SCHOOL LANDS AND LAWS.

Upon the organization of the State of Ohio in 1802 Congress formally turned over to the new state a 36th part of the lands within its boundaries to be held in trust for the benefit of the common schools. Several thousand acres of this land are still held by the state as trustee and are occupied by tenants upon annual rentals, the rents being applied to the uses of the schools. My attention has been called to the woeful lack of systematic administration of this trust and in view of the financial problems which confront the school districts of the state I believe that the time has come when the General Assembly should provide an effective admiinstration of the resources of this trust.

The evils requiring such remedial legislation largely arise from the fact that the laws on the subject have become obsolete and in some cases made uncertain and confusing by several hundred special acts that still encumber the statutes.

Gross injustice to the schools also arises from these conditions. Rents are sometimes not collected for years. In many districts lands that should yield large revenues to schools that are now financially embarrassed yield insignificant incomes because of mal-administration for which there are no remedies provided by law.

Efficient administrative agencies should be established that would be uniform throughout the state with effective state supervision; the rights of tenants should be clearly defined, the duties of administrative offices should be clearly laid down and sufficient sanction given to the law to insure performance of those duties; on the one hand the interests of the schools should be fully protected, on the other equities of both tenants. and purchasers of these lands should be preserved.

TRUANCY LEGISLATION.

At present there is practically no unification of the efforts of the approximately two hundred truant officers in Ohio and no organized responsibility to a central authority. This important state-wide work could be materially strengthened and rendered very much more efficient by vesting in the State Superintendent of Public Instruction full authority to establish uniform records, require annual reports and provide minimum requirement for conducting the work.

EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP.

I wish to call attention to the fact that many thousands of Ohio's male population of voting age are foreign born. Many of these are recently from countries where government is still a synonym of oppression. Consequently, some of them are unacquainted with American civic and social ideals and are unaware of the privileges and responsibilities of American citizenship. Inability to speak our tongue prevents association and fraternalization with their fellows of native birth. Education in the fundamentals of good citizenship should be provided for these people in order that they may become what they most desire - good Americans.

Undoubtedly the level of our citizenship would be raised by adequate provision for the civic and social education of our recent im

migrants. Appropriations for the maintenance of such education should be made in order to promote the welfare of the state and to add to the usefulness and happiness of this class of our populatoin.

PATRIOTIC LEGISLATION.

The 81st General Assembly enacted more than a score of laws having for their purpose larger recognition of the soldiers and sailors of all our wars and the perpetuation of the memory of their heroic deeds. One of these laws made possible the rescue of the battle-scarred, shottorn banners of the Republic from the gloomy chamber where they reposed and the placing of them in the rotunda of the State Capitol in permanent cases where they will be preserved through generations to come, the pride of those who come after us and a lesson of patriotic inspiration to all within their hallowed presence. Other legislation provided for the erection of memorials to Ohio heroes both in the state and outside of it. It is confidently believed that such expenditure of public money is wise. It teaches the young historic lessons, rekindles the fires of patriotism and gives slight recognition to those whose unselfish devotion to country saved its life and carried its principles of liberty beyond the seas. I accordingly recommend that appropriation be made to complete Ohio's part in the erection of monuments on the Vicksburg battle-field in accord with the recommendations of the Vicksburg Battlefield Commission.

LEGISLATIVE REST.

The people of Ohio and business in general need a legislative rest. The people should be given opportunity to become acquainted with the laws they already have.

The enactment of only, absolutely necessary legislation, the abolishment wherever possible of offices and employments, strict economy in the appropriation of public funds and careful attention to the needs of the state's unfortunate wards- these are some of the major problems which must engage your attention and which I trust you will successfully solve with high purpose and courageous, unfaltering devotion to the public interest.

FRANK WILLIS,

Governor.

REPORT BY THE GOVERNOR OF COMMUTATIONS OF SENTENCE, PARDONS AND REPRIEVES GRANTED BY HIM FROM JANUARY 11, 1915, TO JAN

UARY 1, 1917.

COMMUTATIONS.

NELSON SHOEMAKER.

Crime, house-breaking and habitual criminal; sentence, indeterminate (2 years to life); date of sentence, January, 1896; date of governor's action, January 3, 1915; commuted to expire at once.

Reasons He was recommended by the Board of Pardons. He had a long term and a good record in prison.

RALPH MCKAIN.

Crime, forgery; sentence, indeterminate (1 to 20 years); date of sentence, March, 1914; date of governor's action, January 3, 1915; commuted to I year.

Reasons He was recommended by the board of Pardons on condition that he abstain from intoxicating liquor and evil associations. Restitution made and conduct in prison good.

GEORGE DRAKE.

Crime, burglary; sentence, indeterminate (1 to 15 years); date of sentence, April, 1913; date of governor's action, March 6, 1915; commuted to 2 years.

Reasons

He was recommended by the Board of Pardons.

duct good. He was a trusty.

MARY J. LEWIS.

Con

Crime, producing an abortion; sentence, 5 years; date of sentence, April, 1913; date of governor's action, March 6, 1915; commuted to expire at once.

Reasons

She was recommended by the Board of Pardons. Poor

health and good conduct in prison.

LOUIS SEAMS.

Crime, murder 2nd degree; sentence, life; date of sentence, March, 1904; date of governor's action, March 6, 1915; commuted to 17 years. Reasons He was recommended by the Board of Pardons. Showed strong evidence of reform and repentance.

MERVIN MERRILL.

Crime, forgery; sentence, indeterminate; date of sentence, August, 1912; date of governor's action, March 6, 1915; commuted so as to release

at once.

Reasons He was recommended by the Board of Pardons. Very young first offense and punished sufficient.

CHESTER WALLACE.

Crime, murder 2nd degree; sentence, life; date of sentence, July 1908; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to 11 years.

Reasons - He was recommended by the Board of Pardons on condition that he abstain from intoxicating liquor for life. Killing accidental. Only manslaughter.

WALTER SCHROVOUSKI.

Crime, embezzlement; sentence indeterminate (1 to 3 years); date of sentence, January, 1914; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to 15 months.

Reasons-He was recommended by the Board of Pardons. Amount embezzled small. Punished sufficiently.

GLEN SELBY.

Crime, burglary; sentence, indeterminate (1 to 20 years); date of sentence, February, 1912; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted so as to release at once.

Reasons He was recommended by the Board of Pardons. Mentally weak. No criminal responsibility.

PETER ROSS.

Crime, carrying concealed weapons; sentence, indeterminate (1 to 3 years); date of sentence, June, 1914; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to 1 year.

Reasons - He was recommended by the Board of Pardons on condition that he abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors. Board deemed that one year's sentence with liquor condition was sufficient.

CHASS. BENNETT.

Crime, robbery; sentence, indeterminate (I to 15 years); date of sentence, April, 1914; date 'of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to I year.

Reasons He was recommended by the Board of Pardons on condition that he abstain from the use of intoxicating liquor. Board deemed that one year with liquor condition was sufficient. Liquor being the sole cause of his downfall.

FRANK STONEROCK.

Crime, arson; sentence, indeterminate; date of sentence, April, 1914; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to release at once. Reasons He was recommended by the Warden and Chief Physician of the Ohio Penitentiary as being in imminent danger of death.

JOHN THOMAS.

Crime, robbery; sentence, indeterminate (1 to 15 years); date of sentence, January, 1915; date of governor's action, April 19, 1915; commuted to release at once.

Reasons He was recommended by the Warden and Chief Penitentiary Physician as being in imminent danger of death.