Loan payable after July 1, 1885, bearing 4 per cent interest. 350,000 00 Loan payable after July 1, 1886, bearing 4 per cent interest 875,000 00 Loan payable after July 1, 1887, bearing 4 per cent interest. Loan payable after July 1, 1883, bearing 4 per cent interest.. Canal loan, not bearing interest. Total funded debt... 500,000 00 600,000 00 1,665 00 $5,201,665 00 The local indebtedness at the same time was as follows: Debts of counties. Debts of cities... Debts of incorporated villages. Debts of townships.... Debts of special school districts. Total local debts.... $3.222.683 78 The State Auditor's report shows the taxable property of the State to be $1,587,207,579, an increase over the duplicate of 1880 of $28,999,674. Real estate for 1881 is appraised at $592,548 less than it was in 1880. This is by reason of the fact that the grand aggregate of real estate, as fixed by the State Board of Equalization, causes the realty of 1881 to fall below the valuation of 1880. The report shows that the gross increase of personal property for taxation is $29,584,222. The statements contained in the report, in reference to national and State banks, are important. The report shows that the capital stock, undivided profits and surplus fund, and real estate of the national banks are appraised for taxation at $21,777,313.20, an increase over 1880 of $1,177,772.01. The amount of capital stock, surplus and undivided profits, and real estate, as 1,915,762 53 reported to the Auditor of State at a valuation of $34,137,499.76, show the taxable valuation to be 63 per cent of the true valuation. 37.909,348 80 $44,114,100 75 There was a total increase of local indebtedness over the previous year of $2,816,355.07, described as follows: Increase in counties.. Increase in cities... Increase in villages. Increase in townships.. Total increase. $369.326 79 91,224 40 157,106 46 282,984 84 $2,816,355 07 In the first session of the Legislature, which began its sittings in 1880, a large number of acts were passed authorizing the building of railroads by counties, townships, cities, and villages. Only a few of these acts had been carried into effect, but a considerable number of the local authorities were preparing to issue bonds in 1881 for the purposes named in the acts, when further proceedings were stayed by a decision of the Supreme Court of Ohio on a test case, declaring the act unconstitutional, and the bonds issued under it valueless wherever found. But for that decision the local indebtedness would have been much greater. As it is, the aggregate has increased every year, in spite of the warnings in every Governor's message for a series of years. The amount of cash in the State Treasury on November 15, 1880, the beginning of the fiscal year, was $1,235,891.50, which was to the credit of the following funds: Incorporated State banks make a return for taxation of $1,136,233.09, an increase over the valuation of 1880 of $15,795.86. The return to the Auditor of State of the same banks shows the amount of capital stock, surplus and undivided profits, and real estate, to be valued at $2,035,052.26. Tax valuation, 58 per cent of true valuation. An examination of tables in the report pertaining to the valuation of national banks for taxation, shows very great inequality in the assessment of this class of banks for taxes. The Auditor of State earnestly recommends that the statute be so amended as to restore the State Board of Equalization for bank shares. The railway property of the State for 1881 was fixed by the State Board of Equalization at $83,764,315.74, being $167,280 more than the valuation of the same as returned to the board by the Boards of County Auditors. The valuation of the railway property for 1881 was $77,848,180.83; an increase over 1880 of $5,916,134.91. The report of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs indicates an increasing prosperity in these branches of industry. There were (June 30, 1881) 5,840,388 miles of railroads; an increase over the preceding year of 3.448 per cent. The amount of stock and debt was $380,709,530.35, an increase of 3.9 per cent; the gross earnings were $45,843,866.34, an increase of 9.553 per cent; the operating expenses were $29,378,562.82, leaving the net amount of earnings $16,465,303.52, an increase of 4:483 per cent, amounting to 4:324 per cent on the stock and debt. Of the gross receipts, the passenger earnings amounted to $10,320,517.98, an increase of 10.822 per cent; the freight earnings to $33,415,533.28, an increase of 9-753 per cent; the mail earnings were $1,047,698.55, an increase of 13.986 per cent; and the express earnings were $832,994.67, an increase of 26.995 per cent. From "other sources" the receipts were $862,704.22, an increase of 9-137 per cent. It will be seen that while the increased mileage is not quite 3.5 per cent, there was an increase in the various classes of receipts from 9 to 26 per cent, averaging nearly 11 per cent. There was expended in the maintenance of way and structures the sum of $14,059,005.10, an increase over the previous year of 20.329 per cent. This may be in part attributable to the increased cost of material and labor, but largely to the fact that railroad managers have been actively engaged during the year in bringing their roads up to the proper condition to bear the increased demands of traffic. The cost of transportation was $23,768,604.45, an increase of 16-618 per cent. This cost has increased in greater ratio than the gross receipts. The employés, including officers, number 32,207, an increase of 9.529 per cent. An inspection of the railroads was made during the