Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-02
The Legislation Of the Ohio Legs

The LEGISLATION of the Ohio Legs.
Aatruee = q q
Whoever will take the trouble to look
through the proceedings of the Ohio Leg
islature from the time of its convening in
january, 1866, to this time, will discover
that that which pertains to the common
working mans interest, has received very
little attention, while other classes who are
spoken of as moving in higher social
sphere, have marked consideration paid
them. We will illustrate: Over year
ago, mechanics and laborers became inn
pressed with the belief that if they were to
labor simply eight hours per day, they
would be furnished such time for recreation
and mental improvement as would con-
tribute very much to their comfort and
happiness. They, therefore, held meetings
to give force to that idea, and they petit
toned the Legislature to legalize eight
hours IS days work. In answer to such Pc
titions, Senator CRITCHFIBLD "a Democrat)
Immediately introduced into the Senate
bill, and day or two afterwards Represen-
tative BANNING "a RadicaD, believing
that he could coin out of the move
ment political capital for himself, in
troduced into the House a bill sim
liar in its character, and this bill
was printed in advance of Senator CRITCH-
FIELDS bill. and put through the House,
under whip and spur. It was amended in
the Senate, and in that condition returned
to the House, where it was tabled, and
there it remains, the Republican party re-
fusiug to take it up and pass it. The ma
jority the Republican party received at the
election last fall settled the question of the
eight hour movement with them. Had the
Republican party been beaten, or had it
barely escaped defeat, more respectful con-
si6eration would now be paid the eight
hour moyesaent.s ~ q. IE
Take. ahother-casc.s The Judges Of the
Common Pleas Courts throughout the State
worked themselves into the belief that an
annual salary of ta0enty, JiUe hundred dollars
each was not sufficient for their comfortable
maintenance.s They therefore, asked this
Republican Legislature to give them more,
and the Legislature accordingly passed a
law that hereafter their salaries shall be
three thousand dollars gear. 2 er n. ~
the businessof money lending, feeling that
they want more than six per cent. interest
on the money they lend, have petitioned
the Legislature to legalize a higher rate
than the existing rate of interest, and the
Legislature has before it bill wherein it is
proposed to give to these money lenders
what they have asked for. Officials and dig
nitaries and money lenders can secure from
this Republican Legislature such legisla-
ton to promote their interests as they may
want; but mechanics, laborers and Negroes
cannot. 1t would seem that legislation,
nowadays, under the rule of the Repub-
lican party, is not to conduce to the welfare
and happiness of the toiling thousands; but
to build. up special interests. to befriend
capital, to increase offices, and to give fat
salaries to their partisan friends who hold
offices.
The Way it is Looked at by the
Radicals.
The editorial we copy from the CleUelGnd
Leader, on the refusal of the Republican
members in the Ohio Legislature to submit
the question of striking the word White
pie, shows precisely how the Radicals feel
about it. They understand why the vote
resulted as it did, and they are not in a
frame of mind to conceal it from the pub
lie. They "speak right out in meetin'.''
It was scowardice that did the business
All of them are in favor of Negro Suffrage
So the Leader tells the public; but these
timorous Republicans have an apprehen-
sion that in certain quarters of the State
the measure is not sufficiently popular to
save the Republican party from defeat at
the ensuing fall election, and they cherish
the belief ttrat the mass in the Republican
party are so destitute of intelligence
as not to know that the Republi-
can party, through Republican Congress
sional legislation, is committed unequivo-
cally in favor of Negro Suffrage, and that
relying on this ignorance, they can per-
suade them to vote the Republican ticket as
heretofore, under the. assurance that the
Republican party is not in favor of Negro
Suffrage, and that it is "a Copperhead lie
to say that they are. The Hamilton dele
CATION in the Legislature are at times
DOdSIlul UIdG CdH uldnoSO
to suit themselves, and no doubt they take
much credit to themselves for defeating the
Reserve on this its favorite measure. There
is talk among Southern Ohio Republican!
that in the State Convention the Negro Suf
frageites shall neither have the candidate
for Governor nor resolution giving sup
port to any such measure. They pretend
to believe that they have the Reserve Re
/ publicans under their thumbs and are de
termined to keep them there. 1t dom
make any difference to us which side is sue
cessful. t..7
Shelter than Democratic FIepudia
tiOn.''
The uncertainty of things under Repub
lican rule-the mistakes in Republican leg
islation consequent upon that party ''trav
cling an untried path, whereby bushes
is substantially brought to stand-still, an
distress causing agony to the poor-is rep
| resented as more deserving of our kin
| consideration than democratic Repudia
| tion."
WHAT'S democratic Reputation" "whic
| the people are asked to look upon as