The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-01-14

tlos; that some OF the fees charged exist without
specific legal warrant, aud IRE charged because
OF practice Prevailing through long series Of
years, All fees should be definitely liked by
law, and those existing in practice only should
be held to be Illegal, and the charging of them
should constitute an ofenso.
PROTECTION TO RAILROAD EMPLOYER
In my inaugural address invited the general
assembly TO givo its consideration to the sub
iect of greater safety In the running OF railroad
trains. The great number Of accidents give
serious importance TO this question During
the last year the number Of employees killed and
disabled on the railroads running through
Ohio, was 1,73s.
with the increased trafilc 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 loigsla-
| tive action DO takcn which will require that ell
| cars, whether purchased outside of the state or
built within the state FOR use in the state, be
! furnished with automatic couplcrs and air
brakes and that all cars taken to the shops for
| general repairs should be fitted up in the same
manner before being again put into service and
that n date Should he fixed when the provisions
of such act should go into operation. l earnestly
! indorse this recommendation.
STREET RAILWAYS.
] am deeply impressed with the conviction
| that the general assembly may, In the same di-
rection, extend It's legislation for the better pro-
| lection of that increasing class Of wagc-workers
tho street car men, Within the last year
street railroad locomot'on has been revolution
| lied 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 20 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
panics 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. Tho street car drty-
| ers, motormon and conductors, numbering in
Ohio nearly 1900 are public servants. They are
held TO strict accountability for the proper dis
charge Of their duties, 80 far as they relate to
the public.
This Woodworking and exposed class of our
fellow.citzcus should receive the serious atten-
tion of the general assembly l recommend that
within a reasonable time il be required that
electric and cable street cars be provided with
vcsrbulos, so as to protect the motormen and
conductors from the severe weather to which
they arc exposed On some lines these vcsti.
bules are already in use and have been satisfac'
torily tried This or something better, should
be provided for tho comfort and safety and
health of men so employed. 1t is worthy of
note that street railroads. arc not REQUIRED to
make report of accidents to the railroad commits
sioners as in the case of steam railroads. The
,og,,+ ,,,, vo,,,iree rcnorte To be made IN the
stotc i,s,,ccto, of ,,orsbor,s and factories only
, ~ - 70 ,oai,,o,te 80 ot,,1,,ns 1'bosn rS
, ,,,,s ,,,ost si,l,,,,l l,o rlle ~, tro railroad
; a,,;,7,, 20 nI ,Ifs NOV, s,,st,,5, or etrcct
railroads might wcl be subject to the laws gov
= ernlng steam railroads, so fur as such laws may
. be applicable and eNpedient.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Reform in the government OF cities is now en-
gaBihg pubic discussion on 'He plry Vi 'ousiiy
lul "u pruuc' pcopo' VIM ooaSi 'o ~ III go 80 i
tno ot,i1' N an I,.,' ,SIj n No
other snrect viii ba fo,ind more worthy of your
teat conejdnrntion and i5do,nent. and Won will
have done n rrcat service TO the state If YOU dc
,isc some srste,, for tbc ooyrrnrent of cities
, v,birb viii Cbocl. oytrovagance and corruption
ond secure clran and economical administra.
ton some rffirs or orr state are notably well
and cconr,nicaIIv administered Theso exam
nIes might aid fhe general assembly in formu
iatinc n wise and iudicious measure in the inter
est Of good city government. It should be borne
in mind, that no system, however perfect IL
ideal, can be satisfactory or meet public eEpec
tation, if those who are entrusted with Its exc
cutton are not CAPABLE and honest INC trouble
is more frequently with those who administer
the government OF cities than with the structure
5 of the government Itself. .
! Tho practical experience in some OF the clue'
of the state the federal plan" has worked we!l
= and IS generally commenced py lhose "h'
| have given TO the subject the widest ana mos
Y careful observation
/ After all the remedy for munlclpal mlsgoV
ernment rests with the people themselves
= They should make manifest the neeo OF rcIorn