The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-22

equivalent to conviction of insanity
so az to be followed by a commitment
to one OF the insane asyums yof the
State. for period proportioned to the
gravity OF the injury. In case that
might prove reai and be followed hy re.
covery, the power to discharge the pa-
tieat as cured might he granted. If the
insanity should prove to be feigned this
punishment of confinement would not
be inadequate, and the criminal might
be transferred TO the lPenitentiarv.
] concur with Governor Foster in're /
commenting the creation Of an Advi-
sorry Board Of Pardons 1t is to be re-
eretted that the two branches of the
Sixtv-fifth General Assembly, both Of
which agreed in desiring this reform,
had not time to reconcile the differences
Of detail Which prevented Its adoption
last winter.
The sct OF 1888 commonly known as
the Russell bill, is under debate, and its
constitutional iy attacked in ihe courts,
upon the ground that the inviolabili,y Of
private property is thereby inraired :;
t,at properly Of which thc'uae may not
hey prohibited, can not be sutject 10
double taxation in the name Of license
fees Pending this investigation, and
wi hout reference to it's results. it is at.
least desirable to amend taat part Of
this act which imposes a license tax
upon "meiiums," so that it shall not
seem to be an attack upon the religious
views, sincerely held, OF even a email
minority. go
Extensive changes in the Judicial De.
Lsrtnent have been authorized nv con.
stitutional amendment. With the aid ef
the bar, from whom this measure ema.
mated, and whose general support has
given it public confidence, the scheme
may he easily completed bv the neces-
sary legislation to the relief Of snitors
by the avoidance of DELAYS in the doing
Of justice between litigants. and the
necessary expense may possibly be ies-
sened bv reduction in the number of
JUICES of the Court OF Common Pleas
/ earnestly commend your attention
to the following passage from 'the mes.
sage of Governor Allen, submitted to
the General Assembly December 1. 1874:
at is question for your serious COR
sideration, whether the compensation of
our county officers is not disproportion-
ate to the salaries of other public officers,
and OF persons in private life. Public
servants should be reasonably cornpen-
stated hat salaries and fees shoald not
he SO high as to make the getting of o.
fee profession, aud 10 enable candi.
dates aud applicants 10 buy their way
to public places.
{ In thi. connection, I NAV adj that
the Hamilton County Fee bill, adopted
in 1870, has been for thirteen years in
successful operation, and that Is prin-
eiple might be applied to others, at least
Of the more populous and wealthy &C
ties, with like benefit to the publ c, and
with reasonable if not really large com
pensation to the officers.
1t is to, be regretted that public atten-
ton was not sufficiently alive in 1879 to
its importance, to secure the adoption
o. tie Constitutional amendments then
submitted, so that st least in The year in
which President is chose the State
election might be held jn November.
Odio Ia now. the only October State,
and during this year will be exposed to
consequent expense, inconyience and
possibly ccrruptio and degrada'i,n Of
the franchise. In no sense is this party
question, and the majority of those who
voted upon it in 1879 were in favor OF
the change II was defeated hy the
apathy of voters who did not IN letsta1d
the proposition, or did not tske interest
enough in the subject to cast their votes
upon the specific propositions. Another
submi4sion may b looked to hopefully
as likely to be sustained by effort suf.
fcient to ensure its spproval by the
people; and relief, although TOO late for
The pending Presidential election, will
be in time for 1888.
Z The propoaition TO amend the Consli-
tnii,n so as to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage was defeated at the October
election. But the Supreme Court has
held thst such prohibition is atiainahle
under the Constitution as it Ia, and the
policy of prohibition by municipal ac-
lion uader the powers delegated by the
General Assembib has been more than
once in the history OF o lio jnd icially
sustained. The evils resulting from
excessive drinking are manifold aud felt
in every portion Of the. State Many
plans have been ,proi osed, and .he la
bors OF many good men are given Ito
the effort to eradicate these .evils The
agitation for prohibition will continue,
for however misdireeted, it is an honest
struggle against a real evil, for which
many believe prohibition4to be an. ade-
quate, if not the only remedy. Bat we
cannet shut our eyes 10 the fact that
prohibition has failed wherever attempt
ed. that prohibition OF the sale means
practically free trade, and that while
prohibition of the manufacture may be
made effectusl, this does not effect con-
sumption but merely forces the dealer
10 sell goods made cut OF the STATE. In
the Safe of Maine, the number OF IL
censed dealers under Federal laws has
increased forty per cent in the last three
years, apd the effect of unreasonable re-
strictive law has been felt in the increase
of secret and uncontrolled drinking.
No reform is, in my judgment, more
desirable than to find some common
ground upon which conservative men
OF ali parties may stand in opposition
alike TO prohibition and to free trade in
liquor which shall furnish adequate legal
restraint not OF temperate but iFsamper-
ste drinking, and not undulJ interfere
With tho right of individual liberty and
The duty of self-control. Perhaps no
measure can he devised that will fully
accomplish this result. That which comes
nearest is, am persuaded, the system
OF license with graduated taxation. Bv
the graduation OF the tax or license fee
Justice is done the dealer, whose burden
is thus proportioned 30 the ex eht Of
legal pre- ec.ion he enjoys. and has Yela-
tion also, to bis opportunity for mischief.
By scrutiny before license and before
renewal, power may be given to drive
from the ira ,e OF men OF known bad