The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-01-05

IionS LOT the working forces ana the conditions
In that respect are standing arguments in favor
OF the state supplying additional room.
THE BOARD OF PARDoNs
The last report Of the state board Of pardons
shows that during the year just passed $50
cases were presented. and OF these l4l were
acted upon. The pardons recommended num-
bered "a, communications OF sentence 81. and
transfers from one penal institution TO another
2. There were "a cases rejected.
LABOR INTERESTS
The law intended for the protection Of labor
Ing men and women should in every instance
where shown to be inefficient, be extended
with such recognition Of the rights Of oil COM
cerned as may be possible A great deal has
been accomplished by these provisions which
are designed TO ameliorate conditions. AFFORD
safety TO body and health, and prescribe proper
rules for labor. The wisoom OF shop and fac
tory inspection in all its branches, OF requiring
safety appliances, OF securing sanitary and
scientific supervision OF mining, and Of collect
ing data which throws light upon the complex
question OF labor Is acknowledged by all But
II is evident that there are many things to be
done, and i, therefore, commend to your con-
sideration the propositions which will be ad-
vanced in the interest Of the laboring classes
The affairs Of the coal miners OF Ohio war
rant your attention. 1t is to be hoped that fu-
ture conditions will be such as to present coal
mining matters in less acute forms than have
been observed In the recent past. In whatever
way the state could act, with the rights Of all
parties In view. but for the end OF bettering
the environments OF this numerous class OF
our people, would be beneficial.
BOARD OF ADMIRATION.
Special attention and recognition is due to
the admirable work performed by the state
board OF arbitration. Its influence In the ad-
justment Of disputes and difficulties between
employers and employees has been marked At
all times OF serious disagreement affecting
labor and employers Of labor the board has
been prompt to offer its aid In the line OF arbi-
tration OF differences or conciliation OF con-
flicting interests Almost without exception
the result has been good one, and cannot
but think that large measure Of the peaceful
and satisfactory conclusions OF such trou-
bles are directly traceable TO the earn
est and energetic efforts Of this board.
The Ohio board was the first to try for
such Interstate arbitration and conciliatlon as
would permit an amicable adjustment Of the
differences The outcome spoke volumes OF
praise for their endeavors although history
will probably not give the commentator de-
served. In the work OF such board undoubt-
edly lies one OF the solutions OF the great
problems concerning labor and Its interests,
from the standpoint OF employer as well as en-
ploye. The state OF Ohio should take no back
ward step In relation to arbitration, but on the
contrary should so perfect its system that
when the national government recognizes the
necessity and value OF such process, the law
OF Ohio will be accepted as model
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
The opening Of o new year finds the agricul-
turiSts OF Ohio rel oicing in the memories OF
prosperous period just passed and confident OF
equal success IN tne future. Inc aHalrS OF That
great class can we'll receive your closest atten-
tion with view OF perfecting conditions
wherever just and sound laws will accomplish
| it. The interests Of the farmers are practically
| coincident with those OF nearly all other walks
| Of life in this modern day. and 1t should be the
aim Of all TO do the most for the common good.
| Legislation which will make the burden OF
taxation as light as possible, which will con-
| serve general good causes, which will cheaper
and facilitate the cost OF transportation in agri-
cultural districts through the institution Of q
| good roads system, and which will unite more
closely the city and the country population by
rapid transit will do much to benefit all, and
none more so than those who till the soil
The wisdom OF the state government in maxi
ing suitable appropriations for the agricul-
tural experiment station at Wooster, is being
demonstrated more fully each year. The prac-
tical benefits to agriculturists accruing from
such an institution are many, and there Is
every reason to believe that they are appre-
| ciated The agricultural experiment station
work, when coupled with the splendid object
lessons afforded each year by the state fair and
the county exhibitions, and the farmers insti-
| tute lectures prove that Ohio Is steadily pro-
| crossing in agriculture.
BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURING.
The vast interests involved in the business
and manufacturing enterprises Of the state
which mean so much for the present and future
good of all classes should receive the most
consderate treatment at your hands 1t Is OF
the utmost Importance that the Ohio govern
ment should so act, as far as 1t is able toward
those whose industries contribute so largely to
the comfort and success Of life, that the bene-
fits will be immediate and lasting.
AUTOMATIC COUPLER AND POWER BRAKE LAW
The Ohio law enacted in March, 1893 provid-
ing that by January l, 1898. all railroads oper-
ating In the state should have automatic
couplers on engines and cars both freight and
passenger, and that % per cent. of each train
should have power brakes to ensure easy con-
troll, has not been fully complied with for good
reasons Reports made to the commissioner
nf do n a nd fnff1
all Ohio rolling stock, show that almost all
passenger train locomotives have power brakes
and 81 per cent automatic couplerS OF tie
freight engines about 81 per cent have power
brakes and ~ per cent automatic couplerg
Only few OF the passenger, baggage, express
and mail cars are not equipped with both pow
er brakes and automatic couplers, but only 20
per cent OF the vast number Of freight cars gre
so supplied. The requirement for the insttu-
tion OF these devices for safety OF passengers
and employees entailed the expenditure of an
enormous sum Of money, and in the period OF
depression that was prevailing at the ting OF
the enactment Of the law. and which continued
with more or less force until the reacton OF
this year, when the railroads began to make
more satisfactory earnings, 1t was practically
impossible for the companies to comply
The federal law OF an almost similar nature
was enacted Immediately prior to that OF Ohio
and provided that the Interstate commerce
commission could at its discretion extend the
time for compliance The commissioners were
recently advised OF q state OF affairs upon
nearly all railroads approaching that which
obtains in Ohio at this time. Recognizing the
difficulties under which the railroads have
labored, owing to poor business conditions, the
Interstate commerce commission extended
the time to January |, 1900 The Ohio law did
not provide for any extension of time. In con-
sideration of the many interests involved and
for justice to all concerned, there is urgent me-
cessity for legislation which will give the rail-
roads OF Ohio the same additional time allowed
under the federal act
THE OHIO CENTENNIAL.
The commission appointed to report to the
general assembly upon the advisibility and a
plan OF celebrating the centennial anniversary
OF the admission of Ohio into the Union, has
investigated the subject but Is not yet ready
to communicate the conclusions
Should your honorable body, in event Of q
recommendation from the commission to ar
range for such an observance Of the centennial
period, decide to institute the preliminary pro-
ceedings to secure adequate results In the
future, would suggest the propriety OF an ap-
preparation sufficient to cover the expense OF
an investigation Of the modern methods
tails OF necessary expenses as may be entailed.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS,
The election laws Of our state are designed
to be broad enough to afford ample protection
for the purity OF the ballot but reform Is needed
in our system OF conducting primary elections.
To make the conditions more satisfactory in
relation to the exercise OF the elective fran
chise, II seems TO me necessary that there shall
| D6 SuCu bAttuSlOH VI laws rs Will place the
primaries under the control OF boards Of cleo
ton, city and county. A method which will
provide that the primaries Of each party shall
be held under control Of boards Of elections,
at the same time aud under the same rules,
permitting only registered and qualified voters
to cast their ballots for delegates
to conventions or candidates for nomination,
and attaching proper penalties for violation Oi
the laws, will effect reforms which should lone
ago have been instituted in behalf OF sover-
eign right Of the people. Such departure
from our present system will be in harmony
with advanced ideas concerning election pro-
! cesses and will be approved by all good citi-
zens. l respectfully urge the subject for con-
sideration and hope TO sec the Seventy -thirt