Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-10-18
To thA GeneraE Assembln:

To The General assembly,.
The extraordinary power Of calling special |
session of your honorable body has been in |
volted on account of the dcplorable condition |
of public affairs in the city of Cincinnati which, |
1t is believed, can be partially rcmeded by en- |
abling tho people Of that city to choose certain
important boards Mt the approaching Novem- |
Der election. The time for beginning the work |
Of official reform there has come; and, for this
lnudable purpose you are asked to submit to |
temporary inconvenience. The legislation pro- |
posed is so simple, and obviously just, that |
1t is hoped you may be able speedily to resume
your customary pursuits.
1t is almost unnecessary to recte the cor
rupt practices which have existed In the gov
ernment of the city of Cincinnati Members of
public bodies have trafllcked in their own votes
without shame, and with small pretense OF con-
ceament. suit between alleged bribe takers
is pending in court for un equal division of
booty; and "honor among thieves has been
forsotten in the fierce struggle TO despoil ths
people. With few honorable exceptions, the
entire public service is aemoralized.
In the inaupural address delivered to yoa
last January you were advised that . in Justice
to the people of that city, as well rs in further
ance OF sound political principles you should
carefully consider, mature and formulate q
charter which would give them an opportunity
to manage their own affairs through officers
chosen by themselves This recommendation
is eHTUeSbly TeUeWBJ. Az your next session, IL
is hoped an improved charter will be granted
that city.
The legislation enacted by you looking to
changes in the government of Cincinnati mere
ly created the Board of Public improvements
and the Decenna Board of Equalization. In
both cases, however you omitted to provide
that the people should choose these very inn
portant bodies, although a 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 onublo
our cities 10 choose their own servants"
The Board of Public improvements thus cre-
ated was clothed with substan tally the same
powers us its predecessors The only improve
ment in its construction 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 to remove
his appointees should they prove TO be inoili-
cient or dishonest. A change for the worse
was provision that three members instead of
four could transact business, thus enabling
them to unite and control public affairs. The
present board entered upon its duties under
favorable auspices Although 1t was soon SUBJ
1ected 10 criticism (much of 1t uniusD for its
management of the water-works. 1t was, in tho
main, Il wellmeaning, and honestly conducted
body. Later, however, it retrograded very rap
idly. Ger ain members voted to grant valuable
franchises in such unseemly haste, and so clear
ly in violation ofpublic interest that the people
began to suspect their integrity. These suspi-
| cions have since become more firmly fixed. AS
early rs September 4, u leading newspaper of
( that city, representing the political party to
which majority of the board adhered when
! speaking of an important franchise which had
| been gratuitousy granted (athough parties
stood ready TO pay the city handsomely for such
| franchise) said that 1t bore evidence Of
| fraudulent intent TO be used for the purpose Of
| blackmailing existing corporations. Again on
| September IL, the same newspaper said: "Thus
| would the city grant franchise of inestimable
| value for mess of pottage with the privilege
| of one year in which to negotiate its sale tc
| gang of Eastern people who have reduced to
| science the raiding of legitimate enterprises"
The newspapers OF opposite political views
| have been equally unsparng and more continu-
| GUS in their denunciations Popular confidence
| in the board is gone, although, Through per-
| sons interested in its enormous patronage) an
| attempt may be made to deceive the General
| Assembly. The people of Cincinnati who are
| not personally interested in the board, or It's
| employees are practically unanimous in the be-
| lief that some of its members were parties to
| corrupt propositions which have been made TO
persons having business before the board.
| Doubtless members and 'go be'weens" VIII
deny the truth of these reports; but, whether
| they be true or not. these members are so deeply
F! involved and so universally impugned, that the
| public give ready ere lence to well authenticated
| stories of this cnarcter and even worse which
| ClrCuiaLeu GlSeWutTe. III SNORT, iue pbOpo
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
1t may, it is quite certain that some of the
members have unsavory regulations in connec.
| tion with other tax matters; and that the
| board does not inspire confidence. 1t begins
its cnrccr amid n storm OF public Indignation.
Both of these boards should be abolished.
| Their creation by appointment was but depriy-
ing the people of their rights. The boards
, themselves arr failures. Nothing remains but
TO undo that which has already been done Let
the law-malsing power, and the appointing
power confess their mis- takes, and Join hands to
rectify them Restore 10 the people in time
for the approaching November election, tho
power of choosing successors to these boards.
In the aroused state of public feeling, growin.
ont OF recent exposures, the people of Cincin-
natl may re depended upon TO elect capable
and trustworthy officers They are in the mood
to rise to the OCCASION They should be en-
couraged. II this expectation be rea'i2ed
md good officers be selected now, it
will doubtless be the commencement
OF lasting change for the better. a wise
observer OF large experience recently said,
and said truly, that Cincinnati wns cursed with
lower moIal tone in politics than that which
affects any of the other great cities OF the
country. Now, while the people are awake to
their condition, let us return to Home Rule''-
let us do that which is always right, and which,
mt this particular junction, is an especial neces-
sity.
Who can object TO this? Certainly no one OPP
poses restoring power to the people from whom
| Dll Df II nrvu AMI
IL be that there are persons upon these boards
who are ashamed, or afraid, to go to the people
for their vndcationy II the gentlemen thus
legislated out are honest men and enjoy and de
serve the confidence of the people, tacy will
! welcome the opportunity for popular election
to the posts they now hold by appointment:
but II they have been un!aihful and undeserv-
ing, then will they be unwilling TO render an
account of their stewardship or let the people
pass upon it at the polls. Should they shrinli
from submitting their claims to tho people,
whom they are sworn to serve, that is, in itself,
, \ full confession of ncnpacity or guilt