The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-23
OHtO LEGISL4rURE

In the Senate, February 13, Mr.. Bates pre-
sented memorial from business men of
Cinclncinati, setting forth that the Miami
and Erie Canal is in a ruuious condition.
Memorialisis ask the appointment of COM
mlttee OF the Legislature to examine into
the condition OF the canal. After listening
TO the second reading of two bills, the Senate
adJourned.......T House met at half past
two O'Clock. and their being no quoru n
present, adjourned until to. morrow morning.
The Senate, February IA, spent most of
the morning in Committee of the Whole on
the code. The entire afternoon was spent
in discussion of Mr.. RichardSs House bill
for compulsory education. The speeches
on both sides were able and much interest
was displayed. Messrs. Burns, Monahan,
Ransom, Burrows, and Swanaker spoke for
the bill, and Mess-s. Andrews and Owens
against it. The debate went over the whole
field, from the incipiency of the system
in Prussia to its last trial in New York.
After nearly four hours of spirited debate,
the bill was passed by 81 to 1OIn the
House, petition was presented by Mr.,
Wlltsee from twenty-three citizens of Hamil,
ton County, for bill to prevent the occu-
patton OF Mclean Avenue by the Southern
Railroad. Petitions were also presented
from one hundred and fifteen citizens of
Clinton County for Local Option
| law; from citizens of Jefferson County
to limit interest to six per cent.
Mr.. West introduced a bill to authorize
Loveland to liquidate loan on hall debt.
Mr.. Bates's Senate bill to authorize incor.
porated base ball clubs to operate skating
rinks was defeated. Mr.. Bates's Southern
Railroad bill was referred back to the Com.
mittee on Municipal Corporations by a vote
OF the House. Several new bills were
introduced, one of which authorizes Gin
cinnati to purchase and run the gas-works
In the Senate, February 15, on motion OF
Mr.. Stanton the vote was reconsidered by
which Mr.. Richards's House bill, makiDg g
education compulsory, was passed yester.
day, and the bill was laid on the table. The
Senate bill of Mr.. Brown, of Lucas, to amend
the game laws so that persons convicted of
trespassing upon improved property may
be committed to prison until the fines
assessed against them are paid, was read
the third time and passed. Mr.. Wiltsee's
House bill to authorize Express Com.
panies to charge storage on packages not
called for, or whose owners can not be dis
covered, was read a third time and passed.
House bill to authorize filling of vacancies
occurring in Township Trustees by Senior
Justices of Townships, was passed......
In the House, Mr.. Beach's bill to re-
quire the vaccination of children at
tending schools and working in work
shops was read the third time and discussed
during the remainder of the morning ses-
sion. Mr.. Sellard's bill requiring Marshals
of cities of second class to keep a record of
all property falling into their hands and TO
account for same. Passed. Message from
the Governor received transmitting report
of Centennial Commissioners. Laid on the
table.
In the Senate, February 16, Mr. Monahan's
Senate bill to authorize the Board of Educa-
ton of Portsmouth to borrow money, was
passed. Mr.. Blake's House bill to allow
township agricultural societies to hold forty
acres of land, was passed. Mr.. Bates intro
duced bill to allow incline PLANE railways o
consolidate with connecting street railway s.
The bill to authorize the transfer of funds in
the Highland County treasury, was reported
back without recommendation by the Com
mittee on Finance, and indefinitely post
poned .......1 In the House, Mr.. Browns Sem
ate bill to provide that the directors of street.
railroad companies shall not number less
than three, nor more than seven, at the dis
eretlon of the stockholders, was passed.
Mr.. Converse offered resolution
asking Congress to make an
appropriation for building monument
over the soldiers graves at the Green Lawn
Cemetery. The resolution referred to the
late rebellion as a war between the States.
On motion of Mr.. Wiltsee, the resolution
was amended by striking out the words
"war between the States" and inserting
" late rebellion" All but four agreed to
this amendment. Mr.. Dalzell then insisted
upon offering an amendment to make the
resolution declare the late war Democratic
rebellion. Rejected, after hot discussion,
80 to 4. The resolution was then passed.