The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-01-17
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 6, 1891. I
To the General Assembly:
The receipts of the general revenue fund for
the fiscal year ending Nov IL, 1891, as shown by
the report OF the Auditor OF State will aggre-
gate about three million four hundred thousand
dollars; but the expenditures for the same Pc
riod, provided the estimates filed be fully ap-
propriated for, would exceed four millions of
dollars. The mere statement of this fact is
sufficient to show that the estimates above re-
ferred to must be greatly diminished when ap-
preparations are made. The disbursements
from this fund during the last fiscal year were
less than three and onehalf millions of dollars,
Including one hundred and eighty thousand dol
lars of deficiency, and ninety thousand dollars
for advertising the Constitutional Amendments,
which came over for payment from the preced-
ing year The proposed increase OF over half a
million should be carefully scrutinized. Similar
proposed increases have to be met and disposed
of annually; and the necessary curtailment of
the desired appropriations will require the same
prudence which you exercised so commercially
during the last regular session.
MUNICIPAL REFORM.
The enormous amount of legislation annually
enacted for the cities of the State, particularly
in the way of local and special laws clearly
shows that radical change is necessary in our
system of municipal government. Municipal
reform is great and absorbing question every
where; but no whore more than in Ohio where
1t has become customary to patch city govern
ment with legislative euactments designed to
correct real or ina 5nary grievances. This form
of relief has proven TO be either temporary in
its nature, or productive of greater ills than
those which it was intended to cure, The time
has arrived for n complete change of pro
gramme system must be devised which
shall end legislative tampering with local af-
fairs of cities. A problem confronts you whose
consideration can no longer be postponed. The
fri1n n N n
whereby cities may govern themselves without
interference from any outside authority. In
other words, each city should model its own
government provided, only, that it conform to
the Constitution, and to those general laws
which must necessarily have the same character
throughout the State. To do this would re-
ouire an amendment to the Constitution which
could readily be submitted TO the people for
their approval at the election of next November
This amendment ought TO be so constructed as
to enable the people OF any city to call a char
ter convention upon plan similar to the Con-
stitutional convention which the people of the
State have q right to hold every twenty years.
Such convention could construct a charter,
which, upon submission to, and approved by, "a
popular vote would become the fundament al
law Of the city. IT could not be altered amend
ed or nbrogated except under the same solemn
forms, and upon the same careful consideration
with which 1t was created The people OF the
compelled to rely wholly upon themselves for
good local government. Such self-reance would
naturally arouse them to vigorous action.
When they can no longer sit supinely waiting
for the General Assembly to perform miracles
for their benefit they will reform and purify
their municipal affairs.
If the people of any city should not see fit to
avail themselves of this privilege they could
remain under the government of the General
Assembly as at present, For those cities re
naming under legislative control a uniform
system upon the federal pnn would doubtless
prove comparatively satisfactory In some
cities the people are so anxious TO change theii
form of government that they may object tc
awaiting the approval of q Constitutions
Amendment by the electors OF the State Fol
instance the citizens OF Cincinnati are demand
ing Changes in their government in which the
people OF the entire State (havlng had their at
tention recently directed to that city mos
heartily concur. Many citizens OF CLEVELAND
aver that their affairs are badly managed, anC
they will probably come before you urging the
adoption of new form of government for tha
city. The same may be said, in n modified de
gree, of Columbus and other cities. While
some Of them doubtless need speedy relief, ye
1t should be borne in mind that rothing can b.
done which will be permanent and satisfactor.
except 10 releRate to the people OF all cite
unrestricted control of their own AFFAIRS. Thi
can unquestionaby be accomplished by tn
adoption of The Constitutional Amendment
above referred 10, and by thai alone, Such a
amendment would forever prevent what
graphically termed Ripper Legislation:" an
the present General Assembly ought II OF TO az
1ourn without making provision Tor submittn
tho same 10 the people
The only objection urged against the submi:
sion OF Constitutional Amendment is tina
the people of the State are TO vote next IA
upon the calling of Constitutional convention
but after the convention has prepared ane'
constitution, IL may be voted down by the pee
pie (as the last one was) hence, TO insure tn
relief afforded by the proposed amendment,
should be separately submitted to the ne1
general election In the present temper OF th
people of Ohio there is but little doubt that
would be adopted by an overwhelming vot
Should the cities generally avail themselves
its provisions, the work OF the General Assem-
bly, hereafter would be great decreased, for
Is safe to say that more n4an one-half of yor
time is now consumed in Legislation that woul
then become unnecessary.
BALLOT REFORM.
During the last regular session Of the Generi
Assembly some commendablo changes wei