Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
The Rest OF II.

ing out aud bringing to shore.
There were twenty-six fatal accidents in
Ohio mining operations during the year,
and further precautions are suggested.
Inspection of stationary boilers and IL
censing of engineers by law are urged.
No explosion of oil inspected in Ohio
(by our Balentine) has been reported.
The governor employed the militia only
on two occasions in the Hooking Valley.
A military force is constantly ready to 60
there; 'but the employment Of a military
force is itself an evil; it is the last resort,
and should be sparingly applied" And
the governor thinks, mildly, that 'it is,
at least, possible, wishout the risk Of harm,
to make arbitration easy" He is clearly
not in favor of making it compulsory;
which is the only way it would do any
good. But he recommends that the ex
pense of keeping the peace in any county
or municipality, whether by civil or mill
tary force, be paid out of the treasury
thereof, and not out of the state treasury,
as now.
The Ohio National Guard is highly COM
mended, especially for its conduct in the
Cincinnati riot, and pensions are recon-
nended in cases of death in discharge OF
duty.
The country common schools are not
doing as well as the schools in the towns
and cities, from lack of uniformity and
supervision of management; and a greater
Capitalization of school powers is advised.
And similar advice is offered as to the
three disunited state universities: they
should be under a single management
The state board OF charities is praised
for its benefit; and its advice that no
further outdoor relief be given to paupers
in cities is indorsed, as is also its recon-
mendation of the employment of female
ply sicians in the insane-asylums.
In commencing the benevolent institu-
tons, the governor favors the purchase of
Longview Asylum by the state, reports his
informal action to repair the damage done
to the Xenia Home by the jamestown
cyclone, and urges the establishment of an
institution for the custodial care of adult
idiots.
The governor labors through several
pages on the penitentiary. OF the re-
formed organization he aptly says:
"If the effort be to any considerable ex-
tent successful, the reward will be worth
more 10 the state than money. 1t will come
in the form OF improved lives, of better men,
of qualified citizens. Therefore il is cardi-
pal feature of the bew system to make all
reasonable efforts 10 promote the growth OF
the prisoners in religion. morality, and edu-
cation"
The problem to be solved is to find
work for the prisoners without competing
with free labor outside. The new system
has been inaugurated at loss to the
state, of course; but, as the governor re-
marks, "the abolition of the contract sys-
TEN can not be expected to be Immediately
followed by profitable pecuniary results"
His reflections, facts, and recommenda-
tons are interesting and will be read in
full by the numerous citizens who are
watching with solicitude this experiment
of punitive reform.
The other reformatory institutions are
doing about as well as usual.
The governors ideas and his style of
presenting them are always unique and
attractive; and his discussion of the par
doning power is readable piece Of writ
ing. At present" says he, ''the pardon
business is conducted largely by earwig-
ging;" and you need to read this amusing
part OF the message to find out what that
ls He says he would again recommend
the establishment of an advisory board of
pardons, if the legislature had not already
rejected that scheme; but he does urge
a provision for an assistant attorney-gen-
eral to represent the state in all applica-
tions for pardons. And the hard-hearted
lawyer reports that he has pardoned only
l3 convicts, against Fosters 80 for like
period.
This looks like capital disposition OF
the insanity dodge, and ought to be made
law:
81 repeat the recommendation of my in
augural address, that the defense Of insanity
in criminal cases be required 10 be specially
made, and specially passed on by the jury,
and that the effect OF verdict, that the party
was insane a; the time of the commission OF
the crime, be, not to entitle him to dis
charge, but be followed by imprisonment,
with medical treatment, for a period COM
mensurate with the gravity Of the ofrnse"
The law of private hangings is too
much evaded; and the governor goes for
hanging inside the Jail, and no. in q pen
outside.
He urges q revision of the criminal
laws, and that ''the whole fabric of techni-
caGsiss bs swept away" Experience