USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1902-1903. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio. Vol. 1 > Part 48
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581
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Mines.
A REVIEW OF THE OHIO STATE MINING DEPARTMENT.
In the year 1871, owing to a catastrophe occurring in the Avondale Mine, located in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania, in which one hundred and nine persons lost their lives for the want of a second opening, the miners of this state held meetings and signed petitions requesting that laws be enacted to regulate and ventilate mines, and that an author- ized official supervisor be appointed. These petitions were presented to the Senate by Senator Woodworth, of Mahoning county, and were re- ferred to a select committee of seven senators from the mining regions of the state. This committee authorized Senator Daugherty to prepare a bill on the subject. Six of the seven senators recommended the passage of the bill, but it was met with persistent opposition from interested parties.
Senator Woodworth thereupon introduced a joint resolution in the Senate, authorizing the Governor to appoint a commission of three com- petent persons, one or more of whom should be practical miners, to inspect the leading coal mines of the state in regard to ventilation, means of in- gress and egress, and all other matters affecting the lives and health of the miners; and also to inquire into the cause of strikes and report to the Governor, for the use of the Legislature, the facts found in the premises, recommending such legislation as in the judgment of the commission the facts might demand. Governor Hayes appointed a board composed of the following members: Charles Reemelin, of Cincinnati ; B. F. Skinner, of Pomeroy; and Andrew Roy, of Glen Roy, Ohio. This board was on duty four months. In the month of January of the following year (1872) the report of the commissioners was laid before the Legislature. Senator Jones, of Trumbull county, chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining in the Senate, introduced the bill for the ventilation and inspec- tion of mines at this session, which, although passing the Senate by a unani- mous vote, failed to secure a constitutional majority in the House, and a substitute by Representative Conrad, of Portage county, was made a law. This substitute contained all the provisions of the Senate bill, except as to the official supervision of the mines by the state. Owing to the fact that it failed to provide for the inspection of mines, its precepts and provisions were disregarded by nearly every mine owner in the state. Ac- cordingly Governor Hayes, in his next annual message to the Legislature, called attention to its defects, and urged the Legislature to so amend the law as to provide for authorized official supervision; otherwise it would continue to be for the most part inoperative. Mr. Sterling, of the House, introduced a bill supplementary to and amendatory of the law, as enacted, providing for a state inspector of mines, and prescribing his duties, but this failed to become a law.
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582
THE BIOGRAPHICAL. ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Mines.
However, during the early part of the session of the Legislature, two bills were introduced in the House of Representatives for the inspec- tion of mines, one by Mr. McLain, of Trumbull county, the other by Mr. Baker, of Perry county. The McLain bill was amendatory to the act in force, and had the same object in view as the bill introduced by Mr. Baker, but the Baker bill, containing the whole act, was adopted in com- mittee as being simpler than the other, and it became a law.
On April 6, 1874, Wm. Allen, Governorof Ohio, appointed Andrew Roy, Dell Roy, Ohio, to be the first Inspector of Mines. On April 18, 1881, a law was enacted by the General Assembly providing for the ap- pointment of an assistant Inspector of Mines, and on June 4, of the same year Jacob I. Klein, of Stark county, was appointed to fill that po- sition by State Mine Inspector Andrew Roy, by and with the approval of the Governor.
On April 11, 1884, a bill was introduced in the House, which was subsequently amended by the Senate, and passed in its amended form, creating the office of Chief Inspector of Mines, with an assistant designated as a District Inspector in each district. The state was divided into three districts, and three District Inspectors appointed. This was due to the rapid growth of the mining industry, and the great increase in the num- ber of mines, which in turn, increased the amount of work to be done in the office, making it impossible for the Inspector, with one assistant, to perform these duties in a satisfactory manner.
On March 24, 1888, the General Assembly amended Section 290 of the Revised Statutes, providing for the appointment of five District In- spectors instead of three. Again on April 18, 1892, Section 290 of the Revised Statutes was revised and supplemented by an additional Sec- tion, by the General Assembly, which provided for the appointment of seven District Inspectors. This number has been maintained up to the present time. The following is a list of the Chief Inspectors of Mines, and the term of office served by each, since the creation of the department, to- gether with a list of the Deputy Mine Inspectors, and the time served by each :
APPOINTMENTS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Name of Inspectors.
