Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-03
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
The Columbus Board OF Education
Gallia County Managing the Lo.
cal Affairs of Columbus.

Those who are most conversant with the
character of the present General Assembly
of Ohio, and especially Of the House of Rep
resentatives, win never accuse the members
thereof of possessing an extra amount Of
modesty In assuming to manage all the af-
fairs of the people, whether they know any
thing about them or not. The members
from the rural districts particularly have
an exaggerated idea of their powers, and
fancy that they are the only proper persons
to regulate human affairs; and that they
are sent here by their patriotic constituents
for no other purpose than to meddle in,
muddle and mix everything and anything.
The Hon. Mr.. Bradbury of Galla county,
not being satisfied with the present Board
of Education elected by the people of Co.
lumbus, some time ago introduced bill to
remodel that body so that it should suit
some obscure ward politician in this city.
This bill came up for consideration in the
House yesterday, and created considerable
discussion among the members. The bill
introduced by Mr.. Bradbury is to amend
the law passed in 1S45-which has been in
successful operation since its passage--reg-
ulating the common schools of the city of
Columbus. The old law provides that the
members of the Board of Education shall
be elected by the voters of the city at large;
the amendment is to provide for their cleo
tion by wards. The only object of chang
ing the law is to give an unfortunate poll
tician in the Second Ward, who probably
earned the empty honor by his services in
the Abolition State Committee last fall, an
opportunity to procure his election to the
Board of Education. AS the Board is now
elected by the city, and as the city is in the
habit Of giving Democratic majority, the
great majority of the members are Demo-
Gratis, although no partizan feeling entered
into their election. They were elected be-
cause they were capable, efficient and proper
men for the offices which they now fill.
In the debate yesterday Mr.. Bradbury
charged this Board with making their party
predictions their rule of conduct in gov
erning the schools of the city, and he men
toned several instances to show this. To
this charge Mr.. Mayo of Butler replied in
scathing speech in which he stated that he
was authorized by members of the Board to
deny the charge in toto as groundless and
totally false. Mr.. Bradbury said that if
committee of investigation was appointed
he could prove the charge. To this Mr..
Mayo and other Democratic members re-
Piled by demanding the appointment of an
investigating committee, demand which
the majority was careful not to comply
with. Mr.. b. denied having any disposition
to make partisan matter of this bill, but
at the same time intimated that he wanted
"loyal" Board of Education in Columbus.
MIR. Mayo showed that this bill had no other
object than to intrude partisan politics into
the election of the Board of Education
where politics never before entered.
After the usual fashion of the House,
whenever it gets into deep water, the pre-
vious question was moved and sustained,
and the bill put through by the regular
party vote. Aside from the aspiring poll
tician before alluded to, we know of no one
in the city who cares anything about the
which the School Board is elected,
beyond that interest which every citizen
feels in keeping party politics out the con-
test; and 1t is only as an abolition measure
to intrude the subject that this bill is worth
speaking of. 1t will have no effect in
the politics Of the Board, for the
Democrats will elect the majority as often
as they choose. No petitions or memorials
calling for change in the present law were
presented to the Assembly; all our local
Representatives opposed the bill; but the
House, for the purpose of gaining some
petty party end and if possible punish the
people of Columbus for being Democrats,
passed the bill in spite of these facts. Gal
LA county may be interested in the matter,
us that when the people of Co
lumbus desire any legislation on local af-
fairs they will scarcely go to Gallia county
TO get it. 1t is hoped that the more sensible
Senate will appreciate the true state of this
case and defeat measure so useless, petty,
and improper.