Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-01-18

| appropriations for tho full and efficient dis
charge OF duties imposed upon 1t by law " and
| adds very naturally, that "if the board is to be
continued 1t should be properly supported"
The report above referred to contains much
valuable information and many practical sug'
gestions in regard to the abandonment OF out
| door relief TO paupcrs; the separation and ON.
| poymenl of persons confined in jails; and the
| life Imprisonment OF those incorrigiblc ond pro-
fessiona criminals termed "recidivists" !" who
have been repeatedly convicted. Attention
could proftably be given TO that portion of the
same rcpert devoted to
| CERTAIN GLASSES OF INSANE.
| II special provision were made Mt the Central
| Asylum for the accommodation OF insane crime
nas 1t would relieve tho Penitentiary OF n
duty, which, from necessity, is imperfectly dis
charged. Such criminals. together with insane
| persons whose mania tends TO crime, who have
not yet been convicted thereof should be con-
| fined to a building separate from every other,
| and erected for that purpose Similar separate
| buildings ought to be provided for the eplcptic
| insane Their complete isola tion from all other
insane is demanded by humanity and approved
| by universal experience, This Is especially
| urged by the Board of State Charities on ac-
count of the dangerous character OF those un-
| fortunates; as, also, on account OF their dam
| aging influence over other insane They could
be we'll cared for in this way at less cost than
by the present method-and economy unites
with duty in calling for q change The Board
also strenuously insist upon the
CuSTODIAL CARE OF IDIOTS.
Their argument seems unansweiable I'm
| beetle youths are taken care OF at the institu-
| ttcn for that purpose, but adult imbeciles are
permitted - be at large They are found in
nearly every county inhrmary. Restraint
should be put upon them by the State, especi
ally upon the females, in order that the in
crease in their number may be limited Besides
much better and more hamane caro- could be
taken OF them and, by systematic and intcll-
gent teaching. they might become partially self
supporting.
| ELncrRIciTv.
| The application OF electricity Is rapidly OPEN
| ing new fields OF legislation. Unless something
| be ccne to prevent the sacrifice OF life daily re-
| suting from defective electric wires, the COM
| panes which put up and control them will have
grown rich and powerful that the passage
and enforcement OF proper laws will be difficult
| municipalities have attempted to enforce regu-
lations for protection from such dangers, but
| without satisfactory result The duty OF inves-
| tigating the generation and distribution OF elec-
| trical currents is one which presses upon you
| The investigation should be prompt and thor
ough; the result thereof made public, and such
action taken as may, in your judgment throttle
this evil in its infancy.
DECENNIAL APPRA1sEMRNr.
| The decennial appraisement of real estate
will take place during this year Your attention
is called to the necessity for procuring better
and more uniform valuation upon both real
and personal property. The subject is one
which demands consideration not only as
matter of income to the State, but because of
| injustice done citizens whose property is dis
| proportionately assessed. The financial condi-
| tion of the State, and common fairness combine
| in demanding q careful revision and eQualiZa-
| tion of assessments; and 1t is hoped you may
devise some legislation which will effect this
laudable result. The necessity for such action
is too obvious to need comment.
CHEAPER SCHOOL BOOKS.
Popular education is the foundation of FREQ
dom and prosperity. knowledge, being power,
should be furnished at the lowest possible cost.
The State builds school houses provides
teachers and controls every de :al of education
save the furnishing of books. Is there any
sound reason why 1t should not assume this
function alsor Recent experience in the State
| of Indiana shows, ostensibly, that school books
equal to those in use here, are delivered to the
| children OF that State at thirty-fye to fifty per
cent. of their former cost. Other States have
tr ed the experiment with apparent success. 1t
| seems TO be an assured fact that school books
| can be furnished, either by direct publication
| of the State, or by contract on behalf of the
State, at less than present prices. 1t is not
| necessary 20 inveigh against capital for monopo-
lizing this form of publication. 1t is sufficient
| to ascertain whether books be furnished
more chenply by the State, without inyolvingit
| in material expenses, or liability. II this
be proven, then it becomes your duty to
| cheaper school books.
| A RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
The ofice of Commissioner of Railroads and
| Telegraphs seems to be more ornamental than
useful, and 1t is difficult to say wherein 1t has
benefited the community. Unless the place
| be made one OF more efficiency and power 1t
| might well be abolished. II it were intended to
exercise control over the railroads of the State;
| to hold in check their encroachments upon the
| public; to investigate and report the causes of
every accident; and in other ways to regulate
| them in the interests OF the people, such results
could have been much more effectively attained
by Railroad Commission, somewhat similar
to that long since adopted in the State OF Illi-
nois A commission composed OF three persons
ought, II judciously selected constitute q body
OF sufficient importance TO successfully investi-
gate every question OF railroad management ef-
fecting life and traffic. Such plan is in the
line of approved administrative methods, pro-
| vided there be any necessity for tho State su-
pervision of railroads.
AGRICULTURAL.
The State Board OF Agricultural is carrying
total debt OF one hundred and thirty thousand
| dollars at six per cent interest This includes
what is called the Centennial debt" of $4,000.
The board can not pay such q rate OF interest,
nor ought it to do So inasmuch as the credit OF
the State is ultimately responsible for tho pay
ment OF both principal and interest. Either
part of the debt must be paid and the load
which the Board is carrying thereby lightened,
| or the debt refunded at lower rate of interest
| Were this latter alternative taken and the debt
| placed at n rate which comports with the wealth
of the State, the Board could pay the annual
| interest charge upon its entire indebtedness.
Action should be taken to save this burden
some sum. In this connection it might be in.
quired why the appropriations for agriculture
| have been SO meager. The contingent fund has
been cut until the Board does not have money
| sufficient to pay postage and expressage upon
Its annual crop reports, and upon other valuable
matter which should be distributed to the peo-
pie. The people asking for these publications
are intelligent taxpayers whose desire should
have weight with the General Assembly. In
| The matter OF agricultural institutes the appro.
priation was cut down TO six hundred dollars:
whereas, Indiana appropriated Ave thousand,
Minnesota seventy-fve hundred and Wisconsin
| twelve thousand for that purpose. Ohio in.
augurated this system SO successfully that II
| travelled into other States, and 1t Is everywhere
doing effective service for the education of the
agricultural classes. 1t is hoped that the flnan.