County.
Governor by whom appointed.
Term began.
Term expired.
Time served.
Remarks.
Chief Inspectors.
Andrew Roy, R.
Trumbull ... Hocking . . .. Trumbull. . .
Wm. Allen, D. ...
. April 6, 1874. . . . April 6, 1878 . . 4 years.
Jas. D. Poston, D. ·
R. M. Bishop, D. .. April 6, 1878 ... Nov. 15, 1879. .. 1 yr. 7 mos. ...
David Owens, D.
. Nov. 15, 1879. .. Feb. 12, 1880 ... 3 months
Resigned. Not confirmed by Senate.
Andrew Roy, R. .
Jackson. . . . .
Chas. Foster, R. .. Feb. 12, 1880 ... Feb. 16, 1884. ... 4 years
. Thos. B. Bancroft, D. ..
Gallia. .
Geo. Hoadly, D. .. . . Feb. 16, 1884. . . Apr. 1, 1888 .... 4 yrs. 1 1-2 mos. J. B. Foraker, R. . April 1, 1888. . . Apr. 30, 1888. . . 1 month
Resigned.
Robt. M. Haseltine, R ..
Mahoning. . .
. . May 1, 1888
.. . Apr. 30, 1892. . . |4 years
.
.
W. Mckinley, jr., R. May 1, 1892 ....
Apr. 30, 1896. . . 4 years
Asa. S. Bushnell, R. May 1, 1896. ... Apr. 30, 1900. 4 years ..
Elmer G. Biddison .. . .
Athens .
Geo. K. Nash .. . May 1, 1900 ..... Apr. 30, 1904. ..
4 years
... Reappointed. Reappointed. Incumbent.
District Inspectors.
Stark. Chas. Foster, R. ... . June 4, 1881 ... Jan. 26, 1883. .. 2 yrs. 7 1-2 mos.
Resigned.
Jacob J. Klein, R. ... Jno. P. Williams, R ....
Trumbull . . . Columbiana. Athens .
Jan. 26, 1883 . . Feb. 16, 1884. . . 1 yr. 21 days ...
Austin P. King, Jr., D. Wm. Dalrymple, D. ..
Geo. Hoadly, D. ... Feb. 16, 1884. .. Apr. 30, 1886. . . 2 yrs. 2 1-2 mos.
May 1, 1884. ... Mar. 1, 1888. . . 3 yrs. 10 mos. ..
Wm. A. Davis, D. ...
Guernsey . .. . Coshocton. ..
Geo. Hoadly, D. ... May 1, 1884. ... Feb. 15, 1886. .. 1 yr. 9 1-2 mos.
Jos. L. Morris, R. ... D. J. Harry, R. ..
Jackson
· April 1, 1888. Apr. 30, 1888 ... 1 month
May 1, 1888. ... Apr. 30, 1891. .. 3 years .
The Inspector of Mines. THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
Resigned.
Resigned, held over as no appointment was made at the expiration of his term, May 1, 1887. Resigned. Resigned. Reappointed.
J. B. Foraker, R. . Feb. 15, 1886. .. June 1, 1889. . . . 3 yrs. 2 1 2 mos ..
583
APPOINTMENTS SINCE THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT-Concluded.
Name of Inspectors.
County.
Governor by whom appointed.
Term began.
Term expired.
Time served.
Remarks.
District Inspectors- Concluded.
David E. Evans, R. . Meigs .
J. B. Foraker, R ...
May 1, 1888.
Feb. 30, 1891. .. . 3 years. ..
Jas. W. Haughee, R.
Athens.
66
· May 1, 1886.
Feb. 30, 1887.
11 mos. 23 da ...
Reappointed. Reappointed.
May 1, 1888. . . ..
Aug. 11, 1890.
2 yrs. 3 mo. 11 d. . Resigned.
Ebenezer Lewis, D ...
Summit. .
Jas. E. Campbell, D ..
Aug. 11, 1890 ...
April 30, 1891. .. 8 mos. 20 da ...
3 years.
Thomas McGough
Belmont. ..
Wm. Mckinley .
May 1, 1894. ....
April 30, 1897. . . 3 years.
Reappointed. Incumbent. Reappointed. Incumbent.
Rees T Davis
Columbiana. .
Wm. Mckinley .
May 1, 1894. ....