summer and autumn by three competent civil engineers. They report great activity upon most of the roads, in the work of bridge-building, replacing wooden with iron bridges, and trestles with embankments, reducing the grades, increasing substantial ballasting, and a general tendency toward lasting improvements. They represent that there is generally a most excellent and safe condition of railway. When faults have been found by the inspectors, immediate assuring promises of prompt repair have been made by the managers or superintendents. According to the returns made to the State Bureau of Statistics of Labor, the year 1881 was a very successful period for both manufacturers and working-men. Of the 463 returns by working-men, 177 report an increase without resorting to strikes, while 25 report an increase secured by means of strikes. The Board of Public Works report their gross receipts for the fiscal year to be $259,106.37; expenditures, $213,705.97; net gain, $45,400.40. The report of the Adjutant-General shows the present force of the Ohio National Guard to consist of ninety-three companies of infantry, two troops of cavalry, and nine batteries of light artillery, and a total number of men, including officers, of 7,308, being a reduction of 698 during the year. The total number of insane persons in the State is estimated at about 6,000. Of this number about 1,400 may be classed as chronic insane, and about 600 as epileptics. Of the total number, 3,533 are cared for in the asylums, leaving about 2,500, including epileptics, not cared for by the State. On the morning of the 18th of November the main building of the State Institution for Feeble-minded Youth, at Columbus, was burned down, involving a loss of probably $250,000. Nothing was saved from the burned portion of the building, but the children were all removed without injury. There are six asylums for the insane. The number of patients in each, November 15, 1881, with the per capita cost per annum on daily average of patients actually in the asylums, were as follow: Athens, 616, $170.37; Cleveland, 622, $180.92; Columbus, 930, $185.00; Dayton, 596, $174.13 (exclusive of salaries); Longview, 651, $122.94; Toledo, 118, $185.55. At the same date the numbers in the other benevolent institutions of the State, with the actual cost per capita of the inmates, were as follow: Asylum for the Blind, 180, $206.85; Deaf and Dumb Asylum, 432, $175.84; Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, 603, $153.24. In the five reformatory institutions in the State there was, November 15, 1881, a total of 1,332 boys and girls. At the same time there were in the Penitentiary 1,152 prisoners. The cost per inmate for the year was $150.10. The institution was more than self-supporting, the current expenses, including salaries, having been $187,625.76, and the earnings $190,614. 23. The crop statements of the State Board of Agriculture place the number of acres sown to wheat in 1881 at 2,856,609, with a total crop harvested of 38,010,057 bushels, being an average of 13.3 bushels per acre. The crop in 1880 was 52,500,000 bushels. The report of oats, partly estimated, was 22,500,000 bushels against 21,000,000 in 1880; of corn, 74,000,000 bushels, against 105,000,000 in 1880. The number of animals returned to the Auditor of State's office shows a falling off from the previous year in all classes but sheep, in which there is an increase. The figures for the two years are as follow: The Legislature opened the adjourned session January 4th, and concluded its labors April 20th. Proceedings were temporarily suspended in the early part of March, in accordance with a resolution to attend the inauguration of President Garfield at Washington. A large part of the session was spent in fruitless endeavors to pass measures affecting the trade in liquor. A constitutional amendment, local-option bills, and a bill taxing the sale of liquor, were hotly debated through the greater part of the session, but none of them were finally adopted. A bill for the more rigid observance of Sunday was also under discussion from the beginning of the session until near the close, when it passed in a greatly inodified form, its principal effect being to restrict dramatic and musical entertainments on Sunday when connected with the sale of liquor. A bill was passed making it unlawful to keep or knowingly permit to be kept "any room or building, or any portion of any room or building, or to occupy any place on public or private grounds anywhere within the State of Ohio with apparatus, books, or other device for the purpose of recording or registering bets or wagers, or to sell pools upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed, or power of endurance of man or beast." Later in the session an attempt to exempt trotting associations from the operation of the law was defeated. The most important work of the session, aside from these measures, was the adoption of the scheme for the disposition of the public debt, before described. At the opening of the session, Governor Foster transmitted to the Legislature the following communication: MENTOR, OHIO, December 23, 1880. To the Governor and General Assembly of the State of Ohio. Having been appointed by the General Assembly on the 13th and 14th days of January, A. D. 1880, a Senator in the Congress of the United States from the State of Ohio for the term of six years, to begin on the 4th day of March, 1881, I have the honor to inform you that I respectfully decline and renounce said appointment, with a high appreciation of the honor conferred upon me by the General Assembly, and of the