The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1906-01-11


able for the rights they enjoy.
In the same connection. there should he
a reduction OF expenses. l am Informed
that In several counties of the State, the
expense Of looking after the canals Is two
or three times what the services are worth
This part of 1t Is a business proposition and
the matter should he looked into Immediate
~. The system Of employment upon the
| canals is nntiquated md should he thor
oughly revised and placed upon n modern
business basis. II should not be necessary
Tor me to say that all political assessments
made upon canal employees or any other en-
ployes Of the State shonld he prohibited In
the future by proper legislation In this
connection let me recommend that you np-
point committee to ascertain the assess
mcnts made or collected from all the off,
| GERS ana employees of the various depart
ments and institutions Of the State.
| Compensation of County Oniccrs.
Sccond-For fifteen years past. ever since
| the last salary law was repealed, upon the
promise That more Just one would he
enacted, the intelligent people of Ohio have
ben demanding the enactment of fair
| law which would give 10 each county officer
II proper compensation for his services and
no more. As II is now. many of these coun-
ty officers are receiving fees which are two.
| thrcc, and In some eases ten times more
than the value Of the services they are rem
| drlnE TO the state or counties. II Is right
| ana proper for the State or county to pay
n fair compensation for any services rem.
dercd. but it certainly should not pay
| more. Under no circumstances should
| these respective Offices he mndc places
where large sums OF money cnn he obtain
| cd and divided up among politicians. or he
used improperly or dishonesty to secure
| an election.
Improved BnnIsinE Lnws.
Third-There has been demand for many
years past on the part of the people that
the banking laws Of the State should bc
improved In way that would prevent II
| possible the continued breaking Of banks,
ending In the loss Of tho funds belonging to
the deposltors. II has been reliably stated
| that certain bankers. or persons Interested
In these private and state banks, have been
| able heretofore to exert an influence with
the members of the General Assembly to
prevent the passage Of these proposed nee
| essary laws. 1 feel confident that such
will not he the case with the present Gen.
| oral Assembly. I have sufficient faith to
believe Tint II the members of tho Cen
era Assembly think 1t right to protect the
| people by more stringent laws. that they
VIII take the necessary action. There is no
politics In II and should he none. The hon
| est banker or bank official or n State or
| private bank or Of any other bank. who
wants to do the best for his bank, will nee.
| cssarlly Insist that the laws for the protcc
ton of the depositors should be the strong
cst possible. Rnt whether he does or not.
| the people, In the interest Of the dcposltor,
| should sec that such laws are enacted. II
| this cannot he done nj n very early day of
| the session, then Il committee should he np
| pointed at once 10 investigate thp present
| condition Of the various State and private
| banks doing business in Ohio. and report TO
| the General Assembly. In framing nny law
\ for this purpose. ] suggest that you make
some provision. II 1t Is possible. by which
no man can become an officer or director.
| or remain an officer or director Of any State
| or private bank unless he will take an oath
| of office that he will not engage In amy
| kind OF speculation whatsoever. For any
violation of this onth the penalty should
| he made very severe. Provision should he
made for department to supervise banks
and banking. and the expense of any and
should be paid by the banks: or. II the div
| idends to the stockholders are limited to u
| reasonable amount then the expense should
| be paid out OF the funds Of the depositors.
| In any event, this expense being incurred
| for the benefit OF n certain clnss of citizens.
the department should not be any ex-
| pcnse to the State.
Home Rule for Cities.
I desire to call your attention to the In
terest that Is being taken In the subject
| of Home Rule for cities, particularly as To
! the right Of each city. town or village nj
large to decide for itself. Qll questions Of
! local policy. especially those of public or
| privnts ownership OF all public utilities, In.
| cludinL street railways. water works and
| lighting systems. II II Is according to your
| judgment that provision should he made for
| submitting such matters to the people. then
| upon request from such portion of the citl-
| think advisable, n vote shall he taken and
the majority shall decide the question.
| The matter of taxation viii necessarily
| receive youG earnest consideration. IL Is
perhaps the Judgment of the great minority
of the Intelligent people that the laws. ns
| far as possible. should provide that the
necessary revenue for the expenses of the
| state shall bc raised In some manner with
out calling upon the respective counties
for any portion thereof. Also, that some
law should he enacted by which the fran
| chises and privileges should he taxed ms are
other properties All of these matters are
| Of concern TO YOU. and. as members Of the
| General Assembly. Won should give them
the lust consideration they deserve at your
hands.
/ do not hesitate to say that believe II
| Is the wish of the great majority OF the
people OF the State that the law enacted
at the last session. known as the Inherit
ancc tax law. should he repealed.
| | must also call your attention to the
| s,ct that the amendment 10 che constitu-
| tion passed at the last election and recon-
mcndcd by both leading parties. provides
| for the exemption of Ohio state. county.
township, municipal and school bonds from
| taxation. When 1t has been fully consid-
cred and Is understood. this VIII doubtless
| he thought by many to have been nm, I'M
, Just decision. Nevertheless, the amend
mcnt has been passed and II ls now a part
| Of thc constitution. As 10 the revenue
which has come from this source of taxa
tlon some provision must be made TO sc-
cure the amount In some other manner
| AS members Of The General Assembly
am suic you Will deem 1t necessary to have
your finance committee ascertain at once
| the income from the various sources for
| the current year, also to ascertain the out
| standing obligations or outro for the eur
| rent year: and. nj the earliest time posi-
| hlc ascertain II there are amy appropria-
!; ti0ns which have heen made heretofore that
| could In any way he discontinued In other
words with tho present incomplete data
| at hand. there Is every indication that the
| outgo as Il whole, has been largely In cx-
| cess Of what Is necessary Every possible
effort should bc made TO llace the affairs
| of the State and Of MI Its various depart
nents upon strictly economical basis,
keeping In mind the efficiency Of the ser
| vice and the absolute comfort and hlppi-
| ness of Its wards
| also request the General Assembly. Mt
| the earliest time practicable to investigate
| the matter of the OH inspectorships of the
State Of Onto. and TO secure the facts re.
| latng thereto.
| also recommend that you consider the
| advIsabilIty Of amending the prcsent law
| In reference TO municipalities Of the State
| In such way thar their government may
| be made more simple, may be carried on
| at less expense, and that II may be more In
| tho interest Of the peo Die than as provided
| for In the present law. | also call yoUr at
tcntlon to the fact that there seems 10 he