The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-04

IOLUMDUsj Juuuuty % 4nc es~Hy 81
ond General Assembly assembled at 10 A.
NJ. Charles Grosvener, Of Athens, was
elected Speaker Of the House.
ANNUAL MESSAGE GOV. ALLEN.
The annual message OF Governor Allen,
sent to the General Assembly to-day; the
following is an abstract: The message
suggests that in the Governors judge
ment the path oil wisdom leads away
from Wholesale legislation in the direc.
ton Of a prudent course which will not
cucumber the Statute books with laws OF
doubtful necessity, or add to the confus.
sion Of the people by changes Of doubtful
utility. Oh the 18th OF November, 1874,
the public funded debt Of Ohio, was
81, ,9SS, ,2O5 30. The redemption during
the year was Sc, ,2S4 IS. Outstanding No.
vember 18th, 1875, S7,0l9,92O u. Local
indebtness OF the State for tile past year
Is S24, ,957, ,GsS q, being an increase over
former years Of $l,07l $50 So. The
irreduci6le debt Of Ohio is about
S4,177, ,O6S 81, thus making the aggregate
debts in Ohio, State, local and trust funds,
S3SOS5,176 64. The local debt is reckoned
10 September |, 1875, and the State debt
10 November 10, 1875. The Auditor OF
State estimates the receipts including the
balance on hand November 10 for the cur
rent year from all sources at SG,66l ,293,
and the disbursements at s., 49,, 7OO. The
taxes levied and collectable in 1875 and
1875 aggregate S2s,s9S, 1872; the taxable
valuation rs shown by the grand dupli-
cate Of 1876 aggregates Sl,59S,575, 1862,
which is an increase over the duplicate OF
1874 Of $lS,l96,53s. This increase arises
rs follows:
On real estate in cities and villages
Sll, 1882 On personal property ST.
539,23O.
In referring to other matters, the
Governor reports the State benevolent,
reformatory and penal institutions in
lourishing condition.
The penitentiary's report shows sur
plus Of earnings for the year OF about
$4,000 over its expenses.
A suggestion is made whether some
change should nbt be made in criminal
laws so as to provide graded punishment
for forgery and burglary as now provid-
ed for larcency, so that petty offenders
who have not given evidence OF being
hardened in crime, may be imprisoned
in county jails instead Of the peniten-
tiary. The Governor specially urges the
importance Of some provision that shall
equalize in some degree the sentences in
ali courts for the same crimes. He
says there are now convicts in the
penitentiary under sentence ot3O years
for precisely the same crimes for which
other men are having but three years.
The Governor urges the Importance OF
conierring on the Chief Executive power
10 remove boards or officials Of his own
appointment for any cause which he may
deem sufficient. He contends that under
the present laws he is powerless TO re.
move such officers except for financial
turpitude.
The message reports the mining laws
as working well and that there has been
marked Improvement in the ventilation
OF the mines during the past year. The
suggestion is made that department OF
mining might be advantageously connect
ed with the State Agricultural and Me-
chanical College.
The railroad interest has continued in
depressed state. But little more than
forty miles Of new track have been laid
during the past year, and most Of that on
changes or additions to existing lines.
Several new projects, however, have been
put on foot. lie thinks the people may
anticipate IL material revival in railroad
building during 1876.
During the past year more than nrdin'
ary zeal manifested itself for the organi-
zation Of military companies. Fifty-one
new organizations were formed. The to-
tai force Of the State at this time is four
battallions and tifty-uine unattached com
panies Of infantry and eleven artillery
companies consisting Of an effective body
OF 4,442 men.
The Governor recommends reasonable
appropriations TO assist in having the
Ohio property represented at the Centen'
nial, and suggests the propriety Of hold
ing celebration at Columbus, under the
State auspices, on the 4th ofnext July. He
also recommends reduction OF the taxes
and expenses Of the Government as much
as possible, and such laws as will suppress
professional vagrancy.
In Senate to-day bill was introduced
to repeal the now well known Geghar
bill. In the House two bills were intro
duccd for the same purpose, and one to
nroyide for the taxation OF church prop