confidence which its choice inferred. I am very truly your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD. (Signed) On the 18th of January the Legislature elected John Sherman United States Senator for the full term of six years to which General Garfield had been elected the previous year, and which he had declined on his election to the presidency. The Democrats voted for Allen G. Thurman. The vote stood in the Senate Sherman, 20; Thurman, 12; in the House-Sherinan, 65; Thurman, 40. On Friday, the 23d of September, at twentyfive minutes past 5 P. M., a train, bearing the remains of the late President Garfield, left Washington for Cleveland. It consisted of an engine and six cars. The first was a regular passenger car, which was unoccupied. The second contained Mrs. Garfield, her family and intimate friends. The third was set apart for the cabinet and their families. Next came the fourth car with the remains, guarded by a detachment of the First artillery. This was followed by a car containing the army and navy escort, and last was the baggage car. As there was not enough room in this train for the Congressional Joint Committee of sixteen, they were obliged to accept the second train. The remains reached Cleveland on Saturday morning, for burial in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland. Great preparations had been made for the lying in state at Cleveland, a special building having been erected in the center of Monu ment Park, and arches spanning the streets in the neighborhood and along which the funeral procession was to pass. Several companies of State troops were called out as guards. The remains lay in state from Saturday to Monday morning, and a steady stream of persons poured through the building during the whole time. The State officials were present, the funeral being under the general direc tion of the Governor, who gave special charge of the proceedings to the municipal authorities of Cleveland. The whole State went into mourning. The Republican State Convention was held at Cleveland, June 8th, and the following ticket put in the field: For Governor, Charles Foster, of Seneca; for Lieutenant-Governor, Rees G. Richards, of Jefferson; for Judge of the Supreme Court, Nicholas Longworth, of Hamilton; for Attorney-General, George K. Nash, of Franklin; for Treasurer of State, Joseph Turney, of Cuyahoga; for member of Board of Public Works, George Paul, of Summit. All but the nominees for LieutenantGovernor and Judge of the Supreme Court were already occupants of the positions to which they were named, and the nomination of each was by acclamation. The platform adopted was as follows: Resolved, That the Republicans of Ohio in convention assembled hereby reaffirm and readopt the principles and policy of the party as shown in its history. Resolved, That the Republicans of Ohio heartily approve and indorse the Administration of James A. Garfield, President of the United States, and we hereby pledge to him our cordial support in the disChief Magistrate of the nation. charge of all the duties devolving upon him as the Resolved, That we hereby indorse the wise policy of the Republican party in giving full protection to American labor and in discriminating in favor of home industries. Resolved, That we fully indorse the administration of Governor Charles Foster and the State administration of the Republican party during the last two years, under which the expenditures were reduced over $500.000 below the expenditures of the Demo reduced the public debt of the State nearly $1,250,000, cratic administration of the two preceding years, and and refunded the remainder of the debt redeemable the 30th day of June, 1881, by the issue of State bonds bearing 4 per cent interest, which were sold at such a premium as to reduce the rate per centum 84 per cent per annum. Resolved, That public interests require that the General Assembly should submit to a vote of the people such amendments to the Constitution of the State relative to the manufacture and sale and use of intoxicating liquors as shall leave the whole matter to the Legislature. The Greenback State Convention was held at Columbus, June 15th. The following ticket was nominated: For Governor, John Seitz, of Lucas County; for Lieutenant-Governor, Charles Jenkins, of Mahoning County; for Judge of the Supreme Court, Joseph Watson, of Knox County; for Attorney-General, G. M. Tuttle, of Lake County; for Treasurer of State, W. F. Gloyd, of Montgomery County; for member of Board of Public Works, H. L Morrison, of Ashtabula County. The platform all people before the law, equal taxation, non-political declared: 1. That the right to make or issue money is a sovereign power to be maintained by the people for the common benefit. The delegation of this right to corporations is a surrender of the central attribute of sovereignty, void of constitutional sanction, conferring upon a subordinate irresponsible power absolute dominion over industry and commerce. All money, whether metallic or paper, should be issued and its volume controlled by the Government, and not by or through banking corporations; and, when so issued, should be a full legal tender for ail debts, public and private. 2. That the bonds of the United States should be paid as rapidly as is practicable. To enable the Government to meet these obligations, legal-tender currency should be substituted for the notes of the national banks, the national banking system abolished, and the unlimited coinage of silver as well as gold established by law. 3. We demand the equal protection of labor and capital by law. 4. We are opposed to all subsidies by Government. 