April 30, 1897.
years.
Asa S. Bushnell.
May 1, 1897. ..
April 30, 1900. . . 3 years. ..
William K. Moore ..
Stark. "
Jan. 17, 1898. .. . .
July 15, 1898. . .6 months .3 years.
Reappointed. . Incumbent.
James P. Davis.
Carroll.
Feb. 15, 1898. . ..
April 30, 1900. .. 2 yr. 2 mo. 15 d. Incumbent.
Lucius W. Hull
Athens. .
.
...
July 15,1899
July 15, 1901
2 years.
Incumbent.
R. M. Mason.
Hocking.
Geo. K. Nash.
. May 21, 1900. ... April 23, 1901. . . 2 yr. 11 mo. 2 d. . Incumbent.
Thos. McGough. .
Belmont.
June 1, 1900. ..
April 30,1903 ..
.2 yr.10 mo. 29d ... Incumbent.
David B. Wilson. . .
Perry . ..
..
June 1, 1900. ... April 30,1903. . . . 2 yr.10 mo. 29d. .. Incumbent.
Wm. H. Turner.
Guernsey . .. .
. . .
June 1, 1900. ...
April 30,1903. . .
2 yr.10 mo. 29d. .. Incumbent.
Wm. D. Miller.
Stark
July 1, 1900. . ..
July 15, 1901. .. . 1 yr. 14 da. ..
Jas. P. Davis.
. Carroll.
. .
·
Jan. 1, 1901. . . .
April 30, 1903. . . 2 yr. 3 mo. 29 d. .. Incumbent.
..
·
. .
May 1, 1887. . ...
May 1, 1897 . .. . .
April 30, 1900.
July 15, 1899. . .
1 year.
Resigned.
David B. Wilson
Perry
July 15, 1898. ..
April 30, 1900. . . 1 yr. 9 mo. 15 d. Incumbent.
David H. Williams
Athens .
. .
July 15, 1898. .. . July 15,1901. . ... .
.
The Inspector of Mines.
584
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
Robert Bell, R.
Stark ..
Asa S. Bushnell.
. .
. ..
July 15, 1898.
Feb. 30, 1891. ... 3 years.
May 1, 1888. . .
. 30, 1888. . . 1 year.
Reappointed.
May 1, 1891. .. April 30,1894 ....
585
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Mines.
It might be of interest in connection with the history of the Mining Department to note the following facts: When the Department was first created there were in operation about two hundred mines. The statistics received for the year 1900 disclose the following: One thousand and one mines in operation, employing thirty-one thousand seven hundred and two men; amount of coal produced, nineteen million four hundred and twenty-six thousand six hundred and forty-nine tons; number of mining machines in use, three hundred and fifty-eight, amount of coal produced by mining machines, nine million four hundred and fifty-seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven tons; one million four hundred and seventy-three thousand and eighty-eight tons of fire clay mined.
THE INSPECTOR OF OILS.
CHEIF INSPECTOR OF OILS, 1900-2
JOHN R. MALLOY . Inspector of Southern District.
FRANK L. BAIRD Inspector of Northern District.
J OHN R. MALLOY, Inspector of Oils for the Second District, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, July 16, 1856. When five years of age his mother died, after which his father enlisted in the army, serving until the close of the rebellion. Attended the public schools of New Haven until 1867, when he moved to Ohio with his father, and the fol- lowing year took up his residence at the National Home for Disabled Volun- teer Soldiers near Dayton, of which his father was an inmate. Young Malloy remained at the Soldiers' Home, attending school until the sum- mer of 1869, when he was obliged to leave, the law establishing the Home not permitting children of soldiers to become inmates. He returned to Connecticut and was apprenticed to the printer's trade in the office of the Meriden Daily Republican. Upon the establishment of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, in 1870, he returned to Ohio and at- tended the Home school until the summer of 1872, when, having arrived at the age of sixteen years, he was discharged from the Home. Was appointed a page in the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1873-74 by President (afterward Chief Justice) Morrison R. Waite. Was record- ing clerk of the House of Representatives of the 62d General Assembly and assistant clerk during the 67th and 68th General Assemblies. Was a member and president of the Ohio State Board of Pardons in 1890-91, which position he resigned on being elected clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives at the organization of the 70th General Assembly, which he held through the 71st and 72d General Assemblies. Was appointed Inspector of Oils for the Second District of Ohio, by Governor Nash, May 15, 1900, and reappointed May 15, 1902.
