The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-01-13

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E. ..s,'asl WHoLE No. 385. isas
have net given evidence of being
hardened in crime, may be zimprison
ed in the county jails, instead Of the
Ny immediate predecessor called
the sttention Of the General A sseIhb bly,
to the matter of inequsly in SENTENCES
to the penitentiary,, fully endorse his
views on that subjec and invite you
to consider the great injustice fre-
quentl y done to men and women who
are more unfortunate than criminal by
unequal sentences pronounced by the
courts. The peculiar temperament or
condition or the Judge, or the attend
ant Influences in q community, as fire.
quently mold the character of the
sentence az. the circumstances Of the
case. Men are serving under senten-
ces Of thirty years for precisely the
same crimes for which other men are
serving terms of three years. There
should be some mode of amending the
errors of courts in this matter. Or
course, the pardoning power can rec
tify the irreguiarity; but IL wonid be
better to remove, IS far 81 possible,
the necessity for the interposition of
executive clelnency. It is q matter
worthy Of your earnest considerations.
- The work of construction on the
Central Ohio Hospital for the insane
l. - e. Z -
the past year. and il. new so far, ,ad-
vanced As to justify the opinion that
the edifice may be completed and
made ready for the reception of pa
tients by the middle off November
next. / serioasly question the wisdom
Of building State instiuti0ns Of such
unweildy proportions and at such
enormous cost. II is one OF the grew
evils Of the day which should be curb
ed by Legislation. Considering its size
and character, this is not an expensive
building ;but the same money expend-
ed on three or four smaller Institutions,
properly located, would IN my judg-
mont. have much better ssubserved the
interests Of the .insane. sff saa 3As,s
The Constitution places the power
Of appointment. Of boards of State in
stitutiens in the hands of the Execu-
tive. Although the sadvice and con-
sent" Of the Senate is required to con-
firm and make binding the action of
the Governor, he is, nevertheless, held
responsible to the public for the OIL
cial character of his appointees. He
should, therefore, have greater range
to his power for removal.a Under the
laws as they exist, the Governor 10 ut
terly poWerless ia. get rid Of any in
competent or Immoral app0intee in
many of eur Institutions. The law
generally authorizes removal tsfor
cause" and then specifies the eanse to
!, be financial tarpitnde. He may be
immortal, Incompetent, or wasteful,
but il some financial delinquency can
not be proved against him, ne cannot
be touched. .ts / think the Governor
should have power to suspend men,
bers of boards, and all other appoin-
tees (ecept judiciaD Of the Executive,
for cause which he may deem sufficient
(not politicaD--bsing required to re-
port his action and his reason therefor
to the Senate, Immediately, if in ses-
SION, and If not in session, within ten
days after the commencement Of the
General Assembly, for it's approval; !;
the suspension to become an absolute
removal, If concurred in by theSenate.
A recent decision of the Supreme
Court, putting an Interpretation upon
the term ssvacancy," a used in our
laws, entirely different from the nm
derstanding Of myself and my prede-
cess0rs, may require some action on
the part Of the General Assembly.
Section 3 of Article VII. of the Con.
stitution provides that "the Governor
shall have power to fill all vacancies
that may occur in the Offices aforesaid
[members Of boards of State institu-
tions until the next session of the
General Assembly. and until sncces-l
sor to his appeintee shall be confirm
ed and qualified" Executives have
always acted upon the Interpretation
that the expiration Of term Of office
created s'vacancy" with the meaning
Of the laws and the Constitutes. The
Court has decided otherwise, and. l
think, the General Assembly should
declare by statute that the expiration
of term of Office creates vacancy
in the the meaning of the laws, where
the Governor is autherized to fill va
-cancies 'soccasisned by DEATH. resigna-
ton, or otherwise" The Executive
should haye power to make his ap-i
pointment as terms of service expire,
enabling him to have full epportuni-
ties for securing the best men, and to
have knowledge Of the time Of the
expiration Of their terms, instead Of
being compelled to make them months
in advance, to secure the consent Of
the Senate before they are entitled to
enter upon the discharge OF their du-'
ties. The expiration Of the term for
which an officer 10 appointed, should
most certainly constitute . vacancy
which the Governor should have pow
er to fill as he IL now authorized 10 fill
vacancies occasi0ned by death or re-
signatien. ass
Under the operations Of the act OF
the last General Assembly, "te regu-
late Mines and Mining, there has
been marked Improvement in the ven-
tilation of the mines in most of the
mining districts Of the State and
mere improved plans of mining are
being applied, and the number of seri-
oLs and fatal accidents have material
ly decreased. The operators are gen.
orally satisfied with the law and the
manner of its enforceasnt, and the
miners are grateful, for the many
changes conducting to their safety and
health. 1t has been suggested that a
Department Of Mining might be ad-
vantageously connected with the Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical College, Of
fering young mon an opportunity to
secure those scientific acquirements
which will materially aid in fitting
them for the responsible. positions OF
Superintendent of Mines. and Mining
Engineers. The law needs slight
amendment, SO - to provide penal
ties for violating some of its provis-
ions.
The railroad interest has continued
in depressed state. But little more
than forty miles of new track has been