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Book ^'^ 
 
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES 
 
 As Governor of Ohio. 
 
 Tax Rates Reduced, Public Debt Diminished, 
 
 Public Institutions Iniproyed, Refdrm in Elections Secured, 
 Democratic Testimonial. 
 
 A RECORD THE PEOPLE ARE PROUD OF. 
 
 General Hayes took his seat as Goveraor of Oliio for the first time in Jan- 
 nary, 1868 ; for the second in January, 1870 ; and for the third in January, 
 1876. During his administrations, and in accordance with his recommenda- 
 tions, the State debt was largely diminished, tax rates were reduced, public 
 charities promoted, education advanced, the authority of the State over-con- 
 solidated and powerful corporations asserted and established, obnoxious laws 
 swept away, important reforms instituted, the power to impose municipal in- 
 debtedness and taxes restricted, the resources of the State developed, the 
 fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States ratified, etc. 
 All these things have been accomplished with such utter (but characteristic) 
 absence of ostentation and self-assertion as to leave the general public ignorant 
 of the important part he bore in them, and to remit the inquirer to the tomes 
 of executive documents as the only source from which to obtain information on 
 this point. Nothing short of a rigid cross-examination under compulsory 
 process would be effectual to extort such information from the Governor 
 himself. 
 
 These are matters of local concern. But as they may serve to give some 
 idea of what may be expected of RuTiiERFonu B. Hayes, called to a larger 
 theater of action, some of them and his relation thereto are given from official 
 sources more in detail. 
 
 STATE DEBT AND FINANCES. 
 
 The amount of taxes collected yearly for State purposes in Ohio is 
 nearly five million dollars. These arc expended in support and on account of 
 the Judiciary, the Executive, and Legislative Departments, the administration 
 of the criminal laws, the various State penal, reformatory, and charitable insti- 
 tutions — numbering twelve in all, with about five thousand inmates — common 
 schools, and the State debt. The Governor is charged with responsibility in 
 the disbursement of the public revenues in that he is required by the Constitu- 
 tion " to see that the laws are faithfully executed." 
 
 At the beginning of Governor Haybb's service the State debt amounted to 
 $11,931,341.56. 
 
 In the four and a half years of his service it has been reduced by 
 $2,773,406.05, or about twenty per cent, of the principal. 
 
• I ^ / 
 
 The average yearly reduction during his administrations has exceeded that 
 of other administrations since 1860 by $40,701.19, and that of the only- 
 Democratic administration in the period, Governor Allen's (1874-1875), by 
 $a08,541.87 ! 
 
 In January, 18G8, he found the aggregate State levy on the dollar at 3.5 
 mills. 
 
 When he retired, in 1873, it stood at 2.9 mills. 
 
 This reduction of sixth-tenths of a mill affected a saving annually in 
 State taxes of $914,593.86. 
 
 True, the grand duplicate had been meantime increased, but the extra- 
 ordinary demands upon the State Treasury had increased in larger proportion. 
 The Central Lunatic Asylum at Columbus was burned Nov. 18, 1868, causing 
 the death of six patients, and leaving without shelter 400 more. Its immediate 
 rebuilding was a public necessity. The disaster made apparent the duty of 
 protecting other asylum buildings from a similar fate. The Reform School 
 for Girls, and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home having been established, 
 necessary buildings were to be erected. The extraordinary expenses thus ren- 
 dered imperative for public buildings (to say nothing of current expenses of 
 the new institutions) amounted to over four hundred thousand dollars during 
 his two terms. After his retirement in 1872, the State rates were increased. 
 In 1875 they aggregated 3.1 mills to the dollar. During his present term 
 the aggregate has been again fixed at 2.9 mills. The saving by this reduc- 
 tion amounts to $319,715.16. 
 
 LOCAL TAXATION AND DEBT. 
 
