Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-07
FORAKER PRAISES FORAKER
For Reforms That Have Been Accomplished
in Ohio RecenflE.-

In Ohio Recently.
COLUMBUS, January 6.-Among the points
with pride'' at which Governor Foraker levels
his index finger in his retiring message to the
new Legislature TODAY, are the following:
The present conditions of both the people and
the public affairs of Ohio in pleasing contrast
with what they were four years ago. There was
then much dissatisfaction and restlessness among
large classes of our population. The most notable
manifestations of this were the riots at Cincinnati
and in the Hooking Valley, occurring during the
administration Of my predecessor, and the great
strikes of May, 1885. Business Of every kind was
then suffering. There was = general stagnation.
Many of our most important industries were sus-
pended and thousands of labOrers were without
employment There was q general decline in
values. This was very marked in connection with
taxation. 1t amounted for the years 1884 and 1855
shown in the aggregate of the personal prop
erty of the State on the grand duplicate, to more
than SO, 0Oo 900. The appropriations made by the
General Assembly were largely in excess Of our
income. A rapidly growing deficiency had al
ready become greater than ever known in a time
of peace Elections in the chief city OF the State
had become only criminal farces. Ballot box
stufing, repeating, and similar crimes had be-
idly spreading to other large cities. Fraudulent
results had come to be regarded by those who pro-
duced them, and those in whose behalf they were
accomplished, as legitimate advantages to be
maintained for partisan purposes.
The liquor traffic had been un bridled and made
practically free from all the burdens Of taxation
and all the restraints of restriction and Iegula-
IlOn. IL naQ 'LakeQ manu- III politics, was us
boast Of the hour land made itself fet.n But the
day Of reckoning mad come, and all this has been
changed.
with the exception Of the quickly suppressed
White Cap outbreak. there has been during the
whole four years that have since passed scarcely
manifestation OF riOtous or lawless disposition
anywhere within the State. With the exception
of the strikes in May, 1856, there nave been no
disturbances or troubles of any moment among the
laboring classes. Not drop of blood has been
shed during all this time to preserve peace, order,
and the observance OF law.
Instead of general stagnation, we have general
prosperity, and no people ever enjoyed q higher
degree of happiness and cOntentment. The de-
cline in values has been stopped. The aggregate
of the property, real and personal, OF the State
on the grand duplicate for taxation, has been in
creased during this period more than eighty-four
millions Of dollars.
The liquor traffic has been justly made to bear a
portion of the burdens of taxation for both State
and local purposes, and other measures of wise
and just character have been enacted, whereby |
new sources Of revenue have been created, and
our income has been made once more greater than |
our expenditures. while at the same time the rate
of direct taxation for State purposes has been re-
duced to the lowest point known to this genera |
tion.
The city Of Cincinnati has been rescued. While |
its government is not, theoretically, in some par
ticulars, what has been recommended, or what |
appears to be approved by the most enlightened !
thought of the day, yet, measured by practical |
results Cincinnati Is to- day one Of the best gov
erned cities in America.