The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-01-13
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Total funded debt. ........... &c, 476, ,S05 80
The total amount paid in, and balance
remaining to the credit of the respective funds,
November Is, 1880, was as follows:
Section 16 School Fund ...... 80, ,OS4, ,622 q
Section 90 Ministerial Fund. -. III, ,157 81
Virginia Military School Fund.-. 191, 1876 Sc
U. s. Military School Fund. ..... 120,2 ,272 II
Western Reserve School Fund. 257, 429 q
Ohio University (Athens) Fund. 2,7O0 7t
Ohio State University Fund. ...... 525, 1877 SO
Franklin Co. Agr1 Col. bonds. "a, 500 90
On the 18th day of November 1880, there was
in the Sinking Fund 1928, ,761.O O5 which will be
increased by the February settlement. 1t Is
safe to assume that by anticipating the August
settlements, the debt maturing July 1, 1881, can
be reduced to sa,OOo.oOO
Although the Commissioners OF the Sinking
Fund have the power to issue and negotiate
certificates of indebtedness for the purpose OF
paying the maturing debt of the State, yet the
Governor calls the attention of the General As
ssmbly to the subject of providing for the 49,
OOO, 900 of the State debt maturing July
Section z, article 8, of the Constitu-
ton requires the maintenance Of
Sinking Fund that will render certain thr
payment of the State debt by the first day Of
July, 1891, and this Constitutional requirement
the Governor declares, must be rightly adhered
to. He therefore recommends that the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund be authorized
to issue bonds in amount of &3, 200, 600 to bear
interest at the rate of per cent. per annum,
payable semi-annually, interest and principal
payable at the option of the holder in New
York, or at the State Treasury, $500, 600 of
which to mature every six months, commencing
on the first day of January next, the bonds to
be offered to the public at not less than theiI
par value. The Governor believes that such
bonds can be sold at premium, and therefore
does not doubt but that they can be sold at par.
The present levy of fve-tenths of one mill
for interest and Sinking Fund purposes, will, il
is believed, furnish the means required to pay
the bonds as they mature. similar method
can be adopted when the remainder of the State
debt natures, viz: Two millions four hundred
thousand dollars ($2, 400, ,000) on the 31st day
of December, 1886, and thus, on or before the
1st day of July, 1891, all the State debt that can
be paid will be paid, and the Constitutional PRO
vision referred to will have been fully complied
with.
1t is shown, by tabular statement covering
the years 1S78-1SS0, inclusive, that the local
indebtedness of cities and villages has more
than doubled during that time-the larger por.
ton of which, however, Is chargeable to single
city-Cincinnati.
Governor Foster refers to the finances of the
Board of Public Works, a statement of the con-
dition of which was published some days ago.
In respect to our public institutions, the Gov
ernor says: 'tIn an examination of the finan-
cial management of our public institution 8 the
lack of uniform system OF bookkeeping
renders it next to impossible to institute cor
rect comparisons between the management OF
the different institutions. Nearly all of them
have connected with their management agri-
cultural and manufacturing industries. No at
tempt has been made to keep the accounts in a
manner that shows what the financial results OF
these industries are, whether profitable or un-
profitable. The cost in some cases is paid out
of the General Expense Fund, and the proceeds
paid into it; and in other cases the money is
received and paid out without any account be-
ing kept of its receipt and disbursement.
The present system Of auditing, accounting and
paying for the supplies and expenses OF the
public institutions is not as thorough as good
administration demands; and this remark ap-
plies as well to all classes of expenditure. An
attempt has been made, and is still under con-
sideration, to secure uniform system of book
keeping through the voluntary action of the
Superintendents and Stewards assisted by the
Auditor of State and the Secretary of the Board
Of State Charities. As there is grave doubt as
to whether satisfactory result can be reacheo
| in the way proposed, I recommend that the
General Assembly, with the Auditor OF State
ties. devise system of uniform bookkeeping
and require its adoption and use In all the pup.
lie institutions, thus giving it the dignity and
authority Of law"
and the Girls Industrial School are penal in
stitutions designed exclusively for incorrigibe,
vicious or criminal boys and girls, and that II
is wrong to admit others to them. He asks fol
law compelling any Court or Judge to enter
upon record facts upon VIII h his action is
| tions, and that a certified copy Of such finding
be attached to each commitment,
Reference is also made to the indiscreet man.
ner of transferring patients from one insane
| asylum to another, which is done without
proper process.
There has been an improvement in the man.
| agement of the Penitentiary, with better line
of discipline, and less severe punisement, with
| most gratifying results. In this connection the
| Governor renews his recommendation for a
Board of Pardons. His experience during the
| past year has strengthened his convictions in
| this direction.
The graded schools in the State are in excel
lent condition, but the attention of the General
Assembly is directed to ungraded schools, and
invited to enact laws for the betterment Of their
| condition.
The attention of the Legislature is invited to
the unfinished publication of the recent Geolog-
| ical Survey of the State. Seven volumes have
| already appeared, but the Paleontology, which
is really part Of Volumes I. and IL, but IN
| the general estimation passes as an independent
expensive character, and with the large edition
| required to match the volumes already pub
lished, considerable appropriation will bt
called for whenever this remaining volume il
issued. 1t is beyond dispute that the last
survey has done great deal for the develop
| ment of the mineral wealth of the State. Its
publications have been eagerly sought for al
home and abroad, and its official and uncolore6
testimony has encouraged the investment Of
large amounts of capital from within and from
kl,aS 80 a1oo and Pr1t
on the other hand, it is equally beyond dispute
that the reports, as they now stand, are incom
plete and inadequate for almost every distric
Of the State.
The labor statistics of the State are encour
aging. Wages have increased, and in a mum.
Der Of leading industries of the State the mum
Der of employees have been largely augmented
In the manufacture Of pig iron the number o
employees has increased from 5, 1853 in 1878, t
| 9796 in 1880, and in the rolling mills the in
crease has been from S, 400 in 1875 to 10, 746 il
| 1880.
A chapter is devoted to history of the labo
troubles in the State during the year, givinl
the particulars, as far as obtainable, of 10
strikes; and the Commissioner again urge
arbitration, not as q means of settling disputes
but to prevent them. Attention is called t
the continued use of store checks, scrip, etc.
in payment Of wages, contrary to State laws.
A list of the steam boiler explosions in tn
State for the year is given, and the recommend
alton again made for a law to prevent the EN-
ployment of inexperienced or incompeten
persons to take charge Of steam boilers In man
ufacturing establishments.
encouragement to those desirous of organ
izing cooperative manufacturing and minin
companies is recommended. The passage Of
law recognizing and governing such organiza
, tions is the encouragement deemed necessary
: A law is asked to be enacted touching upo
, the fees and perquisites Of the Secretary c
I'LL Ill R~-z