 Over four-fifths of the taxes in Ohio (and this is generally true in all the 
 States) are imposed by local authorities for local purposes, in pursuance of 
 general laws. It is the burden of local taxation that is '?lt and causes com- 
 plaint among tax-payers. To this subject Gov. Hayes has given particular 
 attention. He has constantly sought, in all proper ways and on every occasion, 
 to have the powers of local ofiicers to levy taxes and incur indebtedness 
 restricted and confined within the limits of the public needs. His efforts in 
 this direction constitute one of the marked features of his administrations. 
 
 Despite his endeavors, the sixty-eighth General Assembly (Democratic), 
 at its last session (1869), enlarged the taxing powers of local authorities, and 
 for some purposes authorized taxes and debts in unlimited amounts. He was 
 not vested with the veto power, and the only resort was an appeal to the 
 people. The question was made an issue by the Governor in the State political 
 campaign of 18G9, and he took the stump in favor of restricted local taxation. 
 
 In his opening speech, after referring to the course of the recent legisla- 
 tion on this subject and the depression in business matters, he said : 
 
 "In this condition of the financial affairs of the State, and in the embarrassed and de- 
 pressed condition of the business of the country, the duty of the Legislature was plain. 
 They were to see that no unnecessary additional burdens were imposed upon the people ; 
 that-all wholesome restraints and limitations upon the power of local authorities to incur 
 debts and levy taxes should be preserved and enforced, and especially that no increase of 
 liabilities should be authorized except in cases of pressing necessity. * * * The acts 
 of the last Legislature in relation to local debts and local taxes are of the most extraor- 
 dinary character. These acts relate to raising money for county purposes, for township 
 purposes, for city and village purposes, and for special purposes. These taxes or debts 
 are levied or incurred under the direction of County Commissioners, Township Trustees, 
 or of city or village councils, who derive their authority exclusively from State legislation. 
 The State Legislature has therefore the control of the whole matter. * * * A candid 
 investigation ^vill show that the larger part of these enormous burdens of expenditure, 
 debt, and taxation could aad ought to 'lave been avoided. The last Legislature afforded 
 
examples of the worst evils to which legislative bodies are liable — long Bessions, excessive 
 legislation, unnecessary expenditures, and recklessness in authorizing local debts and 
 local taxes. These evils ' have increased, are increasing, and ought to be diminished." 
 Xiet there bo reform as to all of them." 
 
 This subject was pressed by him with great power and effect in all hia 
 speeches throughout the State. And the election resulted in returning a Leg- 
 islature in favor of reform in these particulars. 
 
 In his next annual Jlessage to the Legislature he said : 
 
 "The Constitution makes it the duty of the Legislature to restrict the powers of tax- 
 ation, borrowing money, and the like, so as to prevent their abuse. I respectfully sug- 
 gest that the present laws, conferring these powers on local authorities, require extensive 
 modification in order to comply with this constitutional provision. Two modes of limit- 
 ing these powers have the sanction of experience. All large expenditures should meet 
 the approval of all thosowhoare to bear their burden. Let all extraordinary expendi- 
 tures, therefore, be submitted to a vote of the people, and no tax be levied unless ap- 
 proved by a majority of all the voters of the locality to be affected by the tax, at a special 
 election, the number of voters to be ascertained by reference to the votes cast at the 
 State election next preceding such special election. Another mode is to limit the rate of 
 taxation which may be levied, and the amount of deb'' which may be incurred. It has 
 been said that, with such restrictions upon the powers of local authorities, the Legisla- 
 ture will be importuned and its time wasted in hearing applications for special legisla- 
 tion. The ready answer to all such applications by local authorities will be to refer them 
 to their own citizens for a decision of the question." 
 
 The Sixty-ninth General Assembly, at its first session, (1870), made great 
 
 advances in the direction pointed out. The power of municipal taxation was 
 
 largely curtailed. Still, the evil had not been fully remedied. The Governor 
 
 was dissatisfied. In his Message to the Legislature, at its second session, he 
 
 used this strong language : 
 
 " The increase of local taxation has been far greater than the growth of the State in 
 business, population, and wealth. It is not to be doubted that this burden has grown to 
 dimensions which seriously threaten the prosperity of the State. In respect to these 
 evils it is undoubtedly easier to find fault than to provide a remedy. No single measure 
 will remove them. Probably no measures which the General Assembly can adopt will of 
 ■themselves accomplish what is desired. 
 
