The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-04-01

tlricGS- -TnrestigaH0n-
Constitutional alAmendmentS-.Nessrs
Shepherd and Robb.
COLUMBUS, .. March 81, 1875.
ED. PRESS AS many OF your read
ers know, Congress few years since
donated largely out of the public
lands, to the different States, for the
purpose Of education in the Agricul
tural and Mechanical arts. Ohio's pro-
portion of that most munifcent grant
was more than six hundred thousand
as the interests of education were
concerned.) it was sold the word sotd
more properly meaning .frtttereaaway,
! as they only realized TO the proposed
institution about fifty-two cents per
acre. These were not ''swamp lands"
for the State had the privilege OF To-
eating every acre Of the grant. Par
| ties proposed TO locate them and pay
one dollar an acre, or, if they failed
| TO pay for them, to turn them, all Sc
| lected, over 10 the State. But that
offer would not subscrve the interests
of the rings OF cormoraats which
were gathering arouad this fat and
tempting carcass, and so, very largely,
the lands or their values, went where
the Weodbine twineti." And now
the trustees of the "AgricHltural and
Mechanical College" modestly ask the
present Legislature to pass over TO
them all the canal lands, all the es-
cheated lands-present and future
with the two per cent. fund, now in the
hands of the general government, and
due the State. This two per cent fund
amounts probably TO about three hun
dred thousand dollars. The State
Senate passed this bill. Last week it
put ia its appearance in the House,
asking for its final passage. Soon 4
triangular fight arose, the friends OF
Miami and Ohio Universities asking
to have hand in the spoiIs TO the
tune of fifty per cent. of the "swag."
A member from Cheesedom moved 10
amend by inserting . Common
Schools" in lieu of the other institu-
tions, which, after long and wordy
war, was carried The corporations
with their hands upon these rich pick
ings died hard, but the "People's Col
leges" were too much for. them. Plen-
ty of friends were Oh the anxious
seat in the lobby to look with all ten
derness after the dead and wounded.
The bill is in the hands of a committee
of one, who, we presume, will keep
the poor slaughtered thing in the
warmest place in his desk. for the
present, at least.
Gov. Hendricks, of Indiana, being
in town on Tuesday of last week, by
resolution of the General Assembly,
was invited to visit the Halls. A conf
mittee waited upon him whom he ac-
companied to the two Houses and was
received by the members standing.
He was formally introduced to the
body by the Speaker, in connection
with which, the Hon. visitor made
short speech, after which the House
took a recess for twenty minutes
During this time the members and Of
ficers were introduced to his Excellen-
cy, which little episode having passed,
the hum-drum OF business was again
taken up.
The House voted TO buy an addition
10 the farm under the control of the
Orphans Home 1T Xenia. AS matters
now stand the boys of this institution
are brought up in idleness, there be-
ing but little for them TO do outside
of school hours. But while, as the
matters new are, by the force OF facts,
the boys must be turned upon the
world with no habits Of industry, it
was only after strong fight that fifty
three men could be found in the
House to carry measure so eminent
ly just in its provisions as this is. 1t
has yet TO pass the ordeal of the SEN
ate. AS the bill originated in the
House, the dignity of The big Bro
ther" may give it wide berth.
The grand Stare levy for the year
to come is to be reduced one tenth of
4 mill on the dollar Seine of the
financiers of the State claim that this
action of the Legislature will cause
deficiency. If so, 1t would certainly
be wiser for the State TO ''pay as you
60" The Senate has quite materially
increased the appropriations, but at
this writing, just where the line OF
agreement between the two Houses,
OIL this bill, will come in, we will not
attempt to predict.
Investigation, as your readers prob
ably have observed by the papers, has
been the order of the day for some
time past. The Committee looking
after DR.. Lewis, for stealing stationery
as was charged by the correspondent
of the Cincinnati Enquirer, emphatic
ally relieved him of a..v suspicion OF
that nature. OF the Wood county
matter there seems to have been a
great deal of ''ioking" done. Some of
these Jokes being connected with
one, two and even five hundred dol
lars. Bnt then, you know, it was
'sjust for fun Whether really
Glowing WE'LL" will be struck We wi
not predict, but one or two men will
have a slight shadow at their heels for
wears to come.
Two important propositions, s,amend-
ing the Constitution of the State,
passed the House yesterday, One
provides for Courts, and the other for
taxing dogs. The County Court
SYSTEM seems to be the popular meas
ure with the lower House, j. e., one