The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-10-15
Text OF the Ohio Governors Message
to the Special Session of the
Legislature.
Vigorous Charges Of BoodIeism and
Corruption Made Against Many
Cincinnati OfliciaIs.
Legislature Asked 10 Abolish tho
Board Of Public Works and the
Decennial Board.


lowing lis the special message of Gov
ernor Campbell 10 the general assembly:
The extraordinary power of calling
special session Of your honorable body
has been invoked ON account OF the de-
plorable condition of public affairs in
the City Of Cincinnati, which, 1t Is be-
lieved, can be partially rernedied by
enabling the people OF that city 10
choose certain important boards at the
approaching November election. The
time for beginning the work of official
reform there has come, and for this
laudable purpose yeu are asked to sub
init to temporary inconvenience. The
legislation proposed is so simple and OBJ
viousiy 30 just, that it IL hoped you
may be able 10 speedily resume your
customary pursuits.
1t is almost unnecessary to recite the
corrupt practices which have existed In
the government of the City of Cincin-
matt. Members Of public bodies have
Tramcked in Their Own Votes
without shame, and with small pretense
OF concealment. A suit between alleged
bribetakers Ii pending in court for an
equal division of booty, and Honor
among thieves" has teen forgotten In
the fierce struggle 10 despoil the people.
With a few honorable exceptions the
entire public service is demoralized.
In the inaugural address delivered TO
you last January you were advised that
AIn justice TO the people of that city, as
well as In furtherance of sound pOlit-
ical principles, you should carefully
consider. mature and formulate char
Ter which would give them an oppor-
tunity TO manage their own affairs
through officers chosen by themselves"
This recommendation is earnestly re-
newed. ut your next session it Ia hoped
an improved charter viii be granted
that city.
The legislation enacted byyou looking
20 changes in the government of Cincin-
matt merely created the board OF public
improvements and the decennial board
of equalization. In both cases, how
ever, yon omitted 10 provide that the
people should choose these very import
ant bodies, although majority of each
house In the general assembly was
elected upon a platform which declared
that I'VE demand the enactment of
laws that viii enable our cities to
Choose Thsir Own Servants"
The board of public improvements
thus created was clothed with gubstan-
TALLY the same powers as It's predeces-
sors. The only improvement in its con-
saruction was a provision that the
members, although originally appointed
by the governor, should be subsequently
elected by the people This advantage
was offset by the failure to empower the
governor 10 remove his appointees
should they prove to be inefficient or dis
honest. A change for the worse was a
provision that three members instead of
four could transact business, thus enab-
abling them 10 unite and control public
affairs. Tho present board entered upon
its duties under favorable auspices.
Although il was soon subjected TO criti-
cisEn much of 1t unjust) for its manage
ment Of the water works, II was, In the
main, a well meaning and honestly
conducted body Later. however. IL
Rstrograded Very Rapidly.
Certain members voted to grant valua-
BILE franchises in such unseemly haste,
and so clearly in violation of public in
terest, that the people began to suspect
their integrity. These suspicions have
since become more firmly fixed. News
papers have BEEN unsparing and contin-
nous In their denunoiations. Popular
confidence In the board il gone although
Through persons interested in It's enor-
nous patronagel an attempt may be
made 10 deceive the general assembly.
Doubtless members and @Go-betweensn
viii deny the truth Of these reports, but
whether they be trne or not, these men,
bers are 50 deeply involved and 30 uni
versally impugned, that the
Public Gave Ready Credenee
To well authenticated stories of this
character, and even worse, which are
circulated elsewhere. In short, the peo-
pie believe, not without reasonable
cause, that this board has begun to
travel the path SO long trodden by other
demoralized governing bodies Of that
city.
The decennial board of equalization
was recently appointed by the city
COMPTROLLER, in conformity 10 the law of
last winter. The belief 10 widespread
that certain members were appointed
from corrupt motives, and that other
persons desiring such appointments were
approached with improper proposals.
Ba that as Il may, il Is quite certain
that some of the members have un-
savory regulations in connection with
other tax matters, and that the board
d0es not inspire confidence. IL begins
ita career amidst storm Of public agi-
tation. Both these boards should be
Abolished. Their creation by appoint
nent was but depriying these people Of
their rights. The boards themselves are
failures. Nothing remains but to
unao that which Has Been Done.
Let the law-making power and the ap-
nointino power confess the mistake, and
ioin hands TO rectify them. Restore to
the people In time for the approaching
November election, the power OF choos-
ing successors TO these boards. Ia the
Aroused state OF public feeling, growing
ont Of recent exposures. the people OF