The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-01-09

obligation TO pay.
OIL Inspection.
When the department OF state inspec-
tion Of oils was created, its sole purpose
was TO provide protection to consumers
OF petroleum products used for illuminat-
ing purposes. II sought to compel refin-
ers 70 extract from such products, as
| they offered for sale for Illuminating pur-
poses SO much of the lighter elements
OF petroleum, such as are commercially
known as gasoline, benzine, naptha, etc,
as would render the consumer practically
secure from explosion. Protection should
be extended to the consumers of these
lghter substances. In other states, which
maintain a department similar to this,
gasoline used for commercial purposes
is submitted to a gravity test and the
| certlncate OF the department is as neces-
Sary In the one instance as in the other.
When our law was enacted years ago
the old method of distribution in bar
rels largely obtained. There were COM
paratively few depots from which petro-
leum to be used for illuminating purposes
was shipped. At the present time there
are approximately two hundred tank sta
tons in the state from which oil and
gasolne are distributed to retail dealers
and consumers direct by way of tank
wagons.
The Canals.
In connection with the recent policy for
the Improvement of rivers and harbors
by congress and the revolution in motive
power FOR transportation by shallow
water there is at hand new era for
the waterways of our state. The canals
IN ONO originally cost about $4,000, 900.
Mhat is left OF them, after practically
giving away terminals at Cleveland, Gin
cinnat, Toledo and elsewhere worth
more than the original cost of the whole
system, is estimate by the canal COM
mission at $l5,00O,OO0. The system con-
sists, in fee simple, of 627 miles of canal
right OF way, and of q ,9O3 acres in reser
yolrs. The public works were recovered
from lessees in 1878 in Il very dilapidated
condition and received no appropriations
thereafter, except for such repairs as eX
lStlng contracts made necessary, until
the SeVenty-SlNth general assembly was
confronted with the selection of one of
three propositions-abando rejuv-
enation or enlargement, 1t was then de-
canals without material enlargement.
This policy was reaftirmed in the appro-
priations made two years ago by the
present general assembly.
The Seventy sixth general assembly in
itiated the proposed work of rehabilita-
ton four years ago with a continuing ap-
ment of the division between Cleveland
and Dresden, provided the water rents
therein were increased to $500 or more
annually. Only 100000 of that apprOpri
alton was then used.
Ohio National Guard.
The report of this department for the
year ending November Is, 1907, shows
the strength of the Ohio national guard
to be 453 officers and 5,745 enlisted men.
some changes nave been made in the
organization of the guard to conform to
the requirements Of the national militia
law. The equipment of the guard has
been made to conform to the require
mentS of the national law so far as finan-
cial resources will permit, and full regu-
lation equipment will be provided when
considerable increase in the federal ap-
preparation, an earnest effort to secure
which will be made at the present ses-
sion of congress, is granted. This COM
plcte and modern equipment will aid
greatly in encouraging enistments and
| maintaining the standard of the service.
Emergency Deficiencies.
Since the adjournment OF the general
assembly, several emergencies have
arisen. to meet which applications have
been made to the emergency board. This
board authorized deficiencies to be Gre
ated against the general revenue fund
for the different state departments and
institutions amounting to $33l l,027.5S. TIL
law would not permit this money to be
paid from the state treasury hence the
vouchers are being held by banks with
the understanding that they will be paid
interest on the amounts thus. advanced.
l recommend that appropriations be
made to take up these vouchers at the
earliest time to stop the interest.
Relief of Needy Blind.
A very strong sentiment exists Nnong
the people of Ohio in favor of giving as
siEtance to needy and worthy blind per.
sons residents of the state. Many petit
tions have been signed and addressed to
- ~ q
ing that some action be taken t. give
itself to me that this aid should come
from the county and not from the state
County Option.
The temperance laws of Ohio have kept
in touch with the temperance scatiment
of the people In 1886 a law was passed
requiring every person, corporate or CO.
partnership engaged in the business of
trafficking in spurious, vinous, malt or
any Intoxicating liquors to pay, tax Of
$500 annually for each place where such
business was carried on. This tax was
afterward increased to $3.50, then to $3.50
and later to $1,000 In 1888 the law
known as the township local option law
was passed About l, 100 townships in the
state have voted dry. In 1902 the muni-
cipal local option law was passed and
many of our municipalities have abol-
district local option law was passed, and
a large number of the cities in the state
have taken advantage of its provisions
and have voted the saloon out of their
residence districts. The Jaw, known as
the Aiken law, increasing the tax, known
as the Dow tax, from $3.50 to $1,000, has
proved to be good revenue measure as
well as a good temperance measure, it
having aided in reducing the number of
places where intoxicating liquors were
sol since its passage
State Bank Examination.
According to the returns made to the
vember Is, 1906 there We're 595 banking
institutions or corporations organized
under the laws Of Ohio, doing business,
with about $50 900, 600 90 of deposits A
large amount of this vast sum represents
the savings of working men and women.
There is no provision for the eXamina-
ton or supervision of these institutions.
The law provides only that report Of
their condition shall be made under oath
by an officer of the banking house, on the
call of the auditor of state, twice a, year,
and copy of such report printed in a
newspaper in the locality where the in
stitution is located. These reports show
very little that tends to inform the pub
lie of the stability of the bank. The vital
question is. what is the value of the Sc
curities held for loans or discounts? I
most earnestly suggest the passage of an
act providing for state supervision and
examination of all such banks.
Primary Elections.
The enactment Of a primary election
law has been repeatedly recommended
by the last three of my predecessors.
The sentiment of the people, often eX
pressed, Is clearly In favor of such enact
ment. The present primary election ma
chinery of the state Is not what 1t should
be, and offers opportunity for abuses and
Irregularities in the making of nomina-
tions. Whatever legislation is had upon
this subject should embody the follow
ing provisions:
The holding of the primaries OF all par
ties on the Same day and at the same
places, under the direction of the county
boards of elections.
The nomination of township, city, and
county candidates and the selection of
delegates from such subdivisions to dis
trict, state and national conventions by
a direct vote
The adoption of the Australian ballot
in primary elections, making 1t necessary
for the voter to secure his ticket when
entering the voting place and to vote
1t before leaving, so as to do away with
the marked ballot evil.
Conclusion.
1 have continued my recommendations
for the most part to the opera tions OF
state departments and institutions, based
on experience in cooperating with them
during the past eighteen months. With
due courtesy to your honorable body, as
we'll as with due regard for the consti-
, tutional division of responsibility between
the legislative, judicial and executive de-
partments of the state government, l do
not consider it my province to take spe-
cific part in legislation other than that
bearing on the betterment of the admin
icfr SnrVipa