The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-01-07
OHIO LEGISLATURE.


Converse, who voted for Grosvener, the
latter returning the compliment by vot-
ing for Converse.
COLUMBUS, Jan. 3.--The Senate met
at ten o'clock, a. NJ. Lieut. Governor
Hart called the body to order. Prayer
was offered by Rev X. q. HutchiDgs.
The election of officers being in order,
Captain j. G. Donaldson, of Franklin,
was elected Chief Clerk by twenty votes,
TO fifteen for S X. Donovan, of Della
ware. SIR f. j.. Jones, of Toledo, was
elected Sergeant at Arms. Resolutions
for the appointment Of Committees on
Rules were adopoed. The time for meet
ing was fixed at ten, a NJ aud three, y.
VI. 4 Joint resolution was adopted APP
pointing Messrs. Knox and Reese, on the
part of the Senate, and Messrs. Hitch
cock, Converse and Entrikin, on the part
of the House, to wait upon Governor Al
len and inform him that the Houses were
organized for business, and ready to re-
ceive any communication from him that
he might have to make. Mr.. Burns, of
RichIand, introduced bill to repeal the
Geghan bill, OF last winter. Governor
Aliens Message was received and read,
and referred to selected committee,
consisting of Messrs. Knox, Bates and
Burress.
The message will be found in another
column in this paper.
COLUMBUS, Jan. 3.-The House met
at ten, A. NJ. The body was called to
order by Mr. Bell, Secretary of State
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Jones, of Columbus.
The roll of counties was called, and the
members elect came forward, presented
their certificates, and were sworn in. The
election of officers being in order, Mr..
Rowland, of Ashtabula, nominated Hon.
G. II. Grosvenor, of Athens, for Speak
er Mr. Seifert, of Franklin, nominated
Geo. J.. Converse, of Franklin. On
call of the roll Mr.. Grosvenor received
sixty-three votes and Mr. Converse forty
one. Mr.. VIM. Leonard, of Cuyahoga,
was elected Clerk. The time for meet
ing was fixed at ten, A. III. and three, p.
NJ On taking the Chair, NJ. Gro5venor
spoke as follows:
Gentlemen 9fthe House Of Representatives.
Appearing before you. to assume the
tiality has assigned Inc, ] am deeply ill
pressed. first, with gratitude to you for
the manifestation of your confidence in
me, and, secondly, with the magnitude
of the duties that have undertaken to
perform. Coming to this position, that
has been heretofore so ably filled by gen.
tlemen of experience and distinguished
ability, | am not unmindful that there
is devolved upon me a task of no easy
execution; but | bring to the position a
determination to discharge it with all
the ability that can possibly command,
and with as much of fairness as the ma
ture of man in me can possibly produce,
recognizing that the good of the State,
the interests of judicious legislation that
are paramount to the political interests,
ought to govern the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; and whatev
er of success / may earn for myself will
be imperative to secure the result that
| think all desired, unless | have the CO.
operation and hearty support of the
members of the House. l ask for that.
/ ask it as your Speaker, in whose success
you cannot have less than a deep inter
est.
The sixty-second General Assembly of
Ohio has assembled under circumstances
that are calculated to impress us with
the solemnity of the duties devolving
upon us. We have entered the centen-
NAL year of oar National existence, and
as we begin to move out upon the sea OF
events ahead of us. we are reminded by
the history of the past, that comes to us
with such wonderful import to-day. OF
dangers ahead and we are reminded that
the people of Ohio, conscious of these
dangers, and conscious of their power TO
carry the State beyond them. VI derstand
their ability-understand the remedy.
Understand that the Legislative Depart
ment of the Government is completely
under the command and control of the
Constitution of the State, and they have
reminded us that they will accept moth
ing as a record of correct stewardship
that does not import honesty in admin
istration, economy in public expendi-
tures, promptness in discharge of official
duty. making official position what it
should be-the intimation of duty to
be performed, rather than benefit con-
ferre1 upon the holder thereof. But it
is the duty of the Speaker of the House
to act. and of the members to speak, and,
having said this much, and repeating my
thanks to you for the honor you have
conferred upon me, / am now ready to
take the oath of Office incident to the po-
sition, and enter upon the discharge of
the duties
Bills were introduced to repeal the
Geghan law, to tax church property, to
repeal the law of last winter, which pro-
h:bits appeals from Justices Courts, |
when the amount of the judgment does |
not exceed 800. and to limit the fees of !
the counsel for the State in'murder cases |
to $3.50, and to $50 in other cases.
JANUARY New bills were presented, |
authorizing Cincinnati TO grant grounds |
for the Springer Music Hall, providinga
Metropolitan Police system for Cleve-
land. fixing the minimum term for for
gerry at one year. H. w. Curtiss, of |
Cuyahoga. was elected President pro
TEN. No session was held on Wednes-
day. Ia the House large number of new
bills and resolutions were offered, among |
which were, one to arrest and punish
tramps and restrain vagrancy, one regu
lating installment policies, increasing
the number of the Water Works Trus-
tees of Cincinnati TO five, and a resolu-
ton to reorganize the Ohio Peniten-
tiery.
4 message was received from the
Governor transmitting a eommunica-
lion from Hon. Hamilton Fish, United
States Secretary of State, concerning a
from the British Minis
ter asking for legislation, in connection
with the Canadian authorities, for the
protection of fish i'm United States and
Canadian waters.
Mr.. Newton Dem offered a resolu-
ion cepsuring the action of the present
ieneral Assembly in electing colored
men to clerkships. Referred TO the
Committee on Federal Rel ltions-67 te
q.
BY Mr. Light-To amend the ditch
aw, so as TO require verdict Of full
ury in preliminary trials, instead of
'erdict by two thirds of a jury, as now
JAN. 5.-The Senate was not in session
o day. In the House, petitions for the
OF the compensation of Sheriffs
we're presented. Bills were introduced
o re-enact the Little law for the sup |
'ressicn of gambling, to protect lands
rom trespass by huhters without re-
uiring notice to be given by land own
RS; to establish an Asylum for the in
urable insane. Mr.. Converse intro
uced bil! TO remit the penalties fer
of taxes of 1875, provided
he same be paid prior to April 2, 1876.
lr. Bruner presented bill to require
,ounty Commissioners of adjoining