The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-25
OHIO LEGISLATURE.

On the 10th January, the Commissioner
of Railroads and Telegraphs sent lengthy
communication to the House, in answer to
their resolution of inquiry, in which he
notices most of the points involved in the
Ashtabula disaster. He says: "The pro-
visions of sections one and two, of the act
entitled IAN act to protect more effectually
the lives of railroad passengers from casual
ties by fire. have not been enforced by
this office. The act, in prescribing the mode
by which forfeitures for violating its pro-
visions shall be recovered, apparently not
contemplating such action by the Commits
sioner." In another section he says
the questions are asked all the railroad
operators yearly, and their answers filed;
and a little later seems to say Though the
language is obseurej that no such plan as is
contemplated 10 secure the wrecked cars
against fire is practicable.
In the Senate, January II, the morning
hour was devoted to routine business. The
case of Joseph Cox VS.. Jordon Harmon, in
the Hamilton County contested election
case, was laid over for examination to the
30th inst. Mr.. Curtis's bill appropriating $685.
600 to increase the facilities for manufactur-
ing gas at the Penitentiary was passed..
In the House large number of bills were
read and referred to the Committees. Mr..
Connahan's bill to re-enact the provisions
of the McConnellsYille ordinance was read
the third time and by party vote postponed
until February 81. The following House
bills were passed: To authorize the incor-
poration of associations Of Mutual Fire In.
surance Companies to authorize the
levy of tax to build bridge across
the Scioto River in Ross County,
to regulate the trade in scrap iron and old
metals; to authorize the repair of free turn
pixies in Brown County. Twenty bills were
read second time. Mr.. Perkins offered
resolution directing Ohio's Senators and
Representatives in Congress to vote for the
amended pension bill, which allows pensions
to date from the time of the soldiers dis
charge, or if to a widow from the time of her
husbands death. Referred to Committee on
Federal Relations.
In the Senate, January IS, Mr.. Lewis Of
fered a resolution, which was adopted, re-
ferring to the appointment of Charles ID.
Wilson, of Indianapolis, as Superintendent
of the Athens Asylum, Notwithstanding
the Trustees were furnished with written
| opinion of Attorney-Geueral Little that
Wilson, not -haing an eleatnr af Ohio, was
ineligible to the position, and
directing the Committee on Benevo-
lent Institutions to examine and
report, first, whether said Wilson is ineligi-
BILE under the Ohio Constitution; second,
whether, in his appointment, the Trustees
did disregard the opinion of the Attorney
General; and third what is necessary to be
done to prevent such violation of law, and
the paying of money upon any requisition
of such Superintendent" .....-"In the
House joint resolution was of.
ferred by Mr.. Rawley, authorizing the
printing of two thousand additional copies
of the Ohio School History, the same to be
sold at cost price by the School Commits.
sioner. A petition was presented from
sixty.three citizens of Hamilton County for
law to provide for the inspection of steam
boilers. Mr.. Dempsey's bill for the protec.
ton of clearinghouse keepers was passed.
In the Senate, January 10, a memorial was
presented asking for the appointment of q
State Commission to investigate the hog
| cholera. Senate Bill No. 245 was taken up
and passed. This bill limits County Com
missioners from appropriating more than
$4,000 on any bridge or building, without
submitting the same to the people......1n the
House, Mr.. Burchard introduced bill to fix
the price of legal advertising in counties
| having a population exceeding 100000 in
| habitants, and to authorize parties to suits to
designate inwhat paper Of general circulation
in such counties, legal advertisements for the
sale of real or personal property, upon ex-
ecution or upon orders of sale, shall be pub
lished. A petition was presented from
eighty-four citizens of Hamilton County for
the inspection of steam boilers. Bills were
| passed: To authorize County Commissioners
to remove Instructions from living streams (;
to allow each Cooperative Trade Associa-
| tion to determine what shall constitute a
quorum for transacting business; to allow
railroad and express companies to charge
storage on unmarked packages.
The Committee on Insane Asylum
reported back the bill to provide for the
erection of home for incurable insane.
With and on their motion the bill was in
definitely postponed. The committee make
this recommendation because they say that
when the new Central Asylum is ready for
occupancy, this class of unfortun mates will
be properly cared for.
January 20, no business OF importance was
transacted by the Senate, which at noon ad.
jeurned until Monday .........In the House,
bill was introduced by Mr.. Barrett for
the appointment of commission to investi.
gate the hog cholera. Mr.. Wales offered a
resolution, which was referred to the Com
mittee on Public Works, to authorize
Emiline Bundy, John z. Bundy and David
Banker to bring an action in the Common
Pleas Court of Butler County, against the
flow of water from the Middletown dam. Mr.
to q vote of the people, an amendment
to the State Constitution, to authorize the
election of Township Trustees for three
years. The resolution was ordered printed
Mr.. BohPs bill, to authorize the Auditor ol
Washington County to refund taxes erro
neously paid by F. Boye, was passed.
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