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587
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Oils.
INSPECTORS OF OIL.
Appointive by the Governor. Term, two years. Under the act of 1892 the State was divided into two districts, and a Chief Inspector ap- pointed from each district.
Names of Inspectors.
Years of Service
Fred W. Green
1878-1879
Wm. B. Williams
1879-1880
Louis Smithnight
1880-1884
D. C. Ballentine
1884-1886
Louis Smithnight
1886
George B. Cox
1886-1890
Joseph H. Dowling
1890-1892
George Caufield, Northern District
1892-1896
B. L. McElroy, Southern District
1892-1896
J. B. Luckey, Northern District
1896-1900
Chas. L. Kurtz, Southern District
1896-1900
John R. Malloy, Southern District
1900-
F. L. Baird, Northern District
1900-
THE INSPECTOR OF WORKSHOPS AND FACTORIES.
J. H. MORGAN, present Chief Inspector of the Department of Work- shops and Factories, was born in Wales, February 14, 1862. With his parents he came to this country in 1869, locating at Newark.
Ohio. Attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he went to work in the glass factory. Two years later removed to Cleveland, where he worked in the sheet rolling department of the Cleveland Roll- ing Mill Co .; removed to Bridgeport in the autumn of 1885, and in 1890 removed to Cambridge, where he still resides.
A sheet and tin roller by occupation, he always took an active interest in labor organization ; has been national vice-president and national trustee of the A. A. of I. S. and T. W. In 1895 he was elected State Senator to represent the 19th District in the Seventy-second General Assembly. On December 1, 1901, was appointed Chief Inspector of Workshops and Factories.
The department originated from the urgent appeals of organized labor throughout the state to the General Assembly, and its purpose is to save life and limb by ordering safeguards to be thrown around all danger- ous machinery and looking after sanitary conditions in workshops and factories and ordering fire escapes on such shops where necessary, and causing all owners of buildings used for the assemblage of people to supply them with proper means of egress and fire protection.
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589
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Workshops and Factories.
The act of 1884 creating the Department of Workships and Factories, provided for the appointment of one inspector by the governor, but did not specify the term of office or make any provisions for office room. Henry Dorn, of Cleveland, was appointed Inspector, and entered on the duties of his office April 14, 1884, establishing headquarters at Cleve- land. April 29, 1885, the act was amended creating the office of Chief Inspector, and providing for the appointment of three District Inspectors, and locating the department in the State Capitol. Henry Dorn was ap- pointed Chief Inspector, serving from April 29, 1885, to April 29, 1889.
W. Z. McDonald, of Akron, was appointed Chief Inspector April 29, 1889, and served one full term to April 29, 1893. March 23, 1892, the law was amended empowering the chief inspector to appoint eight addi- tional District Inspectors. Mr. McDonald was reappointed for a second term and served until June 12, 1893, when removed.
E. M. Slack, of Columbus, the chief clerk, was placed in charge of the department, as acting Chief Inspector, June 12, 1893, and served until December 7, 1893, in that capacity.
J. W. Knaub, of Dayton, was appointed Chief Inspector to fill the · vacancy occasioned by removal of W. Z. McDonald, December 7, 1893, and served until April 29, 1897, reappointed for a term of four years, term ending April 29, 1901, and served until December 1, 1901, when the present incumbent was appointed.
April 27, 1896, a law was enacted providing for the inspection of bakeshops and empowering the Chief Inspector to appoint two Bakeshop Inspectors, making total number of District Inspectors thirteen.
The act creating and governing the department makes it the duty of the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint the Chief Inspector, whose term is four years.
The act also empowers the Chief Inspector, with the approval of the Governor, to appoint all District Inspectors, whose term of office is three years.
It is the duty of the Chief Inspector to give his entire time and at- tention to the duties of his office, to direct and supervise the work of his District Inspectors and to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the law, as will be for the best interest of the service.
