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

last winter has been diGcharRing its duties
with regard TO canal lands IN the most praise.
worthy manner; and has recovered in less than
one year lands appraised nt over one hundred
and thirty thousand dollars For its encour-
agement rs we'll as vindicatlon from certain
unwarranted nspersions, II ia suggested that you
investigate and report upon its transactions.
In this connection II would be we'll enough,
also to investigated tho Board Of Public
Works, and ascertain what II has done with re.
gard to canal lands, as we'll as the general
mana cement OF its affairs
PARpoSs AND pApoIrs
There are no functions Of the state poyern-
ment upon which there aeens 20 no 90 much
pubIic Instrumentation M upor those NJ nnrdon
and pnrole Much nrjnted criticis,n hns been
INDUCED in, persona who ,vritc surh crit,cisms
nre often Ignorant NJ tho fpct TINT nnrdoninu
and psrolinp arc sepnrnte nowers conferred
upon different and distinct boards, or nre unn-
bic to distinguish the difference between n pa.
role and n pardon
The Board of Pardons ia composed of four
persons md is non nnrtisnn II was somewhat
demora,izod last winter owing 10 nm inyestipa.
tion pending when The present Stnto admins.
tration came into mower; but wns subsequently
reorgnnizcd, and is now working hnrmoniousIy
and effectively in the discharge OF its duties
The Board OF Paroles ia comprised OF the
Managers of the Penitentinry. The impression
has been created that the present Board is ex-
ercisinV its prerogatiye in a more free and in
discriminate manner than has been the habit OF
its predecessors. II is, therefore, proper to
state that prior to the first day OF last Novem.
Der (the end Of the year) the present Board
had been in ofIice precisely six months; that
during said period II paroled forty.four persons;
and that in the preceding six months under
the old Board, eighty.six prisoners received
paroles. IN making this statement II is not in
tended 10 animadvert upon the former Board
for granting too many paroles (because, without
an examination Of each individual case, it is
impossible to tell whether the prisoners were
improperly paroled or not. but to make It
known from offcial sources that scarcely one
half as many paroles are granted now as here
tofore.
1t may be well to add, also, In regard to par
dons, that since the 18th day OF last January
(and the inauguration OF the present admins
tration) twenty five prisoners have been par
doned from the Penitentary. In the preceding
four years, which cover one administration, one
hundred and eleven prisoners received pardons
from that institution. These facts are also
made known in order to refute certain mislead-
ing statements upon this subject 1t is the
opinion OF those best informed that Board
with proper compensation and powers, should
exist for the purpose OF considering pardons,
combinations and reprieves, but such Board
ought not to be called Board OF Pnrdons
which is misnomer. Additional restrictions
could also be made which would prohibit frivol-
Gus applications Tor pardons. Ihe time Oh the
present Board is largely occupied by cases
which have no merit.
THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
The Board OF State Charities has just COM
pleted a most:thorough and exhaustive report
Much information OF a technical and historical
as we'll as OF O practical character. is embodied
therein Advance sheets will be furnished
members of the General Assembly at an early
day, in order that the many valuable sugges-
tfons OF the board may be carefully studied
and, as far as possible, carried into immediate
effect. Too much care can not be given to the
perusei OF this report nor too much weight to
the advice of the board.
COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS AND TELE-
GRAPHS
Some suggestions were made YOU last year in
regard TO the passage OF n bill creating n rail-
road commission to be substituted for the
Commissioner of Railroads and Teleqraphs
The proposition was n GOOD one and is renewed I:
but it is only fair to say, that the present Com
missioner is discharping his duties with eff
cheney and fidelity The former Commissioner
was removed for reasons specified in message
sent to the Senate. Before his removal which
occurred shortly after the appropriations were
made, he had expended the funds of his office,
not leaving sufficient money for the present
Commissioner to employ EXPERT inspectors as
required by law The latter has therefore been
compelled to conduct his office for eight months
with Inadequate funds
II the scope of this office wore properly en-
larred II would obviate to n great extent the
necessity for the Commission above referred
to.
LABOR.
The bill passed last April providing for free
public employment offices has proven to be n
great boon to the cause of labor. While it was
experimental in the beginning, it is an ap-
proved and evident success. Nothing OF the
kind had before been attempted. The nearest
approach to it is the intelligence office conduct
ed by the French Government It is exceed.
ingly gratifying to know that the system inau-
gurated by your wise legislation has proven to
be even more valuable than was anticipated.
There is nothing which the State can better af-
ford to do than to procure employment for men
and women who are willing to work It is not
only humane and charitable for the State to be
thus engaged. but it is beneficial to society, and
productive OF good order. There are some
amendments to the foregoing law, however,
which would make It st Il more efficient and sal.
utary. The State ought t0 pay the superintend-
ents and clerks employed in said offices. The
fact tn O.. they are paid by the cities subjects
them in n certain manner to the influences and
control of the city government; Whereas they
should be State officers, paid by the State only,
and responsible to the Commissioner of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, by whom they are
appointed. The term of office of the employees
above named should be fixed. Under the ex-
isting law there is no definite tenure. The
Commissioner ought to have the power to re-
move any employc whom he may deem imcom-
petent or dishonest. You have imposed upon
him, very properly, the power of appointment.
He should, for his own protection and that OF
the State, be endowed with the power of re-
moval. 1t is not just to any officer that he be
made responsible for the acts of those whom he
can not remove.
In connection with the Bureau of Labor
Statistics it might be added that in Massachu-
setts, Pennsylvania and many other States,