5. All lines of communication and transportation should be brought under such legislative control as shall secure moderate, fair, and equitable rates for passenger and freight traffic. 6. We condemn the cruel class legislation of the Republican party, which, while professing great gratitude to the soldier, has most unjustly discriminated against him and in favor of the bondholder. 7. All property should bear its just proportion of taxation, and we demand a graduated income-tax. 8. We denounce as most dangerous the efforts, wherever manifest, to restrict the right of suffrage. 9. We are opposed to an increase of the standing army in time of peace, and the insidious scheme to establish an enormous military power under the guise of a militia law. 10. That the practice of railroads of this State in issuing free passes over their lines of roads to the members of the Legislature and all other officers of the State, is vicious and corrupting, and ought not to be sanctioned or tolerated, but should be prohibited by stringent laws. 11. That the practice of turning out faithful officers connected with the supervision and management of the different institutions of the State upon mere party ground, is prejudicial to the best interests of the State, and ought not longer to be sanctioned by any party. 12. Prison convict-labor should be utilized by the State alone. 13. That we favor the submission by the Legislature to a vote of the people of an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. The Democratic State Convention assembled at Columbus, July 13th, and put in the field the following candidates: For Governor, John W. Bookwalter, of Clarke County; for Lieutenant-Governor, Edgar M. Johnson, of Hamilton County; for Supreme Judge, Edward F. Bingham, of Franklin County; for AttorneyGeneral, Frank C. Dougherty, of Hardin County; for State Treasurer, Alonzo P. Winslow, of Cuyahoga County; for member of the Board of Public Works, John Crowe, of Defiance County. The platform was as follows: The Democrats of Ohio, proud of their citizenship in this great State, for the purpose of maintaining the prosperity of the Commonwealth and to promote the welfare and happiness of the whole people, submit the following declaration of principles upon which they ask the suffrages of the people: The equality of legislation, and a free and pure ballot as the cornerstone of free institutions; opposition to monopolies and subsidies of all kinds; the strictest economy in national, State, and local administrations, that labor may be lightly burdened; the maintenance and advancement of the common-school system. Resolved, That the abuses of the present contract system in our State Prison, by which the products of criminal labor are brought into competition with the products of honest labor, to the great injury of the latter, are vicious and unwise, and should be corrected. Resolved, That the course of the last Republican Legislature deserves the condemnation of the people for its incompetency, hypocrisy, its unnecessary and heavy increase in the burdens of taxation, and for the passage of unconstitutional acts, and for its reorganization of the benevolent institutions of the State solely for the purpose and as a medium for the distribution of spoils. Resolved, That as the humanities are non-partisan, and as the treatment of criminals should be non-political, the management of the charitable punitive institutions of the State should be free from partisan change or appointments. Resolved, That we are in favor of a civil-service reform whereby offices shall be held to be public trusts to be administered for the public good, not spoils to be enjoyed as the reward of partisan zeal or service. Resolved, That the Democrats of Ohio, in this year, as in all years, are in favor of the largest individual liberty consistent with public order, and are opposed to legislation merely sumptuary. Resolved, That the recent discovery of enormous peculations in high Federal places, and the Republican attempt to purchase votes by corruption, should convince the country that the Republican organization is not worthy of public confidence. Resolved, That the power delegated to the General Government "to regulate commerce among the States," as well as the power reserved to the States to regulate commerce within their own borders, should both be exercised to prevent unjust discrimination and unreasonable charges by our railroads, and to secure a tariff for revenue levied and adjusted in its details with a view to equity in the public burdens and the encouragement of productive industries without creating monopolies; and we favor the appointment of a coinmission to suggest a method of revision which shall accomplish this result. A Temperance Reform Convention was held at Loveland, July 20th, and after considerable discussion on the propriety of a separate political organization, placed a ticket in the field as follows: Governor, Abram R. Ludlow, of Springfield; Lieutenant-Governor, Jason McVay, of Columbus; Judge of the Supreme Court, Gideon T. Stewart, of Norwalk; Attorney-General, Levi Mills, of Wilmington; Treasurer, Ferdinand Schumacher, of Akron; Board of Public Works, Abner Davis, of Mercer County. The following platform was adopted: Whereas, The liquor-traffic is going forward in the State of Ohio with increasing power, devastating our homes, corrupting public morals, and controlling legislation; and, have put into their platforms principles which, if carWhereas, The two great political parties of Ohio ried out, will result in a still greater increase of the liquor-traffic and of