New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.

one day only.
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.
Gov uovvs,s MESSAGE TO TIKI GENERAL AssEMBL'
GENERAL PROSPERITY OF BUSINESS DURING TIL
nor Wharf.-The STATE FINANCEs-THE CRIAI
NAL AND RAILROAD LAws-EDUCATtoNAL MAT
TERs-roM CORwIN's GRAVE.
The sixty-frst General Assembly OF Ohit
was organized at Columbus Monday all the Senators
and OF REPRESENTATIVES, being present by the eiecHon
the officers Of both Houses George L. Converse Den
craD OF Franklin receiving the SpeakershP VI 'n'
House Of Representatives Immediately ater ''o Vi
SANITATION OF the latter body, resolution ASKING 'o
sress TO repeal the salary grab law was onereu' anu
siierward referred to a special committee with ns'fuc
tions 10 report 1t back the next "aS o'
a,,opdad as 10 cepsure President Grant Tor sigh
inc the bill An official list OF the members Oh
both houses shows that the Senate Is composou Vi -
pemoorats IA Republicans, and Independent heP"''
ean. and the House OF SO Democrats, ~ hepuoio'' on"
sIndependent Republicans These figures counting 'no
Independents with the regular Repuoheahs' s'Vo
oocra,s majority OF II on joint ballot counting inc
,.o,,s Y,t,b tho Democrats the latter would have
majority q, Is on Joint ballot. Gov E r. Noyes aS'
,nessoce IN the Assembly was read IN Doth houS ,o'
to-day Its an unusually brief document anu coh'h"'
Int few things OF general interest INC na'u ie0'
% mo message are given in the following summary
TO- message opens with brief reference TO the gen
r rTospeTlty OF all kinds of business in the State
srnD me pist wear and remarks upon the recent
1uan|ia crisis Because OF the latter Gov. Noyes re
eammends STREET economy the part OF the General
Assembly and oms to call attention 10 several matters
ion or Affairs, TO urge the large appropriations 'uoS
The funded debt of the State states, was
$500 81 on Nov Is. 1872 On Nov 49, 1873 the deDt
outstanding was 052 TO- OF which SI2l5 had ceased
odraw Interest OF tins debt ss20J391 10 payable in
New York AMI 81 665 IN Columbus ON Sept l. 1873, the
local Indebtedness S2003l23 81, making tue aggre
cate debts Of the State including Iredueibe debt OF
~.
treasury Nov. Is, 1877, was SA15S "a on NOV To- 1863 "
was Sla9ss6 A. The estimated receipts tor the current
year wIl increase this amount to s,I44G4 20 the dis
burSeents VIII reduce the latter 70 S5O2S2 ii on Nov
u.s. 1s7i The amount OF taxes evied IN 1872 and
o"iiectabic in 1913 was slsslO.9u 81 the amount
ooilectallc IN 1874 is S26A74459 %. IRON the
figures gwen above it Will be seen that the
s,ale dcUt has been reduced s372,4Si a.
while the local Indebtedness has increased sl25i5 3d.
The levy ur state purposes for the current year less
than OnCsXl OF the entire taxation and tndt Tor county
and 'cal purposes more than tye-sixths GOV. Noyes
points cut Gs disparity, ana submits Or inc eohsuera
Ton OF General Assembly the question whether II
wOud be Wise 10 restrict by legislative enactmen, the
power OF MINOR political Organizations 10 create dents
finances of tue STATE takes up the subject OF nseaure
and recommends an appropriation OF at least $1,000 Tor
the purpose OF erecting haichlnshOuses on Lake Ere
an the sery Os and on the of the Ssate and TO
pay for propagatng tho most desirable kinds OF fish,
CHANGES RECOMMENDED THE RAILROAD AND CRIMINAL
The attention of the General Assembly * called 10
some Of the abuses which into the manage
three Of these abuses particular mention 1t
thing, Gov. Noyes says for the officers
of railroad companies TO associate themselves together
as the propIietos of fast freight lines, or IN some Ike
capacity, whereby they enabled 10 contract with
themselves and secure unwaIranted profits az the eX
pense Of the stockholders and people These companies
pay no taxes 10 the state, not being organized
un,er the laws Of ohio. The subject is recon-
a IS also Gat oao
lie compelled by law 10 keep their transfer books or
duplicates at some Office within the STATE, the books
closed transfers 10 before the
bua meeting Of stockholders. This Recommendation IS
made because of the custom of many railroad companies
10 keep their transfer books in Wa-s where specua
tors vote on stock upon which money ls borrowed By
inns means comforting influence is often exercised by
having pecuniaTy interest al stake IA the ais
creo Of tue whole railroad system ana 10 the piuuee
Copyc labor IA Tho next subject of con deratiOn and
Investigation INTO the contract system urged GOV
Moves shows now PRISON contfaSlols arS enoioa -
prUhi, and suggests that the result VIII he an eDarrss
Inent OF al kinds business similar 10 those Carried on
"a the Penentiary. He thinks the State could more
prohtaby control the labor OF all prisons IMAM 10 adheIe
10 mo contract systen while It would interfere less with
toe interests It's citizens. EnargemenIs ana improve
in PcDtentary cells are also recommended,
Their present cOnd ion making them uhht lor oceup"
ton.
Speaking of pardons and the criminal law, Gov Noyes
another years experience has cOhhlned the oii-
that the law should be modified as to leave less
discretion with the IN passing sentence for Grim
mai ofenses He adds that It OFTEN happens that
prisoners work side by side III the fenentary' D1th
cent there for precisely the same crime Que Tor one year
aud the other Tor ten. In sucn cases IL Impossible 10
convict Dcdrcerdted Tor the longer lime
that he has been fairly dealt with And so long IS ne Is
with a OF this injustice, he IL not likely 10
reform. lie earnestly recommends that the criminal
law be changed TO secure more eXac; JuStccSO
amended leave results affecting the lives and ber-
tee OF men less dependent upon the judgment, the
temperament or tae caprice OF those wac administer
the law.
OTHER MATTERS BRIEFLY MENTIONED.
The remainder Of the message ~ devoted to minor
topics some of which accompanied BY recommends
tons for action by the gslature Among other things
GOV Moves that provision be made for the appoint
ment Of Centennial State Board aud the Appropriation
o. 5000 10 delry its expenses. The Agricultural and
Mechanical College, opened Sept IT, 1873 10 row ~ sue
tessiu operation. Its productive capital amounts TO
EVfVJO, While ts lands, etc, make aggregate OF ut
least $4,000 more. Tne sum OF $780, II IS thought
sbond be appropriated for the purpose of providing FOR
The display Of the fine cabret Of Minerals etc. now IN IT'S
rossessun Two volumes OF the Biological Survey have
recently beeu Issued, and two volumes Will soOu be
prepared. In ADDITION two other volumes cOntcm
plated and the Governor recommends that $4,000 he
appropriated 10 finish these aud conuGue the survey
another year. And for the Miami and Ohio Universities,
commended, the suggestion that changed to
school OF the higher grade ana the other pre-
paiaoIy oepai tment TO the Agricultural and Mechan
Na college II renewed. Unless tins something equiv
sent done, the funds OF the universities will be lost 10
eue educational interests OF tho state. After brief
mention OF the good condition OF the other pub
e usutuuons OF the State, the message Is closed with
sueEvSuoh mat the grave of Thomas Corwin, al Lob9
on, warren County, now marked only By bed OF nyr-
0, enoulu DC marked with an appropriate monument
"'otnnemorate MS name and fame.