Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-01-16
GOVERNOR BISHOPS
Second Annual Message to the
General Assembly Of Ohio.

uE OESaHtLSQ LOT business CO-OdYs the
message from Governor Bishop
vas received:
70 the General Assembly:
During the year that has Just closed our
country has been blessed with peace, |
good order, an abundant harvest and /
degree of prosperity in mer-
camille and industrial pursuits, for which /
we should be grateful to Almighty God.
In harmony with an established Gus
tom, and in obedience to the requirements
of the Constitution of the State, it is ex-
pected of me, as the chief executive off,
Ger, to advise you In an annual message.
Of the condition of State affairs, and to
make such suggestions as, In my judg-
ment, may be necessary to promote the
general Welfare.-I discharge this duty
with considerable degree of difidenee,
being we'll aware that experience in the
execution of the laws as they are can
alone furnish that knowledge of their de-
tails aud actual working which is of the
highest value in forming a correct opin-
ion of their efficiency and OF the necessity
of amendments. A statement of general
principles Is comparatively an easy task;
to properly apply these principles is much
more difficult, and, in many insta nces,
largely experimental. Not every theory
will bear practical test. Too much Leg
islatiOn is one of the recognized evils of
thinkers of modern times has affirmed
''Chat the wisdom Ofthe legislator Is often
er shown in the repeal of old statutes than
| in the enactment of new" Partial legis-
lation is always to be ignored as possibly,
/ if rot most probably, ininical TO the inter
est Of the people at large. The general
welfare of the country is the one and only
true test to be applied to every measure OF
| Legislation. During your session you will
doubtless be called upon to act upon many
subjects in which the State of Ohio and
the constituency you have the honor to
represent are greatly interested. A care
/ ful consideration of and prompt action
upon such subjects Is always desirable,
and I can but hope your deliberations
will be marked by wisdom, energy and
| dispatch.
The following is summary exhibit OF
the finances of the State for the fiscal year
| 1873 the condition of the same at close of
the year, and the estimates for the cur
rent year ending November 10, 1879:
| [There Is balance in the Treasury esti.
l-mated at $462, All "a. Taxes levied IN
1878, colleetihle In 1873
County and other local taxes 2l.s5s,Os9 x
Dehnquencies and torfeitures 2,sS5,s2O 81
Total for .Rzs, ,5ss 1856 81
The aggregate of public debts in the
State is sal ,943 ,629 70.l
The sAdjutant-General's exhibits
a marked Improvement in the tone and
condition of the military service of the
State. The repol t shows the present ag-
/ gregate active force, incompletely uni
formed, armed and equipped, to be 8, ,50t
men, against the grand aggregate, shown
bv the report of 1877, TO he 8, 1877.
1t is suggested by the Adjutant General
whom have reason to believe has givel
the subject careful consideration, that the
/ ~ Co.
should not exceed ten thousand men
rank and fle--that the num- ber, properly
clothed, armed and equipped, would bt
equal to any emergency likely to arise.
The compensation allowed by law fol
duty in annual eneampment is not salts
factory to the military, as It allows ne
transportation to and from camp, or sub
sistence while there. If provision fol
these were made it would enable laborins
men aud such as have families to take
more interest in the military service. The
great State of Ohio can afford to do ample
Justice to'her soldiery. Since the passage
by Congress of the act of June Is, 1873
barring the use of the United States army
as q posse. cO1eitdtus for the enforcement
of laws and the States made wholly de
pendent upon their own resources, thu
necessity of a well regulated militia, prop
erly supplied, must be apparent to all
To this end, l recommend to your favora
BILE consideration the enactment of thu
necessary laws, and authorizing suficlen
appropriations to place the militia force
of the State upon a war footing.
In calling the attention of the Genera
Assembly to the subject of the Public
Works of the State, it will be only neces
sary to say, on the 1st of December, 1877
the late lessees abandoned their contrac
of the lease, and for eleven days the work
were without responsible supervision. B,
an arrangement between the lessees AM
the Board of Public Works, suit wa
commenced in the Superior Court O
!, | Montgomery County (and just now de
5 cided adversely to the State) to determin
certain legal questions connected witt
the abandonment of the lease. Unde
E this arrangement the Public Works wer
. | taken charge of by Receivers, appOinte
: by said Court, and remained in thei
e charge, awaiting the result of said suit
! until the 18th of May last, at which tim
the General Assembly passed joint resC
. Luton requiring the Board of Publ
: Works to take charge of them in behalf c
State; under which resolution they ar
now being managed. The managemer
of the works. both under the Receiver
and Board of Public Works, has been sal
. sfaetory, and the works properly care
for, showing them to be in fair averagin
condition.
n December /, 1871 to May ], 1878, were. 3 &c. 7s5
i May to November Is. 1873 :. ll2,7eO
Total. .,..........:s..- >. ...........s sl82s2s
eddy lessees from Nov.I5 to Dec. ], III ls,lO2
3 Shows total collected for Hscal year .s2Oo,828
The xpenditures for all purposes tro
y revenues have been
) Under receivers from December /, 1877,
/ Under drection &c of Board Pablo works, -''1''
\. from May IS 1878, to Nov. ls, 1873 -. e5,495
Total expensesby Board of Public Works
and receivers from December !, 1878, to
: To which add amount reported as expend-
ed by lessees, from November Is to Dec.
sd Is 4St1 ..--.-'-. -....--..s .:.s.-..' o,ooA
3 Total expenditures for fiscal year. .sl47,858
Balence to credit for fiscal year -. :. SIS, ,269
I To which may be added for water rent9
Z: due on November j, 1875 butuncolleeted
&c attnat GATE '--....,...-.. ...-,....... l5i4O9
r. Net earnings ...........s6 s6s. .s7s
" A. this is an important subject of legi
latiOn, the above statements are made
show that the works, under the prese
management, are in safe condition, al
tn assure the General Assembly that
le haste is required i'll determining the fin
y, disposition that may be made of them, b
III that full time for deliberation may
)y taken, without detriment to the interes
OF the State.
The special attention of the General A
sembly is called to that portion of the r
port bearing on the system of paying Il
wages of la bhr other than in lawful, mo
ey, and which system at your last sesSit
was sought to be eradicated by the enaC
nent of laws against the payment
wages in scrip, checks or orders not I
deemable in lawful money. claws
Ohio, Vol. 70, PIP. 124 and 141.) Fhe
r laws are openly and persistently violate
- and you are earnestly recommended
perfect the legislation necessary to secu
their full enforcement.
Such legislation is not an fnterferen
with, but would be in the interest of
permanent peace between capital and /
Dor, and would be dictated by justice al
a sound public policy.
Any measures tending to prevent strik
| among wOrkmen snOuld receive vo