 " A complete reform is impossible, unless the city, county, and other officers are dis- 
 posed and thoroughly competent to do the work of cutting off every unnecessary expendi- 
 ture. Much, however, can be accomplished by legislation. * * * Let the General 
 Assembly firmly adhere to the policy of the Constitution, and refuse to enact special 
 laws, granting powers to tax or make assessments. Let such powers be exercised 
 only in pursuance of general laws. Local authorities should be empowered to levy no 
 higher rate of taxation than is absolutely required for practical efficiency under ordinary 
 circumstances. In extraordinary cases general laws should provide for the submission of 
 the proposed tax or assessment to the people to be aifected by it, under such regulations that 
 it cannot be levied unless at least two-thirds of the tax-paj'ers approve the measure. One 
 of the most valuable articles of the present State Constitution is that which prohibits the 
 State, save in a few exceptional cases, from creating any debt, and which provides for the 
 payment at an early day of the debt already contracted. I am convinced that it would be 
 wise to extend the same policy to the creation of public debts, by county, city, and other 
 local authorities. The rule ' pat as you go ' loads to economy in pubUc as well as in 
 private affairs ; while the power to contract debts open the door to wastefulness, extrav- 
 agance, and corruption." 
 
 The Legislature at that session greatly reduced the local rates and re- 
 stricted expenditures. The grand duplicate had increased, it is true, in four 
 jears a little less than thirty per cent., making a reduction of rates necessary. 
 But such reduction, recommended without reference to the increase of duplicate, 
 was made out of proportion to it, as will be seen by the following statement : 
 
 CITIES AND VILLAGES. 
 
 Before reduction, tlie aggregate rates upon tlie dollar authorized by law 
 for all municipal purposes, except school, amounted to — in villages, 31.75 
 mills; in cities, second class, 35.7.5 mills; in cities, first-class, 36.7.5 mills. 
 After the reduction, to— in villages from 8 to lO mills, according to grade; in 
 ■cities, second class, 9 to I'Z mills, according to grade ; in cities, first class, 
 12 to 16 mills, according to grade — reduction of rates icing more than sixty per 
 cent. 
 
COUNTIES. 
 
 The aggregate of rates of levy upon the dollar for ordinary county pur- 
 poses in 1869, ranged from 3.5 to 18 mills, according to amounts of county 
 duplicates. After the reduction it ranged from 1 to 13 mills— <//e reduction be- 
 ing thirty-Jive per cent. 
 
 TOW^NSHIPS. 
 
 The aofgregate township rates for ordinary purposes were reduced from 4.5 
 to d.55 mills— a reduction of over fort4j-ihree fcfr cent. 
 
 It is estimated— and an exact statement wrought out would increase the 
 estimate— that, under a full levy for ordinary purposes, before the changes in 
 the law in 1870 and 1871, the local taxes in the State would exceed those 
 authorized by law after such changes by Seventeen Million Dollars. 
 
 The Governor's suggestions that local authorities be forbidden to embark 
 in large expenditures without the sanction of a majority vote of those to be 
 afiected thereby, were also adopted. The sum thus saved to the taxpayers of 
 Ohio in taxes and assessments can never be known with certainty. But clearly 
 it runs into the millions. 
 
 Though the rates were reduced as low as it was practicable to get along 
 with, the power of incurring indebtedness was not, at the same time, sufficiently 
 curtailed. Debts were created in anticipation of taxes, and debts to pay debts. 
 The Legislature had only adopted half the Governor's remedy, until 1874^ when 
 his rule "to pay as you go," in its full meaning, was applied to Cincinnati by 
 what was known as the "Worthington bill." So, in his last Message to the 
 Legislature before retiring (1872), he reminded it of this increase. He said : 
 
 " The increase of local indebtedness still continties. * * * I respectfully repeat, as 
 the remedy for this evil, the recommendation heretofore made that all public debts be 
 prohibited, except in cases of emergency analagoua to those specified in Sections 1 and 2, 
 Article 8, of the Constitution." 
 
