of $4,000 for members and officers.
Probate Judges and the Common Pleas Clerks
are to be salaried, and we suppose at salary
much higher than will be covered by their Off
cial fees. Therefore, the increase of the ex-
penses of the Courts, and General Assembly, if
the new Constitution will be adopted, Will be
100000. And to this should be added 100000
more, which would go to pay the salaries of
county officers, above their fees. The motto of
the insignia of this great nation is retrencnae1t,
and the cry is "dou0n with the salary grabbers.
Then, is this the time for this great State, one
of the main stars in the constellation OF States,
to set the example of extravagant expenditure
of the peoples money? The attention of the
people has been diverted to the license, or no
license clause. nasmuch as the present Consti-
tuition has license clause in it, let temper
ance men, (if they want to be of carrying
their point0 vote against the new Constitution
and vote against license.
Also, the best statisticians in the State say
the adoption of the new Constitution will make
the Senate of Ohio hopelessly i,retrfeuably DEM
ocratic. AS to the efficiency of the Courts, the
General Assembly can correct that. Again our
cry is vote against the new Constitution.
ar DANIEL w. EVANS.