The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-01-07


Men are serving out sentences Tor petty
burpIaries and forgeries. generally COM
mitted under the stress of necessity, in
which little items of clothing or pTovi-
sions. or small sums Of money, only. are
involved it i a question worthy OF
YOUR consideration, whether there should
not be grades in forgery and burglary,
as there are in larceny. so that petty
offenders, who have not given evidence
of being hardened in crime. may be i'm
prisoned in the County iails. instead of
the peuiteitiary.
Nv mediate predecessor called the
attention of the General Assembly To the
matter of inequality in sentences 10 the
Penitentiary. | fully indorSe his views
Oh that subject. and invite you 10 con
slider the great injustice frequently done
to men and women who are more unlOr
tunate than criminal, by the unequal
sentences pronounced by the Counts.
The peculiar temperament or condition
of the Judge, or the attendant iDtluen-
ces in community, as frequently mould
the character of the sentence as the cir
cumstance of the case. Men are serving
under sentences of 80 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. OF
course, the pardoHing power can rectify
the irregularity; but it would be better
to remove. as far as possible, the neces-
sity for the interposition of executive
clemency. 1t is matter worthy Of your
earnest consideration.
The work of construction On the Cen
trail Ohio Hospital for the Insane has
progressed satisfactorily during the past
year, and is now SO far advanced as
to justify the opinion that the edifice
may be completed and made ready for
the reception of patients 10y the middle
OF November next. The Commissioners
of Construction estimate that, in addi
ton to the unexpended balance on hand
of former appropriations, which, OH No
vember 18th, 1875, amounted to the
sum of Sill, 232 95, there will be re-
guired to be appropriated to pay reserves
on contracts completed, finishing all
existing contracts not completed, and to
meet the demands for work yet to be
placed under contract, the sum of $780,
600. They also estimate that the sum
of $50, 600 will be required to provide
the necessary furniture for the building
including the fixtures and furniture for
the bakery, laundry. and o-her domestic
departments, making the gross sum of
$500, coo to finish and furnish the build
ing. Tne actual aiaount paid out in the
construction of the Hospital building
from the commencement of the work TO
November 18th, 1875, is 81, 001, ,276. 05.
Add the une8pended balance of SILL
N
for to complete the editiee, and the re-
suit is the sum of : Il, 3332, 500, as the total
cost of the structure when completed.
[ seriously question the wisdom CT
building State institutions OF such I'M
wieldy proportions and at such enor-
nous cost. 1t is one of the growing
evils of the day which should be curbed
by legislation. Considering its size and
character, this is not an expensive build
ing; but the same money expended on
three or four smaller institutions. prop
erly located, would, in my Judgment,
have much better subserved the inter
ests of the insane. In appropriations
for future public buildings, this is mat
ter worthy the consideration of the Gen
era. Assembly. The Board Of Construc
ton, and the officers under them, have
been faithful and energetic, and they
have pushed the mammoth structure
toward completion at speed worthy of
hearty commendation,
The constitution places the power of
appointment of Board of State institu-
tions in the hands of the Executive.
Although the ''advice and consent of
the Senate is required to confirm and
make binding the action of the Govern
or, he is, nevertheless, held responsible
to the tublic for the official character of
his appointees He should, therefore,
have greater range to his power for re-
moval Under the laws as they exist,
the Governor is utterly powerless To get
rid of au incompetent or Immoral APP
pointee in many of our institutions.
The law generally authorizes removal
'for cause" and then specifies tie cause
to be financial turpitude. lie may be
immoral, incompetent, or wasteful, but
if some financial delinquency can not be
proved against HIM, he can not be touch
ed. | think the Governor should have
power to suspend members of boards,
and all other appointees Except iudicaD
of the Executive, for cause which lie
ma deem sufficient mot politicaD-
being required to report his action and
his reason thereof to the Senate, imme-
diateiy, if in session. and if not in seq
sion, within ten days after the com
mencement of the next session of the
General Assembly, for its approval; the
suspension TO b. come an absolute re-
moval. if concurred in by the Senate.
A recent decision of the Supreme
Court, putting an Interpretation upon
the term VACANCY rs used in our laws,
entirely different from the understand |
ing of myself and my predecessors, may !
require some action on the part of the |
General As ;emIly. Section ) of Article |
vi. of the Constitution provides that |
1.-THE Governor shall have power to fill |
all vacancies that may occur in the |
offices aforesaid members Gi Board of |
State Institutions, until the next session
of the General Assembly, and until |
successor to his appointee shall be con
firIned and qualified Executives have
always acted upon the Interpretation
that the expiration of term of Offices
created "yacahcy" within she meaning |
of the laws and the Constitution. The |
Court has decided otherwise, aud, |
think, the General Assembly should de
clare by statute that the expiration OF
term of Office creates vacancy. in the
of the laws, where the Govern
or is authorized to fill vacancies soc
by death. resignation, or 9th
erwise." The Executive should have
the power to make his appointments as
terms of service expire, enabling him to
have full opportunities for securing the
best i,,e", cni to Lave knowledge
of the c1.Idl. II OFFICIALS up to the time
,f the txpira u of their terms. ipst,ad
Of being compelled to make them months
n advance, to 5, cure the consent of the
Senate bt fore they are entitled to enter
lpon the discharge OF their duties The
expiration of the term for which an off
,er is appointed, should most certainly
constitute a vacancy Which the Govern-
" should have power to fill, as lie is
low authorized to i'll vacancies occa
Toned by death or resignation.
Under the operation of the act of the
asst General Assembly, ito regulate
lines and Mining" there has been
marked improvement In the ventilation
e the mines in most of the mining dis
lists o. the State; and more improved
lans of mining are being applied, and
he numter OF serious and fatal acci-
e ITS have materially decreased. The
perators are generally satisfied with
he lazy and the manner of its enforce
cent, and the miners are grateful for
he many changes condUoing to their
afety and health 1t has been suggest
that Department of Mining might !