The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-01
COLUMRIs CORRESPONDENCE.
COLUMBUS. O March o., 1s7a.

ED. SPIRIT: By the passage of the in
surance law of last winter, and the es.
tahlishment of an Insurance Bureau,
quite discrimination has been made /
against Mutual Insurance Companies
also, companies with less capital than
5000, 600 were not allowed to be herear- |
ter organized. After the experience of
one year, it is Found that this is dis
crinination against the insured Of this
State and in favor Of foreign wealthy
companies. In this: that it enables
wealthy companies to increase their rates
without the fear of coming into compe-
tition with local or domestic companies.
which, undcr ordinary circumstances, do
a safe business. The legislation of this
winter is directed to limit this power of
the foreign companies,hy placing mutual
companies on safe position, and making
no Discrimination agsirst them, aud by
permitting the establishment of new
companies with paid up capital of
100000.
When the municipal code was adopt
ed. five years ago,it was thought to have
came perfect from The hands of its ma
kers; but every winter since then it has
been amended, and this winter there are
more petitions for alterations than any
year since it went into operation. The
progress of improvement in the cities
and towns of the State, is assigned rs a
reason of these denlaildsa of changes. -
Some Claim: eIt is the advance of pro.
gress and civilization" A better ex-
preston is: How uncertain are human
events" Frequent corruptions in large
cities, Which TO guard against, seem TO
require frequent changes, with more PEN
atty and less power, and yet it is very
difficult to determine where is the limit,
that should be established. that will not
craInp and ipjure the healthy develop
mcnt of the cities of the State
An act has been passed requiring JUS
tices Of the Peace to make direct and
reverse index of all cases entered ON the
docket Also, an act to allow the wife
in an action for divorce and alimony, to
sell or assign the slimony that is granted
pending the SUR,
Owing to the frequent accidents result
ting from the sale of mineral oil that will
not stand the proper test, an act has
been passed, which declares it shall be
unlawful for any person to sell mineral
or petroleum oil until he has tested it,
by taking not less than half-pint of the
oil, and placing it in vessel in such a
situation that the surface Of the oil shall
not exceed six nor be less than four
square inches in area. Then placing in
it thermometer and raising the temper
ature at not more than six degrees per
minute, until it will emit gas or vapor
that will ignite by being brought in con-
tact with lighted match or burning ta-
per, and if it emits gas that will burn be-
fore reaching the temperature of ITO de-
grees, it is declared to be dangerous, land
it shall be unlawful to sell it.
An act has been passed providing for
the establishment of and re-record OF
town pats where the original and record
of said plat have been lost or destroyed.
There is one, and perhaps more, of the
villages in Monroe County whose origi
nal plat has been lost and the record de
stroyed. They now have the opportu-
nifty of supplying them.
One of the great difficulties in State
government is local legislation. The
State Of Ohio with nearly 100000 Of
people, living, as they do under different
circumstances The LARGE cities where
active business accumulates, and also
where sharpers and criminals are more
likely to collect than in more palsely
settled parts Then there are the inland
towns and the border towns. with theil
different interests. Those on the Ohio
River coming in contact more particular.
iy with the laws and regulations of Other
States. and the lake towns comingi in con
tact with foreign country and differ
ent class of society who navigate the
lakes. All these things go to make up
the different circumstances under which
the people of this State live, and which
renders it very difficult to harmonize un
der one general rule Another trouble
which gives rise to more purely loca
, questions is the difference of wealth, the
, difference of enterprise, that grow W
under variety of circumstances, and s
host Of other matters of public interest
and importance that arise in different
communities, which, if enforced by I
general statute, would be onerous anG
/. oppressive in one community, out are
only necessary for healthy development
in another. All these things are to be
met The demands and interests OF
those who ask for local measures, hearG
and examined their rights granted Under
circumstances that will preserve harmo
ny and protect minorities and promote
the general welfare of all who are effec
: ted by either the laws,whether of q pub
! lie or general nature or local character
A