Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-17
Editorial Notes from the State Capital.

Editorial Notes from the State Capital.
Large as has been the number of
lobbyists at previous periods OF the
present session, there has been a much
larger attendance the past week, in
Guiding persons from all parts of the
State. In fact it is probable that the
third house, has outnumbered the
first and second houses, and has been
quite as INDUSTRIOUS as the regulars"
From the northeastern portion OF the
State a large delegation, principally
from Summit county, has been here
10 have the Ohio & Pa. Canal question
settled. At the instance, principally,
of some mill owners at Akron, a bill
has been introduced into the Senate,
to authorize and require the Board OF
Public Works, in the name and for
the use of the State Of Ohio, to take
possession of and adopt as a part OF
the public works of this State, and as
n feeder of the Ohio Csnal-whieh
extends from Portsmouth, on the
Ohio river, to Cleveland-that part Of
the Ohio & Pa. Canal lying between
Akron and Ravenna. The object of
this bill is to have the portion Of the
canal mentioned kept up by the State,
ostensibIy for navigation purposes,
but really to keep up and constantly
furnish the several mills st Akron,
which run by water power, and have
been supplied by the waste water Of
the o. & p. Canal with the water
necessary for their use. On the other
hand the Kent and the. Cuyahoga
Falls people, and people at several
other points, object to the State Board
being required to keep upa fraction Of
the old, abandoned canal for the
especial benefit of Akron, when the
water of Cuyahoga river, which nat
urally belongs to Kent and Cuyahoga
Falls, is diverted by the canal, and a
part of the year the people of these
places are without sufficient water to
run their mills. Both parties are here
with attorneys and pleaders, with
maps andprofiles of the canal, feeders,
and the several localities. Whichever
way the matter may be decided, bad
feelings, already engendered, will be
likely to prevail among the contestant
localities for some time. 1t looks at
this writing as though the Akron
folks would not be successful.
aa,Y NEW LAWS.
Occasionally a bill passes the ordeal
OF both houses, and a new law is made.
During the past week, the following
have been passed:
Amending the seventh section OF
the act entitled IAN act to authorize
the commissioners to construct roads
on petition of majority Of resident
land owners along and adjacent to line
of said road, and to. repeal an act there
in named" passed March %, 1867.
This bill authorizes county treasures
to accept bonds issued for the con-
struction of roads, in payment of taxes
levied for the construction of said
roads, on petition of a majority of res
ident land owners. Passed, sc To II.
Supplementary TO "An act TO pro-
vide for locating, establishing and
constructing bitches, drains and wa
ter-courses,p passed March q, $751;
The object of the bill is to authorize
cities to assist in constructing bitches,
where the health of the city will be
improved by their construction, in
stead Of levying the whole amount
upon the land through which the
ditch runs, as the present laws pro
vide.
To provide for the publication OF
the number Of horses, cattle, sheep,
hogs, and other animals returned for
taxation. The argument in favor OF
this bill was that it would enable
farmers to know whether stock was
scarce or plenty in the country, and
whether 1t would be profitable or not,
in view of the supply, to raise certain
kinds of stock.
To establish standard weights for
lime and coke. Where there is no
special agreement as to the measure,
the bushel shall consist of seventy
pounds Of lime and forty pounds of
coke.
To regulate the weighing Of live
stock, hay, coal, grain and iron. The
bill provides that any person keeping
scales or steelyards for weighing, fog
hire or reward, the aforesaid articles,
shall take an oath to faithfully per-
form all their duties. He is also re-
quirei to report the weight of articles
in writing TO the owners, and shall
also keep o record Of the same in q
suitable hook.
To authorize sherihs to sell goods
LEVIED on, at wholesale, by order OF
court.
To exempt the homestead of fami-
lies from forced sale on execution to
pay debts The old law exempted 8
homestead Of $500 or personally to the
amount of $500. The new law ex-
empts $1,000 in real estate or $500 in
personality. Il was argued that $1,000
now was not more than sec when
the old law was passed, and that $500
personally is not more than $500
worth was in specie times.
THE 18TH AMENDMENT.
The Governor has transmitted to
the General Assembly the 18th amend
ment to the National Constitution,
passed by Congress and to be ratified
by three-fourths of the States. The
Democrats not desiring TO come to a
square vote on the question had it re-
ferred to the committees on Federal
relations, in both houses. They want
70 useitk for political capital next fall,
hoping it RiB again give them the
Legislature. The Republicans are
ready to meet the rugged issue" a
Republican caucus was held on Fri
Gag night, and this question vas