It is the duty of the District Inspectors to give their entire time and attention to the duties of their office; to visit all shops and factories in their respective districts; to inspect all manufacturing, mechanical, elec- trical, mercantile art and laundering establishments, printing, telegraph and telephone offices, railroad depots, hotels, memorial buildings, tene- ment and apartment houses, halls, school houses, colleges, academies, sem- inaries, churches, theatres, opera houses, hospitals, medical institutes, asy- lums, infirmaries, sanitariums and children's homes, for which purpose
590
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Workshops and Factories.
the State is divided up into eleven inspection districts, equalized as near as possible.
It is the duty of the two Bakeshop Inspectors to inspect all bake- shops in the state, as to their sanitary condition, etc., the state being di- vided into two districts for that purpose, known as the Northern and Southern.
The present working force now consists of one Chief Inspector, eleven District Inspectors, two Bakeshop Inspectors, and four clerks, as follows:
PRESENT WORKING FORCE.
Name.
Office.
Residence.
J. H. Morgan
Chief Inspector
Cambridge. Cleveland.
Frank C. Base
Ist Dist. Inspector
John F. Ward.
2d Dist. Inspector
Youngstown.
John W. Bath.
3d Dist. and High Ex- plosive Inspector
Elyria. Bloomdale.
John W. Bly
5th Dist. Inspector
Findlay.
L. W. Ralston
6th Dist. Inspector
Mechanicstown.
E. W. Bagley
7th Dist. Inspector
Zanesville.
Richard Lloyd.
8th Dist. Inspector.
Columbus.
C. B. Baker
9th Dist. Inspector
Piqua.
David Fisher
10th Dist. Inspector
Cincinnati.
John H. Gillen
11th Dist. Inspector
Portsmouth.
Theodore Wagner
Bakeshop Inspector North- ern District
Cleveland.
William Woehrlin
Bakeshop Inspector South- ern District
Cincinnati.
A. B. Critchfield
Chief Clerk
Shreve.
E. M. Slack
Assistant Clerk
Columbus.
J. F. Funk
Recording Clerk
Springfield.
Bertha Young
Order Clerk
Columbus.
Mae C. Gracey
Corresponding Clerk
Cincinnati.
E. S. Bryant
4th Dist. Inspector
591
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Workshops and Factories.
NAMES OF DISTRICT INSPECTORS FROM THE TIME THE ACT WAS AMEND- ED CREATING SUCH OFFICE UP TO THE PRESENT TIME AND GIVING TERM OF SERVICE OF EACH.
Name.
Residence.
Term of Office.
*John Lyons.
Cleveland.
May 13, 1885, to Sept. 15, 1886.
Wm. Z. McDonald.
Akron. .
Sept. 15, 1886, to April 29, 1889.
** George Lutz.
Lancaster
May 13, 1885, to Feb. 15, 1887.
John H. Ellis
Columbus
Feb. 15, 1887, to May 31, 1896.
H. C. Traphagen.
Cincinnati.
May 13, 1885, to May 31, 1888.
¡James A. Armstrong
Cincinnati.
May 1, 1891, to June 26, 1899.
David Fisher.
Cincinnati.
Aug. 1, 1899; term ends May 1, 1905.
Evan H. Davis
Cleveland.
May 1, 1889, to May 1, 1896.
Charles Burns.
Warren. June 1, 1892, to May 1, 1896.
John W. Bath
Elyria
June 1, 1892; term ends May 1, 1905.
*A. M. True.
Canton
June 1, 1892, to Dec. 1, 1895.
Calvin C. Banks. Canton.
Dec. 1, 1895, to May 1, 1896.
¡W. R. Matthews
Zanesville June 1, 1892, to Jan. 27, 1896.
E. T. Ridenour
Springfield. June 1, 1892, to May 1, 1896.
Thos. T. Y eager
Portsmouth. June 1, 1892, to May 1, 1896.
F. M. Campfield .
Toledo. Nov. 23, 1892, to June 15, 1902.
Willard Ducomb
Findlay .
Jan. 15, 1892, to June 15, 1899.
*James H. Lloyd.
Columbus May 7, 1896, to Nov. 20, 1900.
R. M. Hull.
Salineville
May 1, 1896, to June 15, 1902.
W. A. Stoller
Cleveland.
May 1, 1896, to July 1, 1899.
W. D. Hall.
Warren ..
May 1, 1896, to June 15, 1902.
John Tysinger
Zanesville.
May 7, 1896, to June 15, 1899.
Jas. H. Arbogast
Springfield
May 1, 1896, to June 15, 1902.