its dreadful consequences: therefore, Resolved, That the time has fully come when temperance men should unite in a political organization whose leading object shall be the suppression of the liquor-traffic, and therefore we are in favor of nominating a State temperance reform ticket. Resolved, That our ultimate object shall be the constitutional prohibition of the liquor-traffic, the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, including wine, ale, and beer, and we demand that our next Legislature shall submit to the voters of Ohio such constitutional amendments. Resolved, That as a measure leading to constitutional prohibition, we are in favor of local option, and demand of our next Legislature the passage of a stringent local-option law. Resolved, That we do not deem it important to announce definite principles on other political issues, as all these are of minor importance when compared with those great measures which we advocate and propose to secure constitutional prohibition of the liquortraffic. Resolved, When either of the dominant parties puts in nomination candidates for the General Assembly and county officers distinctly pledged to the principles herein set forth, we will not put opposition candidates in the field; but when they fail to do this we will put in nomination our own tickets, as in the case of State officers, and press their election with energy. Resolved, That we recommend the organization of county and township organizations as auxiliaries to the Ohio Anti-Liquor Alliance. Resolved, That we recognize the great moral power of the Women's National Christian Temperance Union, the success which has crowned its efforts, and we earnestly ask the co-operation of the noble Christian women of our State in our efforts to forward the foregoing objects. Resolved, That we hereby tender to James A. Garfield, President of the United States, and his family, our profoundest sympathies in his sore affliction, and we, in common with the people of this whole country, rejoice in the prospect of his speedy recovery, and devoutly pray God that he might be spared to this nation to accomplish the great hopes that have been centered in him. The Prohibition Reform State Convention was held at Columbus, August 4th, and nominated the following State ticket: for Governor, Abram R. Ludlow, of Clarke County; for Lieutenant-Governor, Jason McVay, of Franklin County; for Judge of the Supreme Court, Gideon T. Stewart, of Huron County; for Attorney-General, Henry Camp, of Coshocton County; for State Treasurer, Ferdinand Schumacher, of Summit County; for member of Board of Public Works, Abner Davis, of Mercer County. The candidates are the same as those nominated previously at Loveland, with the exception of Attorney-General. Levi Mills having declined the Loveland nomination, the place was given to Henry Camp. On his declination the committee substituted the name of David W. Gage, of Cuyahoga County. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That the Prohibition Reform party of Ohio, in this thirteenth year of its history, with congratulations to the friends of the cause on its present great and rapid progress, repeat and affirm the following principles and measures: 1. The prohibition in the State and national Constitution and laws of the liquor crime, being the manufacture, importation, sale, and supply of intoxicating liquors for use as a beverage. 2. The abolition of executive and legislative patronage, and the election of President and Vice-President, United States Senators, postmasters, and all civil officers, so far as practicable, by direct vote of the people. 3. The universal and enforced education of the youth of the State and nation. 4. The prohibition of speculative and other gam bling in gold, stocks, agricultural products, and all forms of money and property. 5. The prohibition of corporation grants, Crédit Mobilier and ring speculations with public lands, and the substitution of homesteads for the people to be secured to actual settlers there, and to be encouraged and preserved throughout the nation. 6. The protection by law of laborers against the oppressions of unjust capital, and a lien on the property and earnings of corporations for the wages. 7. The equal rights and civil equality of the people, including the right of suffrage, irrespective of race, sex, or color. 8. The reduction of salaries of public officers in a just ratio to the decline of wages and market prices; the reduction of taxes; the abolition of all sinecures and unnecessary offices, of subsidies and Star Route swindles; the frequent and rigid investigation into the whole system of Government contracts and the accounts of public officers, and the prompt payment of the public debt by retrenchment and reform in the Government expenses. The election took place October 11th, and resulted in a complete Republican victory, the whole of the Republican State ticket being elected by majorities over all the other candidates combined, and large majorities secured in both branches of the Legislature. The following shows the votes on each candidate: FOR GOVERNOR. Charles Foster, Republican.. FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. FOR JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT. Nicholas Longworth, Republican.. Edward F. Bingham, Democrat.. Gideon T. Stewart, Prohibitionist. Joseph Watson, Greenback.... Scattering..... FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL. G. K. Nash, Republicar. FOR TREASURER. $12.785 285.426 16/97 6,839 188 314,100 288.266 16,127 6,360 34 816,005 286,650 16,090 6,495 71 315,655 287,470 15,612 6,492 67 |