 Coming again into the Governor's chair in 1876, he takes up his old theme, 
 in his inaugural, as follows : 
 
 " The attention of the Legislature has often been earnestly invoked to the rapid 
 increase ot municipal and other local expenditures, and the consequent augmentation of 
 local taxation and local indebtedness. This increase is found mainly in the cities and 
 towns. It is certainly a great evil. How to govern cities well, consistently with the 
 principles and methods of popular government, is one of the moat important and difecult 
 problems of onr time. Profligate expenditure is the fruitful cause of municipal mis- 
 government. If a means can be found which will keep municipal expenses from largely 
 exceeding the public necessities, its adoption will go far toward securing honesty and 
 eflaciency in city affairs. In cities, large debts and bad government go together. Cities 
 which have the lightest taxes and smallest debts are apt, also, to have the purest and 
 most eatisfactorv governments. * * * Tlie wisdom of the poUcy long since adopted, ot 
 placing a judicious limitation on the power of municipal authorities to levy taxes, has been 
 vindicated by experience. It must, however, ultimately fail to accomplish its object if the 
 increase of municipal indebtedness is allowed to go on. To authorize a town to contract 
 a debt whose expenditures already require taxation up to the limit allowed by law is, m 
 its necessary effect, tantamount to a repeal of the limitation." 
 
 The Legislature soon after took the remaining step, and by an act pro- 
 hibited municipalities from incurring debts beyond the amounts actually in 
 their treasuries to meet them. The Attorney-General of the State, answering 
 Bome inquiries as to the construction of the act, in a letter dated June 23, 1876, 
 said : "The continuous augmentation of municipal debt and taxes was the evil 
 to be remedied. The Legislature met this by requiring towns to pay as they 
 go, or not go at all." 
 
 The people of Ohio may now reasonably indulge the expectation expressed 
 by the Governor (in case the Legislature adopted the measures he proposed, as 
 it baa now done substantially), "that within a few years the burdens of debt 
 now resting upon the cities and towns of the State will disappear, and that 
 
other wholesome and much-needed reforms in the whole administration of our 
 municipal government will of necessity follow the adoption of what may be 
 called the cash system in local affairs." 
 
 PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 Governor Hates has a heart brimful of compassion for the unfortunate^ 
 helpless, and alilicted. The efforts aud success with which he has wrouglit to 
 ameliorate their condition, together with his labors in behalf of the soldiers' 
 and Bailors' orphans, form another striking feature of his administrations. 
 
 The State Board of Charities has been his constant aid and dependence in 
 
 much of this work. He early asked and obtained an enlargement of its powers. 
 
 After his retirement, in 1872, it was abolished. On returning to the chair of 
 
 state in January last he requested the Legislature to reinstate it, and it wa& 
 
 done. 
 
 SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME. 
 
 The following extract is from his second Message : 
 During the war for the Union the people of this State acknowledged their obligation 
 to support the families of their absent soldiers, and undertook to meet it, not as a charity, 
 but as a partial compensation justly due for services rendered. The nation is saved, and 
 the obligations to care for the oi-phans of the men who died to save it still remain to be ful- 
 filled. It is officially estimated that 300 soldiers' orphaus, during the past year, have been 
 inmates of the county infirmaries of the State. It is the uniform testimony of the di- 
 rectors of county infirmaries that those institutions are wholly unfit for children ; that in 
 a majority of cases they are sadly neglected; aud that even in the best infirmaries the 
 children are subject to the worst moral influences. Left by the death of their patriotic 
 fathers in this deplorable condition, i+ is the duty of the State to assume their guardian- 
 ship, and to provide support, education, and homes to all ■who need them." 
 
