The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-10-25
To the aenern, A..enl,,n.

Tho extraordinary power OF calling n special
session OF your honorable body has been in.
vokcd on account of the doplornbe condition
OF public affairs in the city OF Cincinnati which.
1t Is believed, can bo partially remod!cd by on.
nbling the people OF that city to choose certain
important boards at the approaching Eovem-
Der election. The time for beginning The work
OF ofIlcial reform there has como; and. for this
laudablc purpose you are aslted to submit to
temporary Inconvenience. The legislation pro-
posed is 80 simple, and obviously SO Just tina.
1t Is hoped you mny be able speedily to resume
your customary pursuits.
1t is almost unnecessary to recte tho cor.
rupt practices which have existed la the gov.
ernment OF the city OF Cincinnati. Members Of
public bodies have trafflcked In their own votes
without shame, and with small prctonsc OF con-
cealment. suit between alleged br,bc.'al,ers
is pending In court for an equal division OF
booty; and honor among thieves" has been
forgotten in the fierce struggle to dcspoil tho
people. With few honorable exceptions, the
entire public service is demornlized.
In the inaugural address delivered to you
last January you were advised that I'm Justice
to the people OF that city, well us IN further
ancc of sound political principles. you should
carefully consider, mature and formulate o
| charter which would give them an opportunity
to manage their own AFFAIRS through otilcere
! chosen by themselves" This recommendation
is earnestly renewed. AT your next scssion, IL
| is hoped an improved charter will be granted
that city. fljj ii.LI iit
| The legislation eHacted by you looking to
changes in the government OF Cincinnati nero.
ly created the Board OF Public improvements
| and the Decennial Bonrd Of Equalization. n
| both cases, however. you omitted to provide
| that the people should choose these very i'm.
| portant bodies. although q majority OF each
house In the General Assembly was elected
upon platform which declared that I'VE de-
| mand the enactment Of laws that will enable
| our cities to choose their own servants
An ard nf liz 1y,,,,
ated was clothed with substantially the same
| powers as its predecessors The only improves
ment In It's construction was q provision thae
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 to remove
his appofntees should they prove to be inefas
cient or dishonest. A change for the worse
was provision that three members instead Of
four could transact business, thus euablinv
them to unite and control public affairs. The
present board entered upon its dutios undep
favorable auspices. Although It was soon sub.
!ected TO criticism (much OF 1t unjusD for its
management OF the water.worlts- It was. in tho
main, well-meaning, and honestly conducted
body. Lnter, however, 1t retrograded very rap
idly Certain members voted TO grant valuable
franchises in such unseemly haste. and so clear
ly in violation ofpublic interest that tho people
began to suspect their integrity. These suspi.
cions have since become moro firmly fixed. As
early as September 4, a leading newspaper OF
that city. representing the political party to
which a majority of the board adhered. when
speaking OF an important franchise which had
been gratuitously granted (athougb parties
stood rendy to pay the city handsomely for such
franchise) said that 1t bore .evidcnce Of
fraudulent intent to be used for the purpose Of
matchmaking existing corporations. Again. on
September 12. the same newspaper said: "Thus
would the city grant franchise OF incstimablo
alue for q mess of pottage with the privilege
OF one year in which TO negotiate its sale to .
gang OF Eastern people who have reduced to o
science the raiding OF legitimate enterprises"
The newspapers OF opposite political views
have been equally unspnring and more contnu.
Gus In their denunciations Popular confidence
in the board Is gone, although, (through per-
cons interested in Its enormous pntronage) -
attempt may be made to deceive the General
ASS tmbly. The people OF Cincinnati who arc
not personally interested In the board or its
employees, are practically unanimous in the be-
lefthat some OF its members were parties to
corrupt propositions which have been made to
persons having business before the board.
Doubtless members and Ego botwecns" Will
deny the truth OF these reports; but. whether
they be true or not, these members nre SO deeply
involved and SO universally impugnod, that the
public give ready credonce to well authenticated
stories OF this charcter, and oven worse which
are circulated elsewhere. In short, the people
believe, not without reasonable cause. that this
board has begun TO travel the path SO long trod.
den by other demoralized governing bodies OF
that city
The Decennial Board of Equalization was re.
Gently appointed by the City Comptroller, In
conformity TO the law OF last winter. The be-
lief Is widespread that certain members were
appointed from corrupt motives, and that other
persons desiring such appointments were ap-
preached with improper proposals. Be that as
It may, 1t is quite certain that somo OF the
members have unsavory regulations in conneo-
m Nutlh hAn fnxr ia.
board does not inspire confidence. 1t begins
Its career amid storm OF public Indignation.
Both OF these boards should be abolished.
Their creation by appointment was but depriv-
ing the people OF their rights. Tho boards
themselves arc failures. Nothing remains but
to undo that which has already been DONE Let
the law-malSing power, and the appointing
power confess their mistakes, and join hands to
rectify them. Restore to the people, in time
for the approaching November election, tho
power OF choosing successors to these boards.
In tho aroused state of public feeling, growing
out Of recent exposures, the people OF Cincin.
natl may DO depended upon to elect capable
and trustworthy officers. They nre in the mood
to rise to the OCCASION. They should be en-
couraged. If this expectation be realized
and good officers be selected now, 10
will doubtless be the commencement
Of o lasting change for tho tbetter. A wise
observer, OF large experience, recently san
and said truly, that Cincinnati was cursed with
q lower MOI al tono In politics than that which
Affects any OF the other great CITIES OF the
country Now, while the people arc awake to
their condition, let us return to 'Home Rule
let us do that which is always right, and which,
ut this particular junction, is an especia! noces-
sty.
Who can object to this? Certainly no one op-
poses restoring power TO the people from whom
all OF us receive our temporary authority. Can
II be that there are persons upon these boards
who are ashamed or afraid, TO. go TO the people
for their vindicatiOnf II the gentlemen thus
legislatcd out are honest men and enjoy and de-
serve the confidence OF the people, thoy will
welcome tho opportunity for popular election
TO the posts they now hold by appointment:
but II they have been unfaiihful and undeserv-
Ing, then will they be unwilling TO render an
account OF their stewardship or let the people
pass upon u at the polls. Should they shrink
from submitting their claims to the people.
whom they are sworn to serve, that is, In ITSELF
. full confession OF Incapacity or guilt.
Let the arbitrament OF the ballot determine
people, No other tribunal ncan settle that
scious OF services well performed, or duty fait6-
'ully discharged.
--Lawyer-Wha did you do with the
money you stole? Client--Do with its
didn't steal any. am entirely inno-
cent OF the charge Lawyer--you didn't
steal any at all? Client-No. sir I
haven't cent to my name. Lawyer
Then, If you have no money. don't see