ADDRESS OF JOHN H. ARNOLD, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF OHIO TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JANUARY 2, 1917.

Members of the Senate of the Eighty-Second General Assembly:

As Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate of Ohio I wish to address you briefly on some measures that should be called to your attention. I feel that my duty to you and the people of the State demands that I make this statement which I deem for the best interest of the people, after two years of careful consideration and investigation. Therefore I have no hesitancy in being a pioneer, in thus addressing you, blazing a way for you who may hereafter preside over this honorable body.

INCREASE OF WAGES OF STATE EMPLYEES.

The wages of employees in the State Institutions demand a substantial increase at this time. Many of the men receive the small pittance of $30.00 to $40.00 per month and women from $15.00 to $30.00 and many of them work from twelve to fifteen hours per day.

The wages of these employees are practically what they were twenty years ago, many of them are married men who have families to maintain and educate so that the maintenance which usually goes with one of these positions has no significance as regards conmpensation. How these men have been able to maintain their families without asking for public charity is beyond the comprehension of those in authority in the State during the last three years when living has been advanced more than one hundred per cent.

The fact that a man or woman works for the State is no reason why they should not receive a living wage or salary. Even day laborers in the ditch now receive $2.75 per day which would make their compensation more than double that received by those poorly paid state employees. A joint legislative committee should be appointed to thoroughly investigate this matter and after full knowledge of the conditions correct this injustice. I also recommend and advocate an eight-hour day for both men and women.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNSHIP.

I would recommend that laws be passed giving the Governor the authority to delegate to the Lieutenant Governor many of the duties which are now performed by the Governor. The granting of extraditions, parole of convicts, examination and investigation of various state institutions and many other of the less important duties now devolving on the Chief Executive can be performed by the Lieutenant Governor, relieving the Governor of a large amount of work which takes up his time to the exclusion of more important state duties, reserving to the Governor the right to approve or disapprove any action which the Lieutenant Governor might take or decision rendered. The intimate relation which would result from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor thus working together harmoniously would be of great benefit not only to the Governor but to the people of the State and in the case of a vacancy in the office of the Governor the Lieutenant Governor would be more competent to act as he would be more familiar than now with the affairs and with the routine work in the Governor's office.

Should the Legislature in their wisdom decide to thus add to the duties of the Lieutenant Governor I would recommend that the compen

sation for this official be increased to the same amount now paid the Secretary of State and other elective State officials, to-wit: the sum of $6,500.00. In my opinion this would not be exorbitant or beyond that his services would be worth to the State, taking into consideration the fact that he runs independent at the primary campaign and election and has the entire State to cover. The salary should be such that it would be sufficient compensation to attract such men who would be competent to act as Governor in case of death or resignation of the Governor.

CONSERVANCY.

The question of conservancy, that of protecting the public from floods and conserving the lands bordering on the streams has reached an acute stage at this time, has cost a large amount of money in litigation and nothing has been done in the line of protection although the flood which called for the Vonderheide Act occurred almost four years ago. An Act covering the entire State should be passed placing the matter of Conservancy in the department of Superintendent of Public Works, giving him authority to use the convict labor of the State, purchase dredges of large capacity to clear out the channels of the rivers and conserve the sand and gravel resulting from such action. Authority should be given the State to sell the sand and gravel thus conserved to the political sub-divisions of the State and to all contractors for use in strictly public works, such as highways and etc. A State cement plant should be erected to furnish cement for all concrete work, this to be manned by convict albor. Dikes should be thrown up wherever the river is encroaching on rich bottoms or threatening to destroy them and where crops so destroyed by June and summer floods dikes should be thrown entirely around the exposed portion of these lands.

The State at large should bear a small proportion of this public work and the lands and property directly benefited therefrom should be assessed a fair amount for the protection thus granted.

The plans and specifications of all bridges through the State should receive the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works before being constructed.

A larger number of conservancy boards which threaten to spring up over the state in addition to the two all ready organized all call for millions of dollars in over-head charged which would be eliminated were the state to have charge of the work.

THE EMERGENCY BOARD.

I would recommend that the law be changed and the State Emergency Board be composed of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Finance Committees; these being composed of officers connected with the General Assembly and knowing the reasons why appropriations were made, would be better qualified to act upon demands for additional funds made by the various state departments after the Legislature had adjourned.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

I strongly recommend the abolishment of the greater number of boards and commissions which now plague the state, they are of no benefit and are a great expense to the tax payers and of no appreciable benefit thereto. Hundreds of thousands of dollars would be thus saved

by return to a safe and sane Government as we had ten years ago and still retain our progressive policies.

TERM OF OFFICE.

The Constitution should be amended and all elective state officers and members of the General Assembly should be elected for a term of four years, the state would receive untold benefit by this reform as two years for elective officers is too short a term, just when they are of some benefit to the State they are frequently retired from office by the election of successors. The majority of the members of the General Assembly have become familiar with their duties only when it is time to adjourn sine die.

DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATURE,

There are three distinct and coordinate branches of the State Govrenment, executive, legislative and judicial, each has its ditsinct and separate duty to perform and neither should encroach beyond the legitimate boundaries of the other. Under our constitution it is the duty of the Executive to recommend to the General Assembly, at its opening, such laws and changes in the old laws and reforms of State Government as in his wisdom are necessary for the benefit of the people of the State.

It is the duty of the General Assembly to give heed to and follow these recommendations whenever in their collective judgment they will be beneficial or for the best interest of the majority of the people or correct abuses which exist in the state.

In the last few years there has grown up in the various State a tendency in Executives to encroach upon the legitimate rights of the General Assemblies and force these bodies to pass such laws as the Executive demands. The Legislators at all times should retain their independence and freedom from coercion, while giving due respect and consideration to the recommendations of the Executive, maintain their liberty of action and pass only such measures which they in their collective wisdom believe to be for the best interest of the state, and if necessary to make them into law pass them over the veto of the Executive.

The collective wisdom of the two branches of the General Assembly. barring outside influence cannot be far wrong and would meet with the general approbation of the people at large.

The people are demanding a larger amount of Home Rule, they demand that their representatives in legislative bodies follow more closely the desires and needs of those who have elected them into office and not be governed by special interests and politicians who have their own selfish objects in view and which are frequently antagonistic to the Public Welfare.

I would therefore advise that you consider the recommendations of the Governor, the wishes of your constituents and the dictates of your own conscience, these, if followed, will make for better laws and the respect and admiration of your constituents and the people of the whole

state.

OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTES IN JOINT SESSION.

Abstract of votes cast for constitutional State officers (Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of State, Treasurer of State and Attorney General) at the annual election held in the State of Ohio on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1916, as opened and declared in joint session of the Eighty-second General Assembly, held in the Hall of the House of Representatives, the Hon. John H. Arnold, president of the Senate, presiding, on Tuesday, January 2, 1917.