The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-16

| O1eQ IN C0e service, or OF WOUNDS reCo1-
we'd or disease contracted in the SER
vice, should undoubtedly be preferred,
but if these do not fill the institution
then the children of those who have
died from other causes, or who are per-
manently disabled, and even of those
who have neither died nor been disa-
bled, if destitute, may well be admit
ted. provided they do not displace the
other class. In all cases destitution
should be made test of admission, and
this charity should be SO organized and
so administered rs to reach all parts of
the State. ii
Iil GRAVE ROBBERY '
There is at this time, in every home
throughout the land, an intense feel
ing of anxiety and solicitude concern
ing grave-robery. This feeling of in
security and dread on the part of the
community concerning the ruthless
disturbance and removal of dead
friends and relatives from the resting
places of their choice is natural and to
be respected. While, therefore, some
further legislation is needed to quiet
these painful apprehensions in the
public mind, it should not be forgot
ten that, to maintain the present ex-
cellence of medical science, and devel-
op higher pathological skill, such at
tainments can only be reached through
familiarity with the appearance, To-
cation and relation of anatomical struc-
lures, not to be gained by models and
casts, however perfect. 1t should also
be remembered that physicians are
held responsible by the courts for the
possession of q certain amount of skill
while treating patients, both in me-
dicinal and surgical aspect. To make
them amenable to such penalties and
forfeitures as the law imposes, andsat
the same time to deprive them Of the
highest means of attaining proficien-
cy alike demanded by law and the
best interests of society, would work
great injustice and wrong< Where is a
law existing in our statdt6 &pk9
lowing to medical colleges and efI<
the use Of ho(1josof claimed dead Or
anatomical sst6d previous burial.
But it will be seen that the Conditions
for the surrender of such bodies are so
limited and hedged in by.pro2iaQs as;
will render complianee
nugatory.
The wisdom of your body will doubt
less discover some ditional legisla-
tion bywhich an sdequate mount of
such medical subjects may be supplied
from Recognized and jwell-defined
sourcess and thus completely debar the
odious traffic now outraging public
sentiment, and afford tranquility and
protection alike to the virtuous poor
and rich.
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS.
I deem it important.to scall ydtir at
tention to the necessity of providing
by law for the protection of forests and
timber. The statistics for 1877 show
that in 1870 there were 8, ,749 ,333 acres
of timber land in the State; that in
1877 there were 5.117 $40 acres of tim
Der land in the State. If these statis-
tics are correct, there was, within sew
en- years, q destruction of over four and
q half million acres of forest. The day
is not far distant when. if the present
annual rate of destruction is continu-
ed. the beautiful and valuable forests
of our State will soon disappear.
| In many countries in Europe the
advantages of forests have been learn
ed in the school of necessity, and now
the study of forestry is taught with as
much thoroughness and care as is the
study of other sciences, while the cut
ting and replanting of trees is regula-
ted and enforced by systematic and
careful legislation.
| In Ohio the question is each year
becoming more and more important,
and it is now time, in my opinion,
when the preservation of forests should
become subject of legislation, and
that carefully prepared statistics
should be annually collected, showing
the area and condition of our forests.
| FEES OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
The times demand the strictest econ
omy and reduction of expenses in the
administration of the Government.
The present great depreciation in the
value of property and the low wages of
labor, diminishing the ability of the
people to pay taxes: require that the
salaries and fees of public officers
should be proportionally reduced, and
not continued at the old war rates.
According to the report of the Auditor
OF State for the year 1874, the fees and
salaries of county officers amounted to
81, ,5s3, ,759 81, being more than four
times the aggregate sum paid to, and
salaries received by the Legislature,
judiciary, State officers and depart
ment clerks. An act was passed Mar.
1872, ,875, reducing this compensation
$2S5, 900 annually. The next General
Assembly, on the sth of April, 1876, re-
pealed this law, under the plea that it
would work unfairly, and substituted
new act in its place, claiming that 1t
would also reduce the compensation OF
county officials but the returns in the
Auditors report of 1877 show the pay
of these officers to be over ST ,628, 900,
being an increase of SIS, 900 in excess
of what they received before the pas
sage of the law in 1875. thus adding to
the burdens of the people of the State
$3.50, 900 annually.
The following figures from the re-
port of the Auditor of State, in 1877,
make apparent on their face the work
ing of the present county fee law:
COMPENSATION.
Auditors $262 6O2 SO Legislature .$129 Isl 8
Treasurer. 275,9l5 90 Judiciary. 183.047 81
Clerks ..... 2S3, $50 81 State OMcers... 1927 O(
Sheriffs 282 30S 81 Clerks. &c...... 5o.7Sl u
| Probate J'ds 2O9, ,179 IS
Total 81, ,33S. ,286 90 Total. :. $685. .5O7 q
There are five of the abOve-named
officersin each of the eighty-eight
counties, making a total of 44O in the