Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-01-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Mr.. Bushnell's Recommendations
to the Legislature.
He Tells of the Various Needs of the State
Institutions and shows How They May
in Several Instances be Improved
Finances In Good Shape.


OF Gov. Bushnell's annual message to the gen.
eral assembly, which is colhplete document
In speaking of the state finances the governor
says: Two years ago attention was called to
the fact that in the l2 years-1SSi to it05-there
had been deficiency OF receipts as compared
with expenditures OF l2053, ,2i3 W. and that in
only one year, 1890, had there been an excess
Had 1t not been for that, the total deficit for
tho period mentioned would have been in
creased about s2S0, ,0J0"
FINANCES
The governor then submits the financial
statefient, prepared by the secretary of state,
showing receipts and expenditures for 1895 and
1897.
After submitting oil the figures In detail in
all the departments, the governor sums them
up as follows: Grand total for all purposes
including balance, "a, 4,Si22 40; total disburse-
ments for the year ended November 10, 1897,
Si,43e S32 %; balance, sis5, ,S74.57; outstanding
warrants, s16,22h43; balance subject to draft,
November 10, 1897, s451, coo.
EMERGENCY BOARD.
Experience has now shown that the biennial
sessions of the legislature not detrimental
to the interests OF the state when considered in
connection with these emergencies, and II also
may be said that the biennial session plan,
far as 1t concerns the whole state, has as yet to
be proven unwise 1t Is more economical and
fully as effcacious the annual session idea
OF the recent past.
TAXATION
The gratifying success OF tax laws
should not inspire the creation OF others unless
it is apparent that by the institution OF new
processes there can be a more equitable ad
justment for the benefit OF all Taxpayers. The
duty OF any government is certainly to make
the burden imposed upon property and people
as light as possible 1t is not the province of
tax laws to build up surplus beyond the pru-
dent reserve sometimes so necessary and avail
able. Should it become plain that the state,
by reasonable economy and with due regard
for future needs. can lay by surplus. there
should be an immediate reduction OF the state
levy on property as soon as the precautionary
amount has been secured
INSTITUTIONS.
The whole number OF inmates maintained In
our l6 state institutions for the year 1897
le,772, an increase over the previous year OF
LILY.
Although the new Eastern hospital for the
insane, at Massillon is nearing completion and
will soon be able to take care Of ]. 30 unfor-
tunates who are now cared for in other hospi-
tails for the insane or are in the intirmaries or
1ails, 1t Is certain that the relief OF the crowded
conditions of such institutions can only be
temporary at the best 1t is known that there
are at least 1880 insane people in the state who
cannot get admission to the hospitals under
present circumstances, and therefore additional
accommodation, even after the Massil'on hos
pital Is opened. will have to be provided in
order that they may have proper treatment
and an environment better than that afforded
in the average county institution where many
are now confined.
/ desire to call your special attention to, and
solicit your most careful consideration for the
reiteration of the necessity for an amplitca-
tion OF the state work OF caring for imbeciles
Recently the success of the education OF
children who are both deaf and blind has again
been demonstrated. There are several of such
grievously afflicted ones in Ohio, and humanity
would dictate that we should give to them the
care and education now offered the more for
tunate children who are only deaf or only
blind
The institution for the education OF the deaf
and dumb has had an unprecedented increase
in the number OF pupils, and it is now appar-
ent that the facilities for lodging them and for
proper school rooms are Inadequate
The grand institutions-the Soldiers and
Sailors home near Sandusky, and the Soldiers
and Sailors Orphans home near Xenia-have
had prosperous years. Every feature OF these
institutions is TO be commended.
THE PENAL INSTITUTIONS
The showing now made by the Ohio penal in
Btitutions is very satisfactory. In the Ohio
peniteutiary the conditions have been steadily
improving, until at the present time there is q
promise OF o successful outcome in all ways.
The increase in earnings OF the institution for
the fiscal year 1895, as compared with the pre-
vious year, was s2.2ll0e. and the increase IL
earnings for the fiscal year 1897, over 1896, was
Al l,l2l.US In 1896 the per capita earnings were
sl06 %, and the per capita expense Sl32s4. In
1871 the per capita earnings were slls.64, ant
the per capita expense Sl3i S5.
In September, 1896 the Ohio state reforma.
tory, an institution which at the close of the
fiscal year OF 1897 had cost the state for con
struction Il .00S 032. was opened, and in accord
ance with the law $50 prisoners were trans
ferred from the Ohio penitentiary to the new
place
The next penal establishment which Ohio in
stitutes should be for the reception o.
female prisoners. The female department q
the Ohio penitentary is lily adapted for the
purposes and should be either replaced by
new structure on Its site, or modern, wei
equipped and convenient building should b
erected at some other place The presen
female prison is almost disgrace to the state
STATE HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS.
In this connection permit me to say that II
my opinion the end desired-that Of providing
additional room for the state departments
and especially the supreme court and its con
tingent offices-can be reached with the ex
penditure of much less money than the pro
posed plan would surely involve, and witt
equally as good, II not better results. Th
sum OF s400,0OO was appropriated, and will
that amount the state can acquire land sum
Client and pay the greater part OF tho cost Of
building entirely suitable as a place for sucl
state departments as now encroach upon thu
space needed for the constitutional, executiv
and legislative departments. There are sew
eral desirable sites on or near the Capito
square which can be acquired at their marke
value, and even with the most liberal allow
ance for the land purchase the balance o
the amount appropriated would cover all, o
nearly all of the cost OF construction of d fire
proof handsome and ornate building.
THE OHIO CANAL SYSTEM.
The commission appointed pursuant to Hous
Joint Resolution No. 90 have submitted thei
report, and they say: 1.-THE canal system Q
the state OF Ohio comprises 600 niles OF navi
gable canals 32, SOD acres OF reservoir area, an
II miles OF artificial feeders, besides the river
and stream channels connecting the waters Q
the canals and which form part OF the cana
system"
] am decidedly in favor of the maintenanc
and the necessary Improvement OF the Miam
and Erie canal which is practically self-suI
porting, and OF the Ohio canal from Cleyelan
10 Dresden, where entrance TO the navigation
tho Muskingum can be had in the future
In this connection desire TO invite your al
tention to the general subject of deep water
ways, and especially to that part OF such
nrnanslIlnn a 9 cnncerns thu nrnSnect of SacuI