The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-08-04
Provision Against q cga.ized steal
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my HeiIlDci vi Luc 1tuefdt ASotlnhN
had an objection should be adopted hy
any number of votes in conjunction with
The rest Of the bill, but should be voted
on separately. And that any member
might call for a separate vote on any item
or separate proposition in the appropri-
alton bill, aud If on that separate vote it
did not receive the constitutional major
ty of fifty three votes standing upon its
own merit, then it should be dropped
out of the bill. Applause, and cries of
Good" Now this cuts of all salary
grabbing or jobbing by the Legislature,
aud provides, as far as possible, against
stealing otherwise than by keeping your
funds under iron bars and bolts, and
rogues will break through them some
times, but no longer can they have the
euise Of regular Legislative form under
which to cover up their villainics.
OF FREQUENT ELECTIONS
But there is another item of economy
that Influenced that Convention.and it is
this; We found that the cost in actual
money paid out of the public treasury
was about $4,000 for every election
that is held in the State Wefound also
that estimating the value Of every mans
time q, ten cents per day, the 100000
voters would spend, ,at that low estimate,
time to the amount OF $50, 900 more, and
If we estimate the expenses and the time
spent in preparing for elections and cleo
tioneering, attending conventions, burn
ing Gre-crackers and powder and running
into all sorts of tom-foolery,at ten cents
more, that will aggregate another $780,
900, 30 that the cost of any general elec-
ton in the State Of Ohio at the lowest
estimate you can dare to put to it, to
more than $l50,000 annually-$3O,000
of which, as l have said, is paid out
from your treasury in solid cash We
thought some of that might be saved
Under our present system there is one
general election every year, and in the
Presidential year two, making five elec-
tions in four years. We propose to
avoid thee of these general elections,
which, in the period of four years,at this
estimate of Sl50,000 each, would amount
TO S450,000, and this added to the other
items of economy of which / have spo
ken, will amount to more than $500, 900,
or enough to run your entire General
Assembly will be saved by adopting the
system of biennial elections and other
economical measures which We have pro-
posed.
BILL OF RIGHTS.
The Constitution provides that the
right of trial by jury shall be inviolate.
This language has been interpreted to
mean the common law jury of twelve
men. 1t has, therefore, been held that a
law providing for trial of causes in
which a jury of twelve men is not sccur-
ed, either in the first instance or by ap-
peal to a tribunal in which such jury may
be had, contravenes this clause of the
Constitution, and is, therefore, void
Consequently, although it is competent
for the General Assembly to provide for
the trial of causes in Justices Court,
either without a jury or by jury of less
than twelve, it is not competent to do 80
without at the same time securing to the
parties the right Of appeal to the Com
mon Pleas, where the amount in contro
versy exceeds $40. Henceemany causes
Involving very small sums are appealed,
and the time OF the Court consumed, at
cost to the public far exceeding the
amount in controversy. The necessary
cost to the public of Common Pleas
Court per day, including Judges salary
and the fees of jurors and bailiffs, is
about $40 Many causes in which the
amount in controversy is far less than
$40 are carried into this Court by ap-
peal. The trial of one of these some
times occupies the Court and jury two
or three days, st cost, paid out Of the
public Treasury, of from $50 to $3.50.
II seemed TO the Conyention that while
the State was bound to furnish tribu-
nal for the legal settlement of contro-
versies,it ought not to be required to fur
nish succession of such tribunals in
which to afford parties the luxury of re-
peated trials at cost to the public Treas
ury far greater than the amount in dis
pute. 1t was, therefore, deemed wise and
just that the General Assembly be EN-.
powered to provide for jury in the in
ferior Courts of q less number than
twelve, which should be jury in the
Constitutional sense, and whose verdict
might be made final, either upon single
trial or upon second trial in such infe
rior Courts.
1t is believed that no more just and
salutary measure of relief to the already
overtaxed and overburdened Courts, ant
none more calculated to promote the
substantial interests and welfare of par
ties litigant, has been proposed
SALARY OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
The per diem of members is not al
the expenses for carrying on the Gene
raj Assembly. The Incidental expenses
amount probably to $500 per day in ad
-dition to the per diem of members. Nov
if we could get the sessions little short
er, we could save considerable amour
in that way. If shortened ten days i
would save $4,000 If thirty days i
would be $4,000 or $4,000
Now, we propose to pay members o
the General Assembly a salary, SO tha
the shorter they make the term the NOR
profit upon the time spent and the great
or saving to the State. This thing o
constantly running Off upon the railroa'
because it costs nothing for them tx
ride upon the railroad, and because the
por diem of IS per day runs on whethe
they are at home or abroad, thus retard
ing the work Of the Legislature frequent
ly for the wsnt of a quorum,s seriou
evil, of which the people have cause t.
complain. Let them be paid by salary
and if absent, let there be deduction
in proportion to the time they are ab
sent, and we will not have such Ion.
sessions as we have had, and we vii
save largely to the Treasury"
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Tilton has been arrested for libel
We have no hesitation in saying, ant
we say it boldly, that if Beecher didn'i
Tilton has really given a slight occa
sion for such a suit. But the suit
brought by one Gaynor. How it
Gaynor's sput' is not explained. !
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