The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-04-06
columbn. Correspondence.
CoLuMBus, ONO, 1
April LIST, 1885,

Editor of Eaton Democrat:
The past two weeks the Legisla-
ture has worked admirably, the Sen
ate meeting an hour earlier than
heretofore, and holding night ses-
sions as late as eleven o'clock, P. III.
The pressure of business is great
and each member urging some pri-
vate business of his own, but he is
often headed off by the majority and
no other alternative awaits him but
quietly to suside.
The bill supplementary to the act
for the government of the Ohio PEN
itentiary, offered by the Senator from
Preble, passed the Senate without a
dissenting vote and will doubtless
pass the House before the close of
the session. BY the provisions of
this bill, the convicts are divided
into two grades, the first to contain
old convicts and hardened criminals,
and the second younger and of hope
full reform, and the two grades to be
kept separate and apart, ard that in
the second grade means of moral re-
form to be established by the Board
of Directors, that a record of reform
to be kept of each convict, and when
one shows conclusive evidence of re-
form, the Board to SO certify to the
Governor, and if he shall coincide in
such suggestion, he may be pardon
ed. The second section provides
that Common Pleas Judges on final
sentences shall certify to the Board
of Directors a succint history of
each criminal, under what cireum-
stances he was reared in life, whcth-
er of good or bad character, and
whether the proof as to his guilt was
satisfactory, which shall be recorded,
in connection with his name and
age. This is considered a humane
measure.
The fee bill with sundry amend
ments passed the Senate. One
amendment was TO strike out of the
bill that portion which refers to
County Auditors and County Trea-
surers. Another amendment offer
ed by the Senator from Preble, pro-
vided that no final record shall be
made in any case, except where the
title of real estate is drawn in ques-
tion, or where the Judge may order
the same or where either party may
demand it at his own costs, was
unanimously adopted. 1t will pass
the House.
The Senate for several days las
been in committee of the whole, hay
ing under consideration the general
appropriation bill, which was con-
sidered in detail, item by item. In
this bill there are various items
under the name of contingent ex-
penses," amounting to the sum of
$1240,00. These items are attach
ed to sundry appropriations, as for
instance: take the items appropria-
ted for Secretary of States office.
Clerks salaries, $4,000; for sta
tionery, SAC, 900; distribution oflaws
and journals, $2650; to pay A. C.
Williams for work on statistical re-
port, $4,000; contingent expenses,
$4,000 0 So the matter runs more
or less throughout the appropriation
bill. We have tried in every shape
and form to cut down these appro-
priations, within reasonable limits,
we have moved to strike cut and in
sert less amounts, we have inquired
what these contingent expenses
meant, we have shown that they have
been used up, be them large or
small; but to no purpose, for the
majority supported every item, and
as the chairman on finance led the
way the balance like sheep. adopted
the line of their leaders. These CON
tingent items, in many instances,
mean a covert steal, and so it was
charged in the Senate by the mem
Der from Preble county.
The Senator from Preble introduc.
ed a bill repeating the act creating
the commissioner to codify the stat
nses of Ohio, to take effect on the
6rst Monday in December next.