Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-01-07
lines, conld shippers and boat owners be con-
vinced that they are not to be abandoned.

lines, could shippers and boat owners be con-
vinced that they are not to be abandoned.
ROADS.
without reproducing what said o year ago
upon the subject OF good roads, beg most earn
cstly to ask the consideration OF the general
sembly to that subject. 1t is attracting atten-
tion in all parts Of the country, and liz no state
is there greater necessity for good roads than in
our own suggest that the general assembly
authorize the appointment OF commiss on TO
investigate and carefully consider all plans pro-
posed and experiments being made, and to sub
nit report, with recommendations, In time for
the meeting of the first session OF the next gen.
eral assembly, the commission to serve without
pay.
PRINTING OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS,
The large number of documents which are
printed annually by order OF the general assem-
bly,, has come under my observation. They con-
sist, for the most part, OF detailed reports of
state officers and the superintcndents OF the
public institutions. Much of the same material
is found In many Of the reports and in some OF
them there is o reproduction year after year Of
matter given in preceding reports. 1t has
Cured 10 me that in addition to detailed re-
ports to be filed, each officer should summarize
his report in the briefest manner possible for
printing. A cons derable sum Of money could
| be saved to the state in this way. The cost OF
printing and binding public documents during
the last year exceeded the sum OF l9l 900. II
the reports should be distracted especially for
| publication they would be more satisfactory,
and would attract q larger constituency OF
| readers than they now do. The gendral assem-
| bly, authorizes the printing of public documents
| and not infrequently omitS TO make any appro-
| priation therefor. Such authorizations should
be accompanied by the necessary appropria-
tions.
| 1t has been brought to my notice that diff
| ferent scale OF fees prevails in different coun-
| ties that some of the fees charged exist without
| fiC n1xuar apd .hrru uoh hapn ttca
OF practice prevailing through long series OF
| years. All fees should be definitely fixed by
law, and those existing in practice only should
be held to be Illegal and the charging OF them
| should constitute an ofense
| PROTECTION To RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.
In my inaugural address invited the general
| assembly to give its consideration to the sub
ject OF greater safety in the running OF railroad
| trains. The great number OF accidents givc
serious importance to this question. During
| the last year the number of employees killed and
disabled on the railroads running through
Ohio was l,13S
With the increased trafic OF railroads there
| Is just and reasonable demand that all possible
safeguards should be had to protect the lives OF
the employees and the passengers The COM
missioner Of railroads recommends that legsla-
tive action be taken which will require that all
cars, whether purchased outside Of the state or
built within the state for Use in the state, be
furnished with automatic couplers and air
general repairs should be fitted up in the same
manner before being again put into service, and
that q date should he fixed when the provisions
Of such act should go into operation earnestly
indorse this recommendation
STREET RAILWAYS.
I am deeply impressed wi n the conviction
that the general assembly may, in the same di-
rection extend its legislation for the better pro.
lection Of that increasing class OF wageworkcrs
the street car men Within the last year
street railroad locomotion has been revolution
iZed by the use OF electricity as the motive
!, power. This system is in almost every city Of
the state, and lines are being established be-
tween cities and from cities TO suburban towns.
In some instances they carry not only passen-
gers but freight and mails. Accidents on cleo
trio and cable street railways are not infre-
quent, nor are they decreasing, and the COM
panies operating them should be required by
law to exercise the greatest caution, and to
avail themselves Of every appliance for safety
and for the prevention Of accidents TO employees
: and the travelling public. The strect car driv-
: ers, motormen and conductors, numbering in
Ohio nearly 1900 are public servants. They are
held to street accountability for the proper dis
charge of their duties, so far Us they relate to
= the public.
t fellow citizens should receive the serious atten
ton of the general assembly recommend thai
D within reasonable time it be required thai
! electric and cable street cars be proyiued with
r vfslibules, so as to protect the motormen and
conductors from the severe weather TO which
they are exposed On some lines these vesti
, bules are already in use and have been satisfac
, torly tried This, something better, should
be provided for the comfort and safety ano
q health of men so employed. II is worthy o
| note that street railroads are not required u
make report OF accidents 10 the railroad commits
. | sioners, as in the case of steam railroads. The
| present law requires reports TO be made tc the
' state inspector OF workshops and factories only
in case of accidents to employees. These re
ports. | suggest, should be made to the railroad
g commissioner, and this new system of stree
d railroaos might well be subject to the laws gov
ernIng steam railroads, so far as such laws ma,
/; | be applicabi e and expedient
d MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Reform in the government of cities is now en-
gaging public discussion on the part OF thought
q ful and prudent people, who observe in some o
= the cities increasing rate of taxation ant
: | wasteful expenditure of public money. M
1 other subject will be found more worthy OF you
y | best consideration and judgment, and you will
have dor e 4 rCnt service to the state II you de
| wise some system for the government OF cite
J. which will check extravaganza and corruption
| and secure clean and economical administra
tion. Some cities OF our state are notably vel
r and economically administered These exam
n pies might aid the general assembly in formu
|. latng wise and judicious measure in the inter
8 est OF good city government 1t should be born
e in mind, that no system, however perfect Il
/. ideal, can be satisfactory meet public expec
+ tation, II those who are entrusted with its exc
v cution are not capable and honest. The troubl
/. | is more frequently with those who administe
the government OF cities than with the structur
II OF the government itself.
g The practical experience In some of the citie
II OF the state the federal PLAN has worked vel
T. and ii Is generally commended by those VIII
l. have given to the subject the widest and mos
D. careful observation.
n After ALL the remedy for municipal misgo,
m ernment rests with the people themselves
e They should make manifest the need OF reforI
d and the direction OF any desired change Of sys
o. tom; and the general assembly should be a
ways ready to respond to the peoples demand
by the passage of we'll, considered laws which
= while leaving control with the people, will ell
y courage business methods In administration an
70 promote the highest honesty and efficiency
y the conduct OF municipal affairs
=. OHIO AT THE WORLDS FAIR
Iv The report of the Ohio commissioners to tn
az Columbian Exposition will be laid before yol