The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-15
Gov Gsn,lIII' 's!s.sgs'.I
To THE GENERAL ssEMBLY:

10 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
1t is assumed that the outgoing Governor, in |
his annual message. accurately infor med you OF
the financial condition of the State, and. in |
other respects. fully discharged his constitu- |
tional obligations, The duty devolving on the |
Governor. therefore. is to supplement
the annual message by such suggestions as may.
10 him seem pertinent
HOME RULE.
In compliance with this duty. your attention
is directed to various laws. passed recent
years. enlarging the authority CT the chief ex
ecutive. He has been empoW cred thereby to
appoint boards which control, to large extent.
the government AMI expenditures of certain
ciIies. This was deemed so clear violation IF
the rights of self government. that one of the
politioaI parties eubo led in its last platform
the following declarations: I'VE demand the
enactment Of laws that will enable cities to
choose their own rvants and control their
own affairs.'' The people of Ohio, at the sub
sequent 4ection. approved that statement. 1t
is the duty of the general assembly to obey their
mandate. anu to restore home rule to all cities
as speedily a, may be zone without hasty or
inconsiderate legislation. 1t is not necessa y
to recite the many cogent reasons which
prompted the people to this action. 1t is suf1i-
cient to know that they have SO decreed.
THE CITY OF CINCINNATI.
Inc pefpieAing prooieni conlrohtihs you Is
W ueoioe "nat loili Vi governments 10 0osuostltute
III tne oi's Vi oihclnha'i ior 'na1 no" enforced
which mas proven iauity IN many respects other
'nan 'hose arising iro" gueernaeorlal lnterier-
ehce III that clGy exist enuiess DIVISIONS OF
autnorlty. and consequent lack OF responsible
w. resulting, naturally, In extraVagant and
incompetent rule apparently no attempt has
oeen maoe-to construct homogeneous form Oh
government omcers and boards nave been
Created oy PATCHWORK from year to year, until
tney aggregate more IMAM score OF lndepen-
dent departments. They are appointed at hap
hazard by the Mayor, the Governor, the various
Courts. or by Council. This lack of system has
unavoidably led TO confusion and mismanage-
ment. In justice to the people of that city, as
wen DIS III iurtnerance Oh SOUND political prin-
clpies' you snould carefully consider. mature
anu formulate charter winch Will give them
an opportunity to manage their affairs through
omcers CHOSEN solely by themselves. 1t may
not oe convenient, or even possible. to operate
an ensirely new 'orm OF government there un-
I'LL the Apfll election of 1891; but in event of
such oeIay' prompt action should be taken to
correct the grosser defects of the existing gov
erhment. some immediate changes are imper-
| atlvely needed, and the following are cited as
instances: The Board of Equalization, body
liable to scandal and corruption. should be
abolished and recreated in such a manner as to
invite and deserve public confidence. The
board Oh "orkhouse Directors. heretofore &C
cuseo OF releasing prisoners from improper
motives. can pe spared without injury. and Its
outles aooeo TO the Police Commission. The
oischarge OF Worknouse prisoners before the
termination OF their sentences should be pro-
| nloited. unless such release be approved by the
| Judge and Prosecuting Attorney of the Police
| Court The Board OF Public Affairs now ar
appointive Board, should ne constituted tina
hereafter one member can be elected by the
peoFl every year. Inc membership of thu
Doaro Vi neVlslon snouid oe radically changed
aau hoh-parelsan board, OF nlgh character
supstltuteo.
Inere Is putllttle douol that under the quick
eheo pupi'c spirit aroused by existing condi
tions' sne people OF Cincinnati would rise t.
the occasion and govern themselves in better
ana more honest manner than can possibly b.
| attained by the interference of sny outside au
thorlty, b 'wever conscientiously exercised.
Whlle considering what ought to be done 70
.nae city you should investigate the whole sub
Ject OF municipal reform. with view of con
1errlng upon otner cities OF the State sucl
cnahges as may pe sanitary.
ELECTION LAWS
IL Is wen TO remember That no reform in gov
ornmeht' municipal or otner"lse. can be sue
oessiui ufiess every elector Is secured free
secret, untranmeled and unpurchased ballot
Wnlcn snall De honestly counted AND returned
Improvements nave been made In our electio
laws uuring the last lew years. yet all OF tn
leglsiatioh upon that subject has not been com
Ahe ees1aoliSnmen1 Oh non-partlsa
AoH ooaAu. was d s'ep IN the right oiree
''on' ou' uepriNihg thein Oh tne r1gnt TO ap
poi"' 'ieir oierks' was d step IN the wrong dl
rectioh' ahere nave oeen also some oDVlou
omissions W iinproVe inc eieo'ioh ia"s-ior Il
sSanoo' 'he Aaii"ie W 'na' 'ne TWO olerh
u elec'ion' III eacn fotlhg precinct mus DC
Opposite polltcaI an 'iatlons' Notnlng tha
mas proven pehehclal snouio DC undone, pu
addltlonal enactments are needed Our cleo
tion laws are far from perfect, and those VIII
profess to believe they are not susceptible {
amendment have failed to study the great re
forms made in other States.
BALLOT REFORM
Inc system oi Dalo1 reIorm commonly calle
, the Australia an System" has been successful
, adopted, In varying forms, by s5,OOO.OOO people
1t has been tried five years in Norway. seve
! teen In Canada, and thirty in Australia. 1t ha
been adopted. with sundry notifications. i
Massachusetts. Rhode Island, Indiana, Wiscon
J sin, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Montans
Michigan. Connecticut and part of Kentucky
One of the most thorough trials of the syste1
was at a rec mt election in Massachusetts,. Tn
late Governor of that State testifes in prir
that mo one would seriously consider the re
, peal of this election law and consequent retur
to the old election methods Men of all shade
, of political opinion agree that the measure ha
worked well, and-that it is permanent part {
the statutes of Massachusetts. In its mai
f principles it is beyond criticism" The Unite
States Marshal, belonging to a political part
! 10 opposition to the Governor has written tb
following: Let me saw that the system
most admirable in its workings There is n
, more bulldozing by our manufacturers. The
cannot march their men to the polls under
foreman and vote them all for one ticket.
does away with everything that makes polite
disreputable" Thus it will be seen that tb
| great political PARTIES. or at leastsucb e,emen,
; of them as look for nuritv and reform are fplI
satisfied with elecsi ions under this plan Th