The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-09-05
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.
A REVIEW OF ITS LAST SES-
SION'S WORK.

SION'S WORK..
Address of the Democratic State
Executive Committee.
To THE VOTERS OF THE STATE: The
Republican party leaders and the Re-
publican party papers are nisrepre-
scnting and abusing the Sixty third
General Assembly, and the Republi-
can State Convention declares i'll its
platform that 'the present Legislature
passed no law for the benefit of the
people of the State. but revolutionized
every State institution to make places
for Democratic partisans.'
Such wholesale misrepresentation
and Justification against a Democratic
Legislature by the Republican pollti-
clans are INDUCED in because they
hope i'm this way to make votes for the
Republican candidates, knowing that
a truthful presentation Of the facts and
figures are against them, and on the
side of the Democracy. The Republic
can managers have always pursued
this course. Democratic Legislatures
of the past have been illuminated in
the same way.
A defense or vindication of the Leg
islature is not proposed. for none is
needed but it is proposed to furnish
in the briefest space possible, the
prominent points in the record it has
made, SO that the voters of the State
may decide impartially respecting its
work, aud not be misled by the mis-
representations and falsehoods of its
| foes.
Economy, retrenchment and reform
are watchwords of the Democratic
party. 1t embodies them in its plat
forms and inscribes them on its ban
ners while political contests are pend
ing, and when success gives it power
it practices what it preached, aud full
fills the promises it has made.
The Democratic Legislature at its
late session saUed the State more than
one million and a quarter of dollars.
This immense saving 10 the tax-pay-
ers of Ohio is exhibited in the follow
ing comparative statements of the ap.
preparations made by the last Repub-
lican Legislature In the year 1867, and
by our Democratic Legislature in the
year 1878:
APPROPRIATED BY THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE IN 1877.
Revenue Fun Fund approGraitions Ses 5S q
REPORT of State Auditor for lsT.l
APPROPRIATED BY THE DEMOCRATIC
LEGISLATURE IN 1878.
Revenue Fund approximations $3.50 $50 ooo ,0s 4 y
Asylum Fund appropriations l.SS4.59S 81
Total ............. . ........ s2.2l3s9a Sc
appropriation Acts S 1S7S sf S5v4, s. 81 $780, 5i0
The Appropriation from the Sink
ing Fund and from the Common
School Fund are not included in the
above statements, for the reason that
they are substantially the same in 1877
and in 1878
The foregoing statements show that
the Democratic Legislature in 1878 ap-
propriated $SOl .264 7S LESS than the
Republican Legislature appropriated
in 1877; but of the amount apprOpri.
ated in 1878, the sum of $2S3. SIT OIL
was for deficiencies incurred by the
Republicans in 1877. when they had
full swing, and which it was their du-
ty to provide in the appropriations OF
that year. Hence the amount of the
Republican deficiencies, which had 10
be provided for by the Democrats,
must be substracted from the smount
of the appropriations of 1878, and add
ed to the amount of the appropriations
made by the Republicans i'm 1877. This
will show a saving to the State by the
Democratic Legislature, for a single
year of $l26S,4lS so.
Since the adjournment of the Legls-
lature it has been ascertained that
more than 100000 additional defic-
iencies were incurred by the Republi-
cans before the Democrats came into
power. These deficiencies are for
outstanding Indebtedness created by
the stewards and other officers of the
public institutions, as well as by other
public officers, which the system of
accountability uuder Republican laws
covered up until presented for pay
ment, and which are being paid out of
appropriations intended for current
use. The outcome in this matter will
add largely to the saving by the Dem
ocratic Legislature, for the year, as
given above.
Here we have economy, retrench-
ment and reform the very first year
the Democracy regained power in
Ohio. That is certainly legislation for
the benefit of the people of the State.'
SOME OTHER WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE
Following is some of the work Of
the Legislature in detail:
The very first act which it passed
provided that the colOred citizens of
Ohio may exercise the same rights and
privileges respecting military affairs
that are enjoyed by the white people.
This act, at the same time, wipes out
Republican legislation which prohib-
tied the colored citizen from exercising
these rights and privileges.
1t passed an act which provides for
ascertaining the number of soldiers
unmarked graves in Ohio, thus revcr-
ing the memory of the patriotic dead.
1t passed an act to provide for the
better organization of corporations
designated as the Widows Home and
Asylum for Aged and Indigent Wo-
men.
1t repealed the law Of the last Re-
publican Legislature which provided
for the registration of voters of the