 The following beautiful and touching passage is from his second inaugural, 
 delivered a few days after the foregoing: 
 
 " Under the providence of God the people of this State have greatly prospered. But 
 in their prosperity they cannot forget ' him who hath borne the battle, nor his widow, nor 
 his orphan,' or the thousands of other sufterers in oiu- midst, who are entitled to sympathy 
 and relief. They are to be found m our hospitals, our infirmaries, our asylums, our pris- 
 ons, and in the abodes of the unfortunate and the erring. The Founder of our religion, 
 whose spirit should pervade our laws, and animate those who enact and those who 
 enforce them, by His teaching and His example has admonished us to deal with all the 
 victims of adversity as the children of our common Father." 
 
 The Legislature did not further delay action. At that session it estab- 
 lished the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, where over six 
 hundred of the orphans contemplated are receiving an education, and being 
 instructed in the arts of industry, at the expense of the State, and in fulfill- 
 ment of its obligation. To bring this about, the Governor was untiring in his 
 
 efforts. 
 
 CHRONIC INSANE. 
 
 Before General Hayes' advent to the Gubernatorial chair, no suitable or 
 permanent provision had been made by the State for its clironic insane. 
 Speaking on this subject, and of the number and condition of these unfortu- 
 nates, in his Message of January, 1870, he said; 
 
 "The State should no longer postpone maldng suitable provision for those unfortu- 
 nate people. The treatment they receive in infirmaries and jails is always of necessity un- 
 suited to their condition, and is often atrocious. To provide for them, I would not rec- 
 ommend an increase in tlie number of asylums for the insane. It is behoved by tnose 
 best acquainted with the subject that both economy and the welfare of the patients 
 require that the chronic insane should be provided for by additions to the asylums already 
 built or to those which are now building. It is probable that in this way such patients 
 can be supported at less expense to the people of the State than in the inCirniaries and 
 jails. However this may be, their present condition imperatively demands, and I trust 
 will receive, the serious consideration of the General Assembly." 
 
 i The Legislature at that session embodied these suggestions into a law, and 
 
 made permanent provision for the chronic insane by additions to the several 
 
6 
 
 asylums. The wisdom of the measure, both upon economic and humane 
 grounds, has been fully vindicated by experience since. 
 
 Under his administration the eight great asylums of the State— the insane, 
 idiotic deaf and dumb, and blind — have made great advancement in manage- 
 ment and the care and amelioration of their inmates, caused in part by the im- 
 provement of their buildings. His visits, in company with his wife, the no- 
 blest of women, to and inspection of them have been frequent, and always 
 with suggestions for their betterment. 
 
 OHIO PENITENTIARY. 
 
 Passing by the Reform School for Girls, established during the Governor's 
 
 first term "for the instruction, employment, and reformation of exposed, 
 
 helpless, evil-disposed, and vicious girls," and also the Reform Farm for Boys, 
 
 in both of which he ever manifested a deep interest, a few words may not be 
 
 out of place concerning the Ohio Penitentiary. Referring to this institution, 
 
 Governor Hayes, in an early Message, said : 
 
 "A large proportion of the convicts when admitted are quite young. The age of 
 about one-third does not exceed twenty-one years. More than two-thirds of the inmates 
 of the prison are now under thirty years of age. It will occur to any one who considers 
 the facts that under our system of prison discipline too httle effort has heretofore been 
 made to reform these young men. A high authority has said: 'No human being is so 
 debased and wicked that he cannot be reclaimed.' It is believed that under a wise system 
 the yoimg at least can be reformed and prepared for useful and worthy citizenship. The 
 present system has two capital defects— the mingling in intimate association of the 
 yoimg with the hardened criminals, and the failure to educate the convicts in habits of 
 thrift and self-control. * * * In a recent report the Directors said : ' The great mass 
 of convicts still leave the Penitentiary apparently as hardened and aa dangerous to the 
 State as they were when sentenced. The vital question is how to remove this reproach 
 from our penal legislation. In considering it I commend to you the remarks of the'Boaral 
 of State Charities on the Irish convict system. The distinguishing merit of that system is 
 that 'it enlists the co-operation of the prisoner in his own amendment without withhold- 
 ing from him the punishment due to his crime.' ♦ * * » I submit that the least that 
 ought now to be attempted is to provide for a classification of convicta so as to separate 
 beginners in crime from hardened offenders." 
 
