The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-01-21
LETT X FROM COLUMBUS.
The Annual Cost of the State Govern
ment-Bad Condition of the state
House.
COLUMBUS, Jan. Is.

contains the deficiencies up TO Feb. Is
next, al d it seems that over 1900, 900
will be required for all purposes. That
is quite the sum and no mistake The
largest item is that Of the judiciary
which calls for $4,000; justice may be
blind, but it is expensive as we'll The
Ohio penitentiary will need S295, ,950.S2
and the state reformatory $500 more,
which might be Classed as the secondary
half of the judiciary. There are other
items that might bo added to these
figures, which would bring the sum up
10 over 81 900, 900. The oard of public
works, which has charge of the canals
and other smaller public properties, will
need $243, 492. .77-and it will probably
get it. The Ohio national guards will
be content with Sl20, ,532.75 but the in
sane asylums are more expensive and
want sums as follows: Athens $40, $50;
Cleveland, $l14,G65 Columbus, $780,.
s4s.2l; Dayton, $3.50, ,7jj; Longview,
Sl35, 900; Toledo, $24l 400, and the
Epileptic asylum will need S243,000
The smallest item on the list is that Of
Sl20 for the pension of family of j. p.
Brush. Two thousand one hundred dol.
lars will be wanted to prosecute the war
claim of Ohio against Uncle Sam. The
public printing will eat up all Of $40, 900.
Then there are commissions and COM
mis- toner's almost without number that
will need various sums. Thus is the
budget made up, and thus is the state
spending it's money. But there must be
o curtailing of more than 10000 900 to
keep expenditures within receipts.
Prayer in the Legislature.
The legislature came very near having
bo go without prayer this winter. The
Columbus preachers met in solemn con-
ciaye the other day and complained
one to the other that they had not
only not been paid for praying for, and
In the presence Of, the legislature here
tofore, but they had not even been
thanked. Quite a discussion was pro-
voked, but some sort of an excuse was
found by the reverend gentlemen for
there are prayers every morning now.
Possibly tb inks will be duly and proper.
ly bestowed at the end Of the present
Session. And If they are not will the
ministers consider their work in vaini
RedlstrictinG.
AS soon as the Republican senatorial
caucus was over on Wednesday last, he
attention of the members was directed
to the proposed redistriCting bill intro
duced few days before by Senator Car.
penter. The newspapers who do not
want the state redistricted have amused
themselves and possibly edited the pub
hc with pictures Of some of the proposed
districts. 1t seems to be the predominant.
ing opinion that Senator Carpenters bill
Is not just the one to pass. Some of the
districts are as abnormal in shape as are
many Of the present ones. A large por-
ton of the majority are rather disposed
10 be little more fair to the opposition
and likewise to the people of the state,
than TO take sixteen or seventeen of the
fgnntY-one diztrictS One of Sanatos
Carpenters districts, the seventeenth, IN
cut in twain, one-haif having no con-
nection at all with the other, and tunnels
and telephones are suggested as the
proper mode Of bringing them together.
Se!eral of the districts have their parts
Joined together with such slender links
that an earthquake of mean proportions
would have little difficulty in separating
them entirely. The words of Governor
bANAAAAAAIy III MS AlASNst4np Va bCNAeN "AAA
have weight with most members of the
majority Of the present legislature.
Bad Condition of the State House.
Inspector of Workshops and Public
Buildings Mcdonald in his forthcoming
report, which is now in the hands Of tho
printer, will tell what he knows about
the abominable condition of the state
house. Mr.. Mcdonald is a thorough
builder an architect by profession and
an expert in sanitation. He speaks Of
the present state Of things in this build
ing in no polite terms The system Of
sewerage and ventilation, he says, are
not only worn out but were inadequate
when first put in. This members of the
house set upon q raised platform that
bakes them almost to a crisp and TO get
relief, windows must be opened only to
bring the death dealing draughts. Tho
closets are reeking with sewer gas that
b positively dangerous to health. 1t
seems that there is not one redeeming
feature about the state house apparatus,
that ought to be run for public comfort,
convenience and good health. In the
chamber of the house-and the same Ia
true in the senate-the seats are 80 ar
ranged that the light of all the large
windows comes directly into the eyes OF
the members. One Of the prominent
members in a speech on the floor of the
house last week. said that when he first
came to the house four years ago 10
had as good eyesight as any man
of his age ought to have; he could
at that time read without the
use of glasses. Now his eyesight
was almost ruined, and all because
he was compelled to sit facing those
broad windows. If the seats were on,y
placed so as to face the opposite way,
the light would then come in at the
back and the left, the proper way. 1t
Is TO be hoped that the present legislS-
ture when it takes hold Of the sanitation
and sewerage question will also tale
this matter of light into consideration
and make one grand change that shall
be for the better. Mr.. Mcdonald esti-
mates that the whole will cost about
$50 ,000-a beggarly sum when 80 much
harm comes from the present arrange
ments.
The Scramble for Oil Inspector.
After every change in political part g
In the governors office, there Is great
scramble for the office of oil inspector.
The reason for this is very patent to all.
1t is the best paying Office in the state;
In fact, it pays more money than does
the governorship itself. The report n
Inspector Dowling is now out, and 10
shows that his fees for the last year
amounted to $24, 1851. Out Of this
sum he paid his deputies II Is estimat-
ed that he makes for himself something
over $4,000 year, while the only duty
is to draw the salary, so that it is easily
10 be seen why the office ia 30 much