The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-01-25
Letter from the State Capital.
CoL1rMnUs. January 19. ls77.

ED, PRESS: A certain class are said
by voice of holy writ, 10 stand on
slippery places. Whether the line Of
demarkation between the two classes
may be indicsted in any other way we
will not stop to determine. But be-
tween the stsnding and the falling
there have been marked d .monstra-
tions of difference here in Columbus
during the last few days. Ashes and
salt freely used have not always had a
"saving effect" We trust that the
tendency of some men TO profanity so
prominently manifest, as they assume
the horizontal, has not been encour-
aged, as "Old Prob" has held SO many
to their true level.
Bnt our readers are beginning to
say, what of legislation AS mat
ter of course but little of this work is
matured as yet. Mr.. Dempsey's bill
for the protection of boarding house
keepers, has passed the House, and it
is to be hoped will meet the apprOba-
ton of the Senate. If made law it
will be a heavy load for dead beats
who have taken their traps 10 barri-
cade themselves against the demands
of justice, when asked to pay for
their "hash." The operation of this
bill as law will be a suspension of
the Exemption law, in favor of those
who take in and feed strangers, only
to be swindled out of their pay.
Mr.. Richards, of Jefferson county,
one of the hardest workers of the
House, introduced, perfected and
passed a Compulsory Education bill
through the House of the stxty-flrst
General Assembly. 1t was defeated
in the Senate. But the author, moth
ing daunted by his apparent defeat,
has rewritten, and introduc anoth-
Or bill, which was pressed Cor its pass
age this week. Mr.. Richards, the au-
thor of the bill, made a strong speech
in its favor, strongly fortified by facts
and figures bearing upon the evils cal
culated to be remediei by the provls-
ions of the bill. Mr.. Barnett, OF Rich
land, a worthy gentleman, but in some
of his notions quite conservative.ma
one of his tsmoss-back" speeches
against the bill. After quite W wordy
war the bill passed the House with one
vote TO spare. What its fate may be
in the Senate we will not attempt to
foreshadow. The inquiry often arises
as to the necessity of an investigation
into the causes of the catastrophe at
Ashtabula, by the General Assembly,
iuasmuch as there is a coroners' in
quest being held. In answer it may
be said that cOroner's inquests are no.
torionS,y, as rule, superficial, with a
tendency to "whitewash," The one
investigating this terrible casualty we
believe to be all exception to this re-
mark. Beyond this an investigation
and inquiry by Legislative Commit
tee is fully reported and published, so
that all the facts, SO far as brought to
| light, are within reach of all interest
cd. Such terrible catastrophe makes
it obligatory upon the General Assem-
bly,, as the guardians of the people OF
the State, to learn all the facts con
eerning the structure OF the bridge,
that defects, it any exist, may be rem
etlied by law. To he sure 1t is all at
tended with expense, but shalt we
i,ennt dollars as against humsn life
Another legislative committee is
looking. Tor the basis Of a rumor that
about one hundred inmates. of the
Penitentiary are suffering from the ef.
tect of poison. A Cincinnati newspa,
per started the report. 1t is 10 be
presumed that if there be any facts IN
the case they will be uncovered by
this commits ee. This institution is
full to oyerflowing, being only planned
for about one thousand inmates, while
over fifteen hundred now find au un.
! willing home within its walls. The
! indications now are that the new cell
house, began more than year. since
will be completed some time during
next autumn. The cells will be abou,
i've by eight feet in size. and more in.
yi.ing than the living toombs in which
the prisoners now spend their nights
and Sundays, save short interval OF
worship,
A very pleasant hour can be spent
by visitor at the State capital, in one
of the Governors rooms, where are
found painted por,rai,s of all the
State and Territorial Governors. The
array makes quite picture gallery.
Some of the territorial executives are
represented dressed in military style.
The Oldest man among them. as at.
tested by their physiognomy, is Coy.
Lucas. serving, think, from 1880 to
1882. This securing the shadows ol
the State Executives was happy
thought, one of which the people ol
the State will have a just pride as the
years 60 by. All are now complete
the artists hand few months since
1t is very striking likeness of The
original. Y.
THE House Louisiana Investigating
Committee returned to- Wasbingto ton Oh
Sal urlay, and will soon be ready tt
report. Tie majority of the Commit
tee will report that the excess of tt'
vote for the Tilden Electors over Haye,
aggregated 10 0.o01, that II number o
the atlidavits setting forth murder ;,lt
intimidation were prepared to order a
the ctstom-h house in New Orleans, un
der the direction of Kellogg, P;tckart
& Co that the terrible recital of EliZ;
pinks,on is the creation of the imagi
nation, and was rehearsed by the he