 The reforms suggested were partially carried out by the Legislature at that 
 session. It provided for the removal of youthful convicts from the Penitea- 
 tiary to the Reform Farm or the Reform School, as the case might require. 
 Other reforms were instituted by the Directors. Increased rewards for good 
 conduct were given discharged prisoners. The aggregate of these rewards in 
 money nearly doubled every year from 1868 to 1873, being in the latter year 
 $5,598, although the number of convicts discharged was not materially 
 increased. This was in addition to gifts of clothing, etc. In this way the 
 *' prisoner's co-operation was enlisted in his own amendment." 
 
 The Governor refers to the progress made, in his next Message, thus : 
 
 " Under prudent and efficient management the earnings of the Penitentiary continue 
 to exceed its expenses, and at the same time gratifying progress has been made in improv- 
 ing the condition of the prisoners. The hateful and degrading uniform of past years is 
 disappearing ; increased means of education, secular and religious, are afforded, and tke 
 officers of the institution exhibit an earnest desire to employ every instrumentality author- 
 ized by existing laws to restore its inmates to society, improved in habits, capacity, and 
 character." 
 
 Referring to the success of the reforms instituted, the directors, in a sub- 
 sequent report, say: 
 
 " We are beginning to learn that there are few who are so depraved as to be destitute 
 of redeeming qualties, and that there are as tew who are not made malicious and revenge- 
 ful by cruelty and tyranny." 
 
 The earnings of the institution had never equaled its ordinary expenses 
 
before Governor Hates' time but once, the last year of Governor Cox's admin- 
 istration, when they exceeded such expenses by $17,813.50. 
 
 The average yearly excess of earnings over ordinary expenditures during 
 his four years' service was $32,590.59. 
 
 The average yearly excess in the four years following was $22,948.33. 
 
 Difference in his favor per year, $9,542.26. 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF OHIO. 
 
 This great work was undertaken in 1869, on the recommendation of 
 €rOvernor Hayes in his first Annual IMessage. It has resulted in material 
 advantages to the State far beyond all expectations. It has given an impetus 
 to the coal and iron development that has made the State among the foremost 
 in the production of these minerals. 
 
 MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN BOARDS OF ELECTION. 
 
 In his Message of November, 1868, the Governor discussed the evils of 
 frauds upon the ballot-box and the remedies therefor at great length. "To 
 corrupt the ballot-box," he said, "is to destroy our free institutions. Let all 
 good citizens, therefore, unite in enacting and enforcing laws which will 
 secure honest elections." Among other things he urged that the -minority 
 party be given a representation on election boards. 
 
 In his Message of 1870 he again, in strong terms, urges this "measure of 
 reform in the manner of conducting elections." "A fair representation of the 
 minority will go far, not only to prevent fraud, but what is almost of equal 
 importance, remove the suspicion of fraud." 
 
 There had been grave legal and constitutional questions in the way of 
 securing minority representation on election boards, as was thought. But 
 Governor Hates, himself an astute and profound lawyer, had no difficulty with 
 these. A plan was hit upon to avoid them. The law was enacted, and the 
 minority party in each election precinct secured a representation among the 
 judges of election. Then the wonder was why Hates' plan was not thought 
 of before. It has proved to be one of the most valuable reform measures ever 
 adopted in the State._ The public have become satisfied that elections since 
 have been fairly conducted by the judges. The charge of fraud in their con- 
 duct is now rarely made. 
 
 And the Governor, during his entire administration, has carried out the 
 principle of minority representation in appointment of public boards and oflS- 
 cers, witJiout a single exception. 
 
 THOUGHTS ON FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT, ETC. 
 
 Governor Hates would not seem to be a disciple of the paternal theory 
 
 •f government. In his first inaugural is found this language : 
 
 "Excessive legislation has become a great evil, and I submit to the judgment of the 
 Oeneral Assembly the wisdom of aToiding it." 
 
