Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-21
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER.
EVERY HORSE A SADDLE HORSE INAU-
DURATION DAY.

How the TRANSFORMATION is Edeoted-An-
nuAl Cost of the State Government-Re-
dIstrIcting-The state Houses Bad Con-
dItion-The Oil Inspectorship.
COLUMBUS, o., Jan. II.
Inauguration day, gray and dull
overhead, bright and active on every
side Blue coats, silk hats, canes, badges,
committees, and gaily dressed ladies,
seemed to be the predominating features
of the streets Of Columbus today. There
really don't seem to be common men
enough to make a showing. But the
weather, though not bright, is better
than was predicted by the prophet in the
top of the board of trade building. The
old state house spreads itself out with
its usual gloominess, with bored air,
as if to say, Il have been through this
many times, and really there is nothing
exciting in it for me-"
Without attempting or wishing to
take the edge off the graphic and reals
tic press reports that will be read on the
morrow, of this most successful inaugur-
alton, there are some minor things that
I might mention that may prove read
able. Be it known first. that every
horse in Columbus today is splendid
saddle horse-at 81 for the afternoon. 1t
is said that on other days many of these
equines are engaged in the useful but
heavy labor of hauling lumber and coal
and other needful things of life. But a
curb bit and burr under the saddle are
warranted to make the necessary change
Then again the street car companies, be-
cause of their recent change to cleo
tricity, have an extra supply of beasts
which they have kindly offered for the
occasion. Ninety of these horses are
said to have been pressed into service.
and as the small boy did not become &C
quainted with the fact soon enough to
procure the necessary bell with which to
ring them to stop, the procession was
not inconvenienced in the least with their
presence.
One young man from the Forrest City,
of stout build and borrowed slouch hat,
one of President Squire's aides, was sent
up and down the line with more or less
necessary orders that before he was
through he had learned to ride horse
back quite decently. When he started
out the horse was rather the master, and
insisted ON siding up and down the
street in the most obstinate style. Sew
eral of the principal men on horse back
showed their lack of official knowledge
of that sort of thing, and no doubt were
glad when the day was done and the
governor safely inaugurated
The procession was one of the finest
displays of military ever seen in the state
since the war. The noted Cleveland
Grays, who acted as personal escort for
the new governor, won plaudits on every
side. The Toledo Cadets also showed
the effects of much drill and excellent
discipline. The several regiments made
most excellent showings. All of which
made every Ohioan proud of the sight.
1t Costs Money.
How much does the reader think it
costs Ohio to run its state government
for year? Auditor of State Poe has
submitted his estimate, which however,
contains the deficiencies up to Feb. 15
next, al d it seems that over $4,500,000
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 well. II
Ohio penitentiary will need $295, 5,950.S2
and the state reformatory $3.50 900 more,
which might be classed as the secondary
half of the judiciary. There are other
items that might be added to these
figures, which would bring the sum up
to over 81 900, 900. The board 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 $120, ,532.75, but the in
sane asylums are more expensive and
want sums as follows: Athens, $140, $50:
Cleveland, $174,665; Columbus, $780,
s4S.24; Dayton, $l59,75 Longvie
$135,000; Toledo, $241 400 and the
Epileptic asylum will need $243,000.
The smallest item on the list is that of
$120 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
missioners almost without number that
will need various sums. Thus is the
budget made up, and thus is the state
spending its money. But there must be
q curtailing of more than 81 900, 900 to
keep expenditures within receipts.
Prayer in the Legislature.
The legislature came very near having
to go without prayer this winter The
Columbus preachers met in solemn con-
clave 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 discussion was pro-
voked, but some sort of an excuse was
found by the reverend gentlemen for
there are prayers every morning now.
Possibly thanks 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 vain?
Redistricting.
AS soon as the Republican senatorial
caucus was over on Wednesday last, the
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
Lie 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 shane as ara