D. T. Davis.
Findlay.
June 15, 1899, to June 15, 1902.
Jacob Metzger
Zanesville
June 15, 1899, to June 15, 1902.
Richard Lloyd
Columbus.
Nov. 24, 1900; term ends May 1, 1905.
John F. Ward
Youngstown
June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
E. S. Bryant John W. Bly.
Bloomdale.
June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
Findlay June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
L. W. Ralston
Mechanicstown June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
E. W. Bagley
Zanesville. June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
C. B. Baker
Piqua .. June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
John H. Gillen
Portsmouth
June 15, 1902; term ends May 1, 1905.
¡Deceased.
* Resigned.
BAKESHOP INSPECTORS.
Name.
Residence.
Term of Office.
Theodore Wagner .... William Woehrlin. . .
Cleveland.
Cincinnati.
Oct. 1, 1896; term ends May 1, 1905. Oct. 1, 1896 ; term ends May 1, 1905.
John M. Williams
Portsmouth.
May 7, 1896, to June 15, 1902.
Frank C. Base
Cleveland.
July 1, 1899; term ends May 1, 1905.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
L EWIS C. LAYLIN, Secretary of State, was born in Norwalk, Huron county, September 28, 1848. He graduated from Norwalk high school in 1867. In 1869 he was elected to the superintend- ency of the Bellevue public schools, to which position he was unanimously re-elected for six successive years. He began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar March 13, 1876. He was city clerk of Norwalk two years; a member of the Huron county board of school examiners twelve years; and president of the Norwalk city board of examiners three years. In 1879 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Huron county, and held that office seven years. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1887, and served in the House of the 68th General Assembly. In 1889 he was re-elected representative, and served through the 69th General Assembly. He was the choice of his Republican colleagues in the House for the speakership, and received the unanimous support of the Republican minor- ity. In 1891 he was unanimously renominated by the Republicans of Huron county for representative, and was again re-elected. On January 4, 1892, he was chosen speaker of the House of Representatives of the 70th General Assembly. On April 25, 1900, at the state convention of the Republican party he was nominated by acclamation as the candidate of his party for the office of Secretary of State, and at the following November election he was elected to that office by a plurality of 69,311 votes. On January 14, 1901, he entered upon the discharge of his duties for the full term of two years, and on May 28, 1902, at the Republican State Convention he was unanimously renominated for a second term.
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593
THE BIOGRAPHICAL, ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Secretary of State.
The Department of State is one of the most important divisions of the executive branch of the state government.
Under the Constitution of 1802, the Secretary of State was ap- pointed by the General Assembly, and the duties of the office consisted mainly, to use the words of the old Constitution, in keeping a "register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor."
The office, however, under the Constitution of 1851, was made elective, and elevated to the dignity of a department; and by virtue of that Consti- tution and subsequent legislation thereunder, some of the most import- ant executive and administrative functions of the state government are devolved upon this office.
The Secretary of State is made by law the custodian of the acts of the General Assembly, and under his supervision the same are printed and published, and by him all exemplifications of the same are required to be authenticated, and all commissions issued by the Governor to be countersigned.
In this office also, under general statutes, all incorporations are re- quired to be created. Recent legislation, imposing upon domestic and foreign corporations taxation, or privilege fees based upon capital stock, which the Secretary of State is required to collect and pay into the state treasury, makes this department one of great consequence and import- ance to the state.
The Secretary of State, by virtue of his office, is a member and the secretary of the State Sinking Fund Commissioners, president of the Board of Printing Commissioners, member of the Decennial Board of Apportionment for legislative purposes, member of the State Board of Appraisers and Assessors, and of the State Building Commission.
He is also, by virtue of his office, made State Supervisor of Elections, and as such has the power of appointment and removal of the members of the various boards of Deputy Supervisors of Elections in the various counties, is required to collate and publish the election laws of the state, ' to determine the arrangement of the ballot, and prepare and furnish forms and instructions to the various county boards of elections, to re- ceive and file certificates of nominations, or nomination papers for presi- dential electors and state officers, to hear and determine objections or other questions as to the validity of said papers, to decide upon the validity of all nomination papers of a county, district, subdivision of the district or circuit, when the county, district or circuit board, authorized to pass upon these papers, fail to decide, and a decision of the Secretary of State upon these questions is final.
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