The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-01-11

innate that, in addition to the unexpend-
ed balance on hand Of former appropri75
ations, which on November Is, 1874.
% the sum of $lll,232 95,5
there will he required to be appropriated,
To pay reserves on contracts completed,
finishing all existing contracts not com
-pleted, and TO meet the demands: for
work yet to- be placed under contract,
the sum Of S220,000, They also esti;
mate that The sum OF $4,000 will be re
.quired to provide the necessary yafsrnit.ife
for the building. including the fixtures
and furniture for the bakery, laundry
and other domestic departments, max
ing the gross sum Of 100000 to finish
and furnish the building. The actual
amount paid out 10 the construction Of
the hospital building from the com
Imencement OF the work to November
Is, 1875, is $l,00l,276 05. Add the
unexpended balance of Slll,232 % TO
the $22o, ,000E additional asked for to
complete the edi6ce,and the result is the
sum of 81, ,352, 500, as the total cost OF
the structure when completed.
I seriously question the wisdom Of
building State Institutions of such un-
wieldy proportions and at such enor-
NOUS cost. It is one OF the growing
evils of the ,iay which should be curbed
BY legislation Considering its size and
character, this is not On expensive build
ing; but the same money expended on
three or four smaller institutions, prop
erly located, wouldS in my Judgment,
have much better suhserved the inter
ests Of the insane. aIn appropriations
fol, future public buildings, this is q mat:
ter worthy the consideration 6fthe Gen.
'eral Assembly. The Board of Construc
ttion and the officers under them, have
been faithful and energetic, and they
hsyc pushed the mammoth structureto
ward completion at q speed worthy OF
hearty com mmendation. ~
The Constitution places the power Of
appointment of Boards of State institu
tions In the hands of the Executive. AL.
though the .ssdvice and consent of the
Senate" is required to confirm and make
binding the action of the Governor, he
is, nevertheless, held responsible TO the
public for the official character Of his ap
pointees. He should, therefore, have
greater range to his power for removal =
Under the laws as theyexist, the Cover
nor is utterly powerless to get rid of an
incompetent or immoral appointee . 10
many of our Institutions. FTaSlsw gen
orally authorizes removal "for cause" y
and then specifies the cause to be financial
turpitule. He may be immoral, incnm-
ipetent or wasteful, but il some financial
delinquency cannot be proved against
him, he cannot be touched. l think the
Governor should have power to suspend
members Of Boards, and all other ap-
pointees Except judicial) } of the Execu
tive. for cause which he may deem suffi-
cient (not political being required to
report his action and his reason therefor
to the Senate, Immediately, if in session,
and if not in session, within ten days Of
'terthe commencement of the next 1ses
sion Of the General Assembly, foritsap-
ptoval; the SUSPENSION to become an ab-
,soSItdts sSt remoypatTif coneurred in by the
"A irecent decision Of the Supreme
Court, putting an Interpretation upon
the term vacancy" as used in our lave,
entirely different from the understand
ing Of myself and my predecessors, may
reqnire some3actionl on the part of the
General Assembly. Section 3 Of ATG-
Gle VII, of the Constitution provides
that .sthe Governor shall have power to
gil all vacancies that may occur in the
Offices aforesaid (members of Boards Of
State institutions. until the next session
Of the General Assembly, and 6ntil q
successor to bis appointee shall be con-
,frmedg and qualified" Executives have
always acted upon sthe Interpretation
that the expiration OF term of office
created "vacancy' within the meaning
of the laws and the Constitution. The
Court has decided otherwise, and, ]
think, the General Assembly should de.
clare by statute. that the expiration Of q
term of Office creates q Vacancy" in
the meaning Of the laws, where the Gov.
ernor is authorized to fill vacancies "oc.
casioned by death, resignation or other.
wise" The Executive should have the
power to make his appointments as
terms of service expire, enabling him to
[hsye full opportunities for securing the
best men, and to have knowledge OF
the conduct Of officials up to the time
Of the expiration Of their terms, instead
|of being compelled to make them
months in advance, to secure the con:
sent Of the Senate before they are enti.
tied to enter upon the discharge Of their
duties. The expiration of the term fof
which, an officer is appointed should
most, certainly constitute vacancy
which the Governor. should have the
power to fill as he iso now authorized TO
[ili vacancies occasioned by death. or re-
signation. ser
| Under the operations of the act of the
last General Assembly, ITO Regulate
Mines and Mining" there has been
marked Improvement in the ventilation
of the mines IN most of the mining dis
tricts of the State; and more improved
plans of mining are being applied, and
the numbers i0f serious and fatal aeci.
dents have materially decreased. The
operators are generally satisfied with
the lsv and the manner Of its enforce.
ment, and the miners are grateful fol-
the many changes conducting to their
safety and health 1t has been sugges,
ted that Department OF Mining might
be adyantageously connected with the
Agricultural sand Mechanical College
offering young men an opportunity to
secure those scientific requirements
which will materially aid in fitting them
for the responsible positions of Super
intendents Of Mines, and Minings En-
gineers. The law needs slight amend
ments, so as to provide penalties fel
violating some Of its provisions
! The railroad interest has continued
in q depressed state. But little more
than forty miles of new track have beer
laid during the past year, and most 81
\ that An oho :, S,oo On od1;f;,po ~ ow;,+;a,,