The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-03

dred and forty-f1ve miles of new track.
Railroads arc not ully of great utility
but have become q necessity to the
country. They should NOT be hamper
ed eV vindirtiue aud v-xatia1s legisia-
ti0n bat as seIvants Of the people en-
joying peculiar franchises, they should
be held strictly amenable TO judicious
legislation that will prevent them from
becoming the masters Of the people
Their rights should be fully protected
by law, and the rights of the people
should be protected against eneToach-
ments as tend To make them the VIC
tins of monopoly,
At your tornler session, you perform
ed an act of justice and mercy for the
men who delve in our mines. by enact
ing the law ITO regulate mines and
mining, and to provide for State In
tpector of Mines" A practical miner
of Intelligence and education was APP
pointed, who has displayed great ener-
gy in the enforcement of the ACT de
has personally visited and Inspected
two-thirds of the mines in the Stale
and the good effects of the law are Fsc-
ogIIiZed already, in mProved ventilla-
tiOn and other changes whieh have
conduced greatly to the comfort of the
miners. The General Assembly should
follow up its recent action by such fur
ther legislation as may be found neces-
sAry 10 the accom- plishment of the
bsLsficial objects sought to be attained.
In the inaugural address whiuh l
had the honor to deliver before the
General Assembly, strongly urged n
reduction of the expenditures of the
state government down to the very
laSt dollar compatible with the maiu-
teHance OF the public credit and the
efficient working of the several depart
ments of the government; and In
sisted that it should not be that vague
and mere verbal economy which public
| men are so ready 20 profess with re-
gard to public expenditures, but that
earnest and inexorabls economy which
ProelaIms its existenee by accompiish-
od facts. 80.
In the midst of heexistiag financial
distress, with SO many Of our fellow
citizens out ofempfoy ment, afid waiEsn
every here reduced, Hzost earnestly =
renew the Recommendation I then
made. The state should net embark
IN new building enterprises until the
public buildings nov In proceSs of cOA-
stTacllon shall have ls=eu conIpieted /;
new ofAces should nof lle created and
your present session ahOuld be brought
to q close at the earliest moment when,
In your Judgment, the public business
viii allow.
The evidence you gave at your last
session of q determin Ation 10 retFencll,
by reducing the tax levy $474 900, and
by other acts of legislation, has ehcour-
aged the people of the state TO believe
thatecoBomy and prudence will govern
| all your actions in the matter Of public
expenditures.
It fs q question for serious e0nsidera-
tion, whether the compensation OF our
county officers Is not disproportionate
to the salaries of other public officers,
and Of persons In private life. Public
servants should be reaeonably cOmpen-
sated, bnt salaries aud fees should not
be so high as to make the getting Of
office profession, and to enable can
didates and applicants TO buy their way
to public places.
conclude by expressing the hope
that your session may be pleasant and
ht rmoniOus, and that it may be pro-
duetiVe of great good to the state.
W. ALLEN, GbveFnor.
COLUMBUS. December l. 1874