The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-18
COLUMBUS LETTER.
CoLuHBUs, OHIO,
January 18th, 1871

Ed. Observation-Disclosures is still
accommodating in both branches of the
Legislature. Many new bills are be-
ing continually introduced and re-.
ferred to appropriate committees
some of importance, and others of
none whatever. Among the Senate
bills are two of much interest to the
people of the State-Bates' bin for
operating the Cincinnati Southern
Road, and Senator Lewis bill to de-
stroy the monopoly in publishing and
the sale of school books.
The Trustees for the construction
of the Southern Railroad have con-
cluded to not ask the Legislature for
permission of a further loan, and in
tend to finish and equip the road by
Cincinnati capital, provided they can
obtain suitable legislation, that the
road shall be operated in the interest
of the city. Such legislation will be
granted, when the friends of the en-
terprise shall have agreed upon the
provisions of the bill. In this man.
ner, the State at large is not inter
ested in any pecuniary outlay, but
we of the western part of the State
are much concerned in the results of
this great improvement. ;
Senator Lewis bill providingfor a
uniform series o school books for the
State, to be published and sold at
cost, is n of the most important
measures before the Legislature.
The publishers of school books, as
matters now stand, have a complete
monopoly in publishing and the sale
of school books throughout the State,
and are more or less combined with
the school teachers, which gives tC
them an unconsciousable monopoly
and thereby enables them to fleece
the people out of millions for scarce.
ly nothing. The bill is before The
Committee and being nov consider
ed, and when it comes before ths
Committee of the Whole we Intend
to profit and pass it during the pres
ent session. 3.
On Tuesday, the raising of a join
committee to inquire into the caus'
of the Ashtabula bridge disaster
came up for consideration, which re
suited in such monstrous destruction
of human life. 1t uas st once dis
covered that the outside pressur
was so great that the Legislator
, would have to act in the matter il
some tangible shape, and a long an,
earnest debate sprung up touching
!, the true points of inquiry. 1t wa
, finally determined to raise q join
committee of eight, three on the par
, of the Senate and five on the part c
the House, to investigate and deter
mine the true cause of the break i
the bridge, whether iron and woode
= bridges are failures, and what ful
, ther legislation is necessary for tn
safety of human life travelling b
, rail. The Senator from Preble wa
: appointed one of that committee, o
+ the part of the Senate, and the con
mittee is now fully organized, wit
full power to send for persons an
: papers. compel the attendance ofwit
nesses, with a short HAND reporter
write out the testimony, and on
= Sergeant-at.arms to serve process
E We leave for Ashtabula next Nor
q day, 10 A. II.
On Thursday it "a reported i
the Senate that Hon. W. A. Wheele
! was in the city, and a committee wa
appointed to wait upon him and ez
o tend to him the courtesy of the Ser
ate. On his appearance thesSenat
took a recess of ten inmates, and n
Wheeler was introduced to the men
bers BY the presiding officer. H
was accompanied by Gov. Hayes, bu
made no speech. Mr.. Wheeler is
4 fine looking man, in the full vigor {
life and health, and from sixty t
sixty-fve years of age.
!. The wild man of the House, aftt
: the Sth of January convention, offe
ed a string of resolutions as subst
It tutes for the 9Th Of January resol,
e lions, which were extremely partiza
in their en~unciations. 1t was sim
lar TO a fire-brand thrown into a ma.
a of combustible matter, and a Ion
and acrimonious debate sprung L
IS and broke in seriously upon the lei
itimate business of the House. "
" have no such transactions in ii
10 Senate, and intend to pursue the lie
itimate line of legislative duty.
A. HAINES.
= "The Republican rebels-a are not
ramnanL as they we're q week Or t1