The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-06-18

to clear the docket. (Sec. A. 1t is also provided
(Sec. o. that a like commission may be constituted
in the future, but not Oftener than once in ten
years, and thus relieve against q recurrence OF a
blockade without invoking a convention.
Alarming complaints Of official e%xtOrtiOn in the
offices of some of the Probate Judges and Com
mon Pleas Clerks reached the Convention. Be
lievtng that the change would pc condnelve 70
official integrity, it is provided that the Probate
Judges and Common Pleas Clerks shall hereafter
be salaried officers, and that all their official fees
be paid into the county treasury. 1t is required
that each judge shall annually report to the Gen
eral Assembly The number OF days he shall nave
been Actually employed during the year, so that
the judicial force may be augmented or dimin-
ished as necessity demands. 1t Is also provided
that the intoxication of a Judge during term, or
while officially engaged, shall work g forfeiture OF
office.
The foregoing is an outline of the new features
in the proposed judicial system.
1t will be seen that the appellate Jurisdiction of
the Supreme and Circuit Courts, and the whole
and exclusively in the control OF the General
Assembly. 1t is believed that by wise legislation,
in putting the system into effect, 1t can be made
TO fully meet the public demanda and expectation.
ARTICLE V.-rHE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The word - white" as a qualification of electors,
has been stricken out Of the first section. The
military or naval station within the State shall not
thereby gain a residence, has been substituted by
the general rule stated in section six, applicable TO
all cases OF temporary presence or absence. ana
in section seven provision is made for the exercise
Of the right Of suffrage by electors in the military
service OF the United States.
ARTICLE vI.-ELECTION.
This article is so amended as to provide Section
81 that women may be elected TO any school
offices except that Of State Commissioner OF
Schools.
ARTICLE vu.-PUBLIc INSTITUTIONS.
The power OF appointing the directors of public
institutions is taken from the Governor, and the
government of all the public institutions is remit
ted to the General Assembly. In addition to the
institutions established by the present Consutu-
reform school for boys, and a house of discipline,
are made permanent. Other institutions are recog-
nized in section two, but their continuance is
left at the discretion Of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE vH-PUBLIC DEBT AND PUBLIC WORKS.
This Article has been amended by adding to the
seventh Gth) section a provision forbidding the
ment Of the State debt. In place Of the present
Board, consisting of three members, one super
intendent Of Public Works" is TO be elected every
four years as long as may be necessary. The skin
(6th) section of this Article cuts of the use of pub
lie money or credit, not only IN any lont stoek
company, corporation or association, but also In
the Construction or purchase by a county, town
ship, city or village, Of any railroad or canal, even
though the same be wholly owned BY such
municipality. A clause entitled Proposition
number wo-Railroad aid" is submitted In the
Schedule separate from other points of the Con-
s%titution, which, il adopted, viii modify section
six (6) by permitting the General Assembly to pass
laws authorizing public aid to companies IN the
construction OF railroads within this State, subject
to many conditions and restrictions, of which the
following are perhaps the most important, to wit:
such aid cannot be given by counties, but only by
townships, cities or Incorporated villages, on aYote
Of not less than twO-thirds, and, in specific in
stances, Ilree-fOurI0S OF the clcCLOrs- OCDls
created for such purposes shall never, at any one
time, exceed five per cent. OF the taxable property
Of the township, city or village, nor bear a greater
account Of such aid or debts shall not exceed one
per cent. of such taxable property in any year.
The part Of the work on winch the aid is 10 be ex-
pended must be definitely located before the cleo
ton, and security given for its completion before
the aid is granted.
ARTICLE H.-rHE MILITIA.
The word Z. white is stricken out Of this Arti-
Gle, so that all able-bodied citizens shall be liable to
military duty. A limited exemption to those who
have conscientious scruples is allowed upon pay
ment OF an equivalent into the school fund. All
officers above the rank Of captain, except the stan
Of general officers and colonies, are hereafter to be
appointed by the Governor; but major and Drig-
adler generals must be appointed with the advice
and consent OF the Senate.
ARTICLE x.-ooUNTEs AND TOWNSHIPS
Every county and township is declared to be q
body corporate, thus fixing their hitherto indeter-
inmate status in this respect. Their organization,
powers and liabilities are to be prescribed by the
General Assembly. County officers are to be
elected in November and for q term not exceeding
four years. change TO conform to the biennial
election system. County Auditors, Treasurers
and Prosecuting Attorneys are 10 be paid by fixed
salaries, and not by fees. Township officers are to
prescribe, and hold office not exceeding three
years.
to levy local taxes and assessments for roads,
bitches and water-courses, as well as police pur
poses.
ARTICLE xL-MUNICRAL CORPORATIONS.
Inc new CONSTITUTION PRESERVES all u ut
lions upon municipalities contained IN the exist
ing Constitution, and adds others, as follows:
/. The General Assembl is required to provide
for classifying municipal corporations in not ex-
ceeding six classes, and to define the powers oil
each by general laws applicable only 10 municl
palites Of the same class; and thus prevent. the
subterfuges by which special legislation has beer
had for particular towns and villages under the
:. No property can be assessed more than ter
per cent. of its taxable value in any one year, mol
more than fifty per cent. OF its highest taxable
value in any ten years. But this provision is no
applicable to any city the debt of which already
equals ten per cent. of its tax duplicate, until tht
next valuation Of real estate for taxation. lSe'
8. The debt of a municipal corporation shall
never be increased beyond hve per cent; OF Us Ia2
duplicate, unless the increase and Its object be au
thorized by three-fOurths Of the electors OF sucl
corporation; and the debt shall in no event exceed
ten per cent. of such duplicate. In computing the
debt there is to be included a sum the interest o
which at six per cent. will yield the aggregate
amount Of all rents paid by such corporation 10
parks or other leased property. This limitation /
qualified 80 as not to apply TO debts necessarily IN
CURED for military purposes In time OF war; nor Y
debts incurred to complete works already author
lied and actually begun; nor to a corporation
borrowing money in anticipation OF assessment
levied but not collected nor to a corporation tn
debt Of which already exceeds ten per cent, unit
the first valuation OF real estate after the adoption
of the Constitution.
4. Money raised by taxation, assessment or LOAF
for one purpose, shall not be diverted to another
5. No tax or assessment shall be levied or deb
contracted by a municipal corporation unless il
pursuance of law and for public purposes author
lied by law, except as may be otherwise provides
in the Constitution.
g. Municipal corporations shall not condem
private property for any purpose until eompensa
lion be first made in money or secured by a de
post Of money.
ARTICLE Xu.-PRYATE CORPORATIONS.
None of the provisions of the present COnstitu
ton respecting private corporations have bee
touched, except Section z of Article 13, which ha
been modified as follows: As the section stands !
the present Constitution, it forbIds the taking ei
feet Of a law authorizing associations with an
banking powers whatsoever until il has been sui
mitted to and ratified by the people. This wa
thought to be unnecessarily stringent, and wa
therefore modified SO as to permit the General Az
sembly to authorize banking associations withou
u vote OF the people, except where 1t lie propose
that such associations may issue paper money, l
which case the requirement OF the present Const
tuition Is continued
Numerous important additions have BEEN mad
respecting private corporations, which are In ger
eral terms as follows:
I. The redemption Of any paper money issue
in this State must be fully secured by the depOsi
Of bonds of the United States and Of the State O
Ohio.
? In the election Of directors of every privat
corporation each shareholder shall have as man
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