Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-01-18

~ ~ no hVnsst administration and rigid economy
III an the departments Of our State service.
IN hepuhiican government all civil reform
hlusl' ior the most part, be the outgrowth of
q virtuous and economical people and az your
Assembly is very closely related to the people
being In fact composed Of the peoples I'm
medlate representatives-it should be your
constant aim to set an example in the charac-
ter OF your legislation such as shall be worthy
70 be initiated by our national representatives
when we have secured for ourselves the right
KIND OF record at home we can then hope
that our influence will be potent in the higher
councils of the nation, In securing for the
whole people that "retrenchment and re-
form which, | am thoroughly convinced,
must antedate any permanently healthful
condition Of our financial affairs
! do not wish TO convey that YOU win be
able to successfully overcome all the evils of
which the people complain. This / know Is
impossible; for the wisest legislation is at
best but an eXpedient, and often falls short of
meeting the public need. Still II this be true
OF the Wisest, then II must be apparent to all
that inconsiderate and unwise legislation will
only make matters worse instead of better.
Hence while ] would urge upon your atten-
tion the Importance of such legislation as will
help to restore confidence in financial affairs
and energy again to our business circles,
would at the same time warn you that this re-
lief must come mainly by insttuting vigorous
reforms rather than by high-sounding statute
ry enactments.
sidered, is what is usually called the Labor
Question: and which has recently been forced
upon your attention with very decided en-
phasis. Hence | hope it will receive a most
thorough and candid consideration. The
proper adjustment of capital and labor has
long occupied the most thoughtful attention
of some of the wisest statesmen and pro-
foundest philosophers. And in a country
like ours, where prosperity depends so much
upon this adjustment, it is not strange that
every earnest patriot should feel anxious to
reach the wisest conclusions in reference to
this important matter,
1t should be your purpose, as far as posi-
bic, to avoid all distinctivey class legislation;
for, general rule, this kind of legislation is
ruinous to the best interests of the country. In
fact, too much of it is one Of the evils with
which we are at present cursed; hence you
cannot he too careful when dealing with such
subjects as the relation of capital and labor;
for no legislation that attempts to build up
one of these at the expense of the other can
possibly be productive of any substantial good
to the people. And should the suggestions
already submitted, in reference TO economy,
be carried out in your deliberations then am
satisfied that very little, if any, other legisla-
tion will be needed to restore harmony be-
tween capital and labor, and make them what
they ought To be, and what they must be il
either is successful: hearty co-operants in all
that relates to the material growth and pros
perty of the country.
1
present occasion in particularizing, since II
will be my pleasure from time to time, shonld
| deem ii necessary, to communicate with you
| in special messages concerning matters which
/ cannot now even hint at. But | feel that
| there are some things which ought to receive
your immediate attention, and | therefore
| deem il proper to specify few OF them.
The present condition of the public works
| should be carefully and thoroughly investi-
gated. Recently there has been considerable
excitement growing out of the fact that the
| lessees of these works have virtually repudi-
ated their contracts with the State. The mat
| ter has been submitted to the courts for adj
| indications and, though a decision may be
| reached at an early day, still the whole subject
| is of such vital Importance that you should not
fail to give it full and candid investigation,
! not only as regards the contracts referred TO
| but as regards what shall be done with these
works for the future.
Our State has rightfully given great promi-
nence to the building and support OF pub
| lie institutions. In this respect we stand
among the foremost; and OF this enterprise in
| good works we have right to be proud.
| Still, all this has cost us immense outlays OF
| money. But where iudciously expended,
| these Outlays ought not to be regretted, But
my information is such as to lead me to be-
| lieye that, both in the building and manage
ment of these institutions, much might be
saved to the public treasury. certainly do
| not wish to restrain the public enterprise and
benevolence which prompt the building and
sustenance of these institutions, but would,
at the same time, heavily restrain that ten
dency to eXtravagance and waste which often
accompanies the most generous and useful
undertakings. In building houses for the in
sttutions | think proper discrimination
should be made between those intended for
the Door and unfortunate and those which are
for criminals. 1t is certainly right and proper
to surround the unfortunate, as far as pOssi-
BILE with respectability and comfort; but IL is
very questionable policy, to say the least to
offer premium of these blessings to those
who are criminally wicked. All should be prop
erly provided for; but the purposes of some
of these institutions would be better served II
they were conducted upon the principles OF d
more rigid economy than has heretofore
characterized them. At any rate, am salts
fed that a close investigation on your part
will discover the fact that in the future much
can be saved to the public treasury without
in any way, detracting from the best interes u
of those persons committed to their charge.
In reference TO the prison system Of the
State, would call your attention to an I'M
portant suggestion made by the Board of State
Charities in its recent annual report. The re
port recommends that another State prison be
Immediately erected, with the capacity fol
not exceeding six hundred prisoners; thii
prison to be reformatory, in which the
younger prisoners, and those not confirmed In
the habit of crime, are to be treated with
view to their reformation. 1t is also recon-
mended that district work-honses, where
every convicted criminal shall be compelled tC
work and earn his living, should be added tC
the prison system.
These suggestions are worthy of serious
consideration, and If carried out will tes
what has long been with me a deep conviction
| | hone YOU will furnish the necessary legisla
ton to make them practical or course, thi'
will require considerable appropriation
but, in my opinion, there is nothing whicl
. IN ig Qnllp0 that
deserving.
The Improvement of the navigation of th'
Ohio River is properly the business OF tn
General Government; nevertheless, II Is mat
ter in which the citizens of our State are deep
ly interested, and, as il has been your habit t'
give some attention TO it, you should, during
your present session, give il such cOnsidera
tion as its Importance may demand.
IL is certainly cause for congratulation tina
amicable relations between the recently-dis
tracted portions of our country seem To b
now entirely restored. The people of thi
State cannot be Indifferent 10 whatever vii
; tend to preserve these relations and prOmOt
commercial intercourse with the Southern
: States. 1t is believed that the Cincinnati
Southern Railway which bids fair TO soon b
/ completed, will prove an efficient agent 4
= both these respects. IL should, therefore, re
ceive Your hearty encouragement not Onl
I because of the high public spirit which
represents, but also for the reason that IL wi
assist, DY Dallub Ol oltel, 10 unlle more clohtl
the ties of sympathy which now hold togethe
:, the North and the South.
e The Registration law, as passed by the las
n Legislature, upon fair trial, proved TO be ne
n only inconyenient and troublesome, but e.
n tremely expensive. 1t should, therefore, eithC
a be repealed, or SO amended as to make II NOR
}. acceptable to the people.
4 There are at least three public grievance
J. which should receive from you the same pr
Il liminaTy treatment. l refer To our unequa
l. unjust and, therefore, cOmparatiyely-unpr
n ductive system of taxation; our clumsy, e.
!. ceedingly -dilatory and generally sy
e TEN OF courts or judiciary, and our confuse'
,e extrayagant and badly-managed system {
l. municipal, or city and town government.
cannot enlarge upon the importance OF thel
"a subjects now further than To say that, shOul
i you be able to find and provide remedi
4 which will give us fair taxes, speedy jnsti'
a and economy in city government, you will u
" dOubtedly perform work for your State whit
Il will command and receive the cordial appr
IS baton of all honest and good citizens.
l. AS a step anteeedent 10 any legislation tn
,e may be needed would recommend that yO
,r either by commission or by joint committe
AS cause thorough investigation of each Of the
| fhsa mi igain n "a