The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-07

work as rapidly as the hnanceS OF inc oteIo |
will permit, and to provide for the transIeI
there of some of the younger and less hardened
convicts.
where thirty eight deaths occurred during the
FIVE months preceding the change of admins
tration, has had but three deaths during Inc
ten months in which it has been under the pres
ent management. The large approprlatlons
which you made last year have enabled the new
and efficient Board of Trustees and the auIhlT-
able superintendent. financial otncer anu m4U-
ron to make improvements so great that the
change appears to be almost magical. were
YOU to visit the children gathered there, ana
see the health, contentment and happiness
which is visible everywhere, you Would reJolce
as citizens and legislators at the pert you
played in producing such resulte. 1t IS hopea |
that, in spite of the necessary pruning OF apPso,
priations for the current year. THIS lnsIitutlou
may fare well No money spent by the SLats Is
producing more satisfactory results than tna1
At the Ohiy Soldiers and Sailors Home the
cottages finished and furnished are all upon the
ward plan. Action has been taken by the Grand
Army of the Republic, and the Woman.s Renei
Corps, looking to the completion OF one cottags
upon the single room plan for the accommoua,
tion of indigent or disabled eX-SoldlerS ana
sailors who may desire to nave their WIVES WIVES
with them In many cases the enI0rcsui i peap
ton of husband and wife has resulted IN lehVz iz
ing the wife in destitution, or has compeHeu
her to become an inmate OF an lnnrmary; M 1firy;
There are, doubtless, enough cases Oh hAlS klnu
having real merit to Justify the completlon OF
one cottage in the manner desired. 49,.
site has been selected Tor an ePllePtttU aSy
its erection. The plan of treatment proposeo
to be adopted therein has attracted the atten-
tion of experts and others all over the country.
Nothing of this character has yet been attempt,
ed upon this side OF the Atlantic Ocean; ana
the General Assembly OF Ohio has received veg
gratifying commendation from tho hlgnest
Sources for its action in thus providing Tor the
epileptic and the epileptic insane
The Trustees of Longview ASYLUM complain
that the State is not bearing its full snare OF Ine
financial burden of that institution. rms COM
plant should be investigated and Justice Done;
In the Judgment of those who desire to see
the State institutions, particularly those OF
benevolent nature, entirely taken out OF Ine
range of political or other improper W
by non-partisan boards. 1t IS tnerel0rs, su6s
rested and recommended that the Board OF
Trustees for every institution OF the State pc
Increased from five persons to six, and that the
appointment of more than three members OF
any board from one political party Dc pFohlO-
tied.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
| The Ohio State University is worthy OF your
fostering care. Through the liberalty OF the
| Federal Government it has received Sl9OoO uur-
| ing the past year. and will receive an annually
| increased amount until the sum reaches 9S3'ouo
! per year The act approprlatlng salo 1unu re-
| ouires legislative assent and acceptance py tne
| States The University has made notaole
| progress and, through your generous, altnougn
| Somewhat fitful aid it has become credl1 70
| the stare The number of students now crowds
| its capacity, and they are in need OF lncreassu
facilities. 1t is notifying TO aomlO InaI IN I1e
encouragement of higher educatlon' Ohlo SGdnus e
twenty sixth upon the list of States some
| effort ought to be made to elevate the state 70
its proper rank in that healthy groWIa, Is i Sne
| most effective aid. Many of the states nave
| provided this through fund derived from tht
addition of fractional part OF mill 10 inc tdH
| dunIicate While the general taXat1on OF tne
| State ought not to be increased, many persons
| are of the opinion that small speclal TAX iol
the benefit of this University IS puroeh "ntGt i;[
| the people would bear cheerfully for the SAKE
| of education and advancement You lnIsnI
| therefore, very properly inquire whether tSt ts
| national gift ought not to be supplemented oA
I fun0
TAXATION.
| Some means should be devised to equal1z'
| taxation. The farmers, upon whom the ourdel
| seems at present to fall most heavily, 1uSti.
| complain that their lands depreclaIe, Wnl
| their incomes decrease. Under these condltlon
| it is hardship for them to pay the taxes nov
| General Assembly may be able TO aHoru SOM
relief although complete equity IN taSatlon a.,
| impossible without change in the Constltu
I ton When details of taxation come up 10
| consideration, it would be wise TO proVlq
against the accumulation OF greao ,,fd sums iind
| county treasures. Public moneys should, u@nae @
| absolute safeguards, be left In banks, or othe
| depositaries, and not Withdrawn from c1rcula
! tion.