 In his second inaugural, 1870, are these sentences: 
 
 "Convinced of the sonndnees of the maxim, that.' that government is best which 
 gOTems least,' 1 would resist tlio tendency common to all systems to enlarge the fnnctions 
 of government. The law should touch the rights, the business, and the feelings of the 
 citizens at as few points as is consistent v,\ih the preservation of order and the mainte- 
 nance of justice. If every department of the Government is kept within its own sphere, 
 and every officer performs faithfully hia own duty, without magnifying his office, harmony, 
 efficiency, and economy will prevail." 
 
8 
 
 It might be inferred from the following what he thinks on the supremacy 
 of the civil authority over the military in time of peace. Under a state of cir- 
 cumstances existing in Ohio in May last, it became his duty under the law to 
 call out a part of the Militia of the State for a few weeks' service to suppress 
 and prevent riots. In his written instructions to his Adjutant-General com- 
 manding, he said: 
 
 " You will act strictly in subordination to, and use force in any instance only at the 
 request of, the civil authorities. 
 
 "You will locate your command at such place or places as will best effect the objecte 
 aimed at, being careful not to infringe private rights ; but in no case shall any of your 
 command be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner." 
 
 The doctrine that corrupt officials should be exposed and punished is not 
 a recent one with Gov. Hayes. In his farewell Message to the General Assem- 
 bly in 1872, speaking upon this subject, he said: 
 
 " What the public welfare demands is a practical measure which will provide for a 
 thorough and impartial investigation in every case of suspected neglect, abuse, or fraud. 
 Such an investigation, to be effective, must be made by an authority independent, if pos- 
 sible, of all local influences. When abuses are discovered, the prosecution and punish- 
 ment of offenders ought to follow. Bat even if prosecution fail in cases of full exposure, 
 public opinion almost always accomplishes the desired object. A thorough investigation 
 of official corruption and criminality leads with great certainty to needed reform." 
 
 Other reforms and matters inaugurated and occurring under his adminis- 
 trations, such as that requiring the open letting of contracts for public build- 
 ings and improvements (whether State, county, or municipal) to the lowest 
 responsible bidder, upon estimates, plans, and specifications in detail, after 
 advertisement in the public press; the founding of the Ohio Agricultural Col- 
 lege ; the reformation and simplification of the criminal practice in the courts ; 
 the ratification of the fifteenth amendment, etc., etc., merit extended notices. 
 But this review is already swelled beyond proper limits. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that no Chief Magistrate of any commonwealth ever, per- 
 haps, more generally and beneficently influenced the affairs and polity of his 
 State. The Governor's Messages may be traced in almost all their important 
 features to the statute-books. The elevated tone of his official life has been 
 imparted to subordinates, and is manifested in all the departments of the State 
 Government. 
 
 TESTIMONIAL FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 
 
 It is fitting that this review close with a testimonial from the Democratic 
 party. On motion of Gen. "W. H. Ball, a leading Democrat in the Ohio 
 House of Representatives of the Legislature, immediately following Governor 
 Hayes' retirement, a committee of five was raised to investigate the adminis- 
 tration of State affairs covering the period from 1868 to 1873, with General 
 Ball as its chairman. After a most searching investigation the committee 
 reported through its chairman : 
 
 " The special comsaittee appointed under House resolution No. 113 report as follows : 
 The examhiation has taken a wide range. One hundred and nine witnesses, residing in 
 varioua parts of the State, have been subpoenaed and examined touching public contracts 
 and expenditures, construction of public buildings, conduct of public liistimtions. etc. 
 All matters, without reference to the date of their occurrence, coming to the knowledge 
 of the committee, that seemed to promise any probability of throwing any hght upon the 
 subjects of inquiry, or any of them, have been diligently inquired into. 
 
 " Your committee take pleasure in reporting that, so far as elective officers and their 
 subordinates are concerned, very commendable honesty and tidehty have been observed, 
 and that in the official conduct of no public officer, whether elective or appointive, has cor- 
 ruption been diaclosed." 
 
 LB N 10 
 
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