The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-01-16
a,V'I'''s.' Gsn|v|lIl'
First Message to the
General Assembly
Of Ohio.
The New Executive Dis
cusses Many Inter.
esting Topics,
Among Which arc the Following: The
Election Laws, Ballot Reform.
Home Rule, the intermediate
Pcnitentiary, Care Of the
idiots, Uniform Com
merce Law, For.
cstry, Etc.
10 the 0snerai ASSEMBLY,:

10 the 0snerai Assembly,:
1t is assumed that the outgoing Governor, In
his annual message accurately informed you
OF tho financial condition OF the State; and in
other respects, fully discharged his constitu-
tional obligations. The duty involving on the
incoming Governor, therefore, Is to supple
nent the annual message by such suggestions
as may, to him, seem pertinent
HOME RULE.
In compliance with this duty your attention
is directed to various laws, passed In recent
years, cnlargtng the authority of the chief cx
ecutve. He has been empowered thereby to
appoint boards which control, to q large cx.
tent, the government AMI expenditures OF GER
tain cities This was doomed so clear u viola.
tion OF the right OF sclf-government that one OF
the political parties embodied In Its last plat
form the following declarations: I'VE demand
the enactment OF laws that will enable our
cities to choose their own servants, and control
their own affairs" The people OF Ohio NJ the
subsequent election, approved that sentiment
1t is tho duty OF tho General Assembly to obey
their mandate, and to restore home rule to all
cities as speedily as may be done without hasty
or inconsiderate legislation. II is nos neces-
sary to rccite the many cogent reasons which
prompted the people 10 this action. II is suffi.
cient to know that they have so decreed
THE CITY OF CINCINNATI
The perplexing problem confronting you is to
decide what form OF government 10 substitute
in the city OF Cincinnati for that now enforced,
which has proven faulty In many respects other
than those arising from gubernatorial interior
ence. In that city exist endless divisions OF au.
thority, and consequent lack OF responsibility,
resulting. naturally in eytravagant and incompe-
tent rule. Apparently no attempt has been
madc to construct q homogeneous form OF gov
ornment. Offices and boards have been created
n cn cnrlf fpny, upa tn, at a.
gregate more than n score OF independent de.
partmcnts. They are appointed at hap-hazard
by tn" mayor, The Governor, the various courts
or by council. This lack OF system has unavoid.
ably lead to confusion and mismanagemcnt. In
justice to the people OF that city, Us wcll as In
hrthcrance OF sound political principles. you
should carefully consider mature and formulate
q charter which will give them an opportunity
to manage their affairs through officers chosen
solely by themselves. 1t may not DO convenient
or even possible, TO operate an entirely new
form OF government there until the April cleo
ton OF 1901; but in event OF such delay prompt
action should be taken TO correct the grosser
defects OF the eSisting government Some i'm
mediate changes arc absolutely needed and the
following are cited as instances: The board OF
equalization, Il body liable to scandal aud cor
rup,ion, should be abolished and re-creared in
such manner us to invite and deserve public
confidence. The board OF work house directors,
heretofore accused OF releasing prisoners from
improper motives, can be spared without injury
and its duties added to the police commission.
The discharge OF work house prisoners before
the termination OF their sentences should be
prohibited unless such release be approved by
the judge and prosecuting attorney OF the po
lcc court
The Board of Public Affairs now an appoint
I've board, should be so constituted that, here
nffer, ono member can be elected by the people
every year. The membership OF tho Board OF
Lewiston should be radically changed, and o
Nonpart'san board OF high character substi.
tuted. with The foregoing improvements. and
such others ns your wisdom may suggest for
present action, the city of Cincinnati might get
a.ony passibiy well until comprehensive re-
vision OF the laws can be adopted.
Two plans OF reorganization meet with more
or less favor among tho people Of that city and
both should be thoroughly studied and digcsted
before you take the final action.
There Is but little, doubt that under the quick
cncd public spirit aroused by existing condi.
tons, tho people OF Cincinnati would rise TO the
OCCASION and govern themselves in a better and
more honest manner than can possibly be at-
taincd by the interference of any, outside
authority however consccntiously exercised
It's worth trial to give them control OF their
municipal afrairs Not to do so is TO confess
that local sc.f'sovcrnment is a failure.
OTHER CITIES
While considering what ought to be done for
that city, you should investigate the whole sub
tect OF municipal reform, with u view OF con-
ferrng upon other cities OF the State such
changes us may be salutary. II Is your duty to
afford speedy relief to those which are subject
In any respect to gubornatorial control
ELECTION LAWS
It's wen to remember that no reform In gov
eminent, municipal or otherwise can be success
ful unless every clcctor is secured a free Sc
cret, untrammelcd ana unpurchascd ballot
which shall hc honestly counted and returned
improvements have been made In our election
laws during the last few years. yet oil OF the
legislation upon that subject has not bccn COM
mendable. Tho establishment OF non. bipartisan
election boards was step In the right dircc-
tion; but dcpriving thom OF the right to ap-
point their clerks was " step in the wrong a.
rectiop. There has been also soma obvious
omissions to improve the election laws--for in
stance, the failure to provide that the two
clerks OF election, In each voting precinct must
be OF opposite political, affiliations Nothing
that has proven beneficial should be undonc,
but additional cnactments are needed, Our
election laws are far from perfect, and those
who profess to believe that they arc not capa.
bic OF amendment have failed TO study the
great reforms made In other States.
BALLOT REFORM
Tho system of ballot reform commonly called
tho Australian SYSTEM" has been succe ssfully
auopIcu, IN varying forms, by eighty
Ave millions OF people IL has been
tried livH years in Norway. seven in En-.
gland and Italy. twelve in Belgium fourteen in
Canada and thirty IN Australia. IT has been
adopted, with sundry notifications. in Massa-
chusetts Rhode Island. IRdian;. Wisconsin. Mis-
issippi Tennessee Missouri. NJ on tana Michigan,
Connecticut and part OF Kentucky. One OF the
most thorough tras OF The system was at the re-
cent election in Massachusetts. The late Gov.
ernor OF that State tcstifes in print that mo
one would seriously consider the repeal Of this
election law and consequent return 10 tho old
election methods. Men OF all shade of political
opinion agree that tho measure has worked
well, and that IT is permanent part OF the stat
utos OF Massachusetts. In its main principles,
tis beyond criticism" The United States
Marshal, belonging TO o political party In oppo-