( Much extravaganza exists in 1evying assess
rnents for real or alleged street improvements en-
and for other objects in the larger cities I'M
often results in o great increase OF taXatlo
upon certain real estate, or upon the whole city
without any compromising benefit. Such Re
strictions should be thrown around the leVy!n
of taxes that while public progress is not in
peded, yet additions to the tax dupncate, c
a merely speculative, or unnecessary, natul
would be prohibited.
OFFICIAL FEES AND SALARIES.
large and respectable element OF our pop'
lation demands revision OF ofhclal fees an
salaries with view OF decreasing those Wnlc
are exorbitant. This requestis reasonable an
entitled to consideration. Public officers ough
to be fully compensated for their LABOR an
ability; but such compensation should not Q
excessive, nor out of proportion to similar SER
ice rendered in private life. An 1nvest1gatio
of this subject would doubtless lead to redu'
in nffia
CANAL LANDS.
The belief that gas and oil can be found unde
the lands belonging to the State, some OF wnlc
are covered by water. has added largely to the
value. The Canal Commission, appointed
pursuance of the act passed by you last wlnte
| has been discharging its duties with regard
TO canal lands in the most pra1SWorthy mai
ner: and has recovered in less than one yea
lands appraised at over one hundred and th1rl
! thousand dollars. For its encouragement,
! | as well as vindication from certain unwarrante
, aspersions, it is suggested that you invest1ga1
, and report upon its transactions. In this COZ
nection it would be well enough, alSo to 1nVe
tigate the Board of Public Works, and asce
tain what it has done with regard to can
, lands, as well as the general management OF L
= | affairs.
PARDoNs AND PAROLES.
There are no functions of the State COVER
inent upon which there seems TO be SO muC
! public misnformation as upon those of pardc
/ and parole Much printed criticism has bee
INDUCED in. Persons who write such criticism
: are often ignorant OF the fact that pardonll
/ and paroling are separate powers, conferrt
upon different and distinct boards; or are u
, able to distinguish the difference between p
role and a pardon.
The Board of Pardons is composed of fo
persons, and is non-partisan. 1t was someWh
I demoralized last winter, owing to an 1nvest1g
' tion pending when the present state admin
! tratiOn came into power; but was subsequent
= | reorganized, and is now working harmonious
! and effectively in the discharge of its duties.
: The Board of Paroles is comprised OF .
managers of the penitentiary. The impres sit
: has been created that the present board is e
, ercising its prerogative in a more free and
: discriminate manner than has been the haolt
! : its predecessors. It is, therefore, proper
: | state that prior to the first day of last Mover
3 Der (the end of the year,, the present ooaTo q n
: been in office precisely six months; that dur1
said period it paroled forty-four persons; a
/. that in the preceding six months, under the o
f. board eighty six prisoners received parole
n In making this statement it is not intended
v animadvert upon the former board for grantl
n too many paroles because, without an exa
I nation of each individual case it is 1mpoSS1t
+ to tell whether the prisoners were improper
" Daroled or not) but to make it know n from O.
! ciaI sources that scarcely one-half many l
roles are granted now as heretofore.
Q It may be well to add, also, with regard
V pardons, that since the thirteenth day OF la
n January (and the Inauguration OF the pr prese s
G administration twenty five prisoners have be
/ pardoned from the penitentiary. In the prece
i ing four years, which cover one adm1n1stranlc
l. one hundred and eleven prisoners received p
l. dons from that institution. These facts are al
n made known in order TO refute certain mislet
g ing statements upon this subject II is I
d opinion of those best informed that a boal
/ with proper compensation and powers, shor
Ii exist for the purpose of considering pardol
) combinations and reprieves; but such boa
d ought not to be called Board of Pardoni
; which is misnomer. Additional restrietio
n could also be made, which would prohibit IF
t olous applications for pardon The time OF
h ( present board is largely occupied by cas-
e ! which have no merit.
C THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
The Board of State Charities has just CO
pleted most thorough and exhaustive repo
D Much information of Il technical ana historic
It as well as of practical character, is embod
g therein. Advance sheets will be furnish
e day, in order that the many valuable sugg
tious of the Board may be carefully stud1
L and as far as possible, carried into 1mmedi
IS effect. Too much care can not be given to
ID perusal of this report; nor too much weight
the advice of the board.
D. LABOR. 80
,e The bill passed last April providing for Il