The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-12
OHIO LEGISLATURE.


The Senate met, April 2, at O'Clock,
and spent the session in routine business.
MIR. Rukenbrod introduced bill prohibit
ing attorneys from engaging as counsel
for contingent fees in suits for libel and
House met at half-past
2 o'clock, and in the absence of Speaker
Grosvenor and Speaker pro tenn Hodge,
Mr.. Oglevee moved that Mr.. Hitch
cock be called temporarily to the chair.
Converse, seeing there was not
a quorum present, demanded the yeas and
nays, which demand was ignored, and the
motion declared carried by UiuG Uoce vote.
The Democrats appealed from Mr.. Oglevee's
decision, and when their appeal was sus-
tanned, on motion OF Mr.. Rowland the
House adjourned. The Democrats then,
under the lead of MIR. Converse, got up
little organization of their own, with DR..
Norton in the chair, and Mr.. Watson of
Monroe County, as Clerk, and after order
ing the Sergeant-at-arms to report at ten
O'Clock tomorrow morning as to absentees,
they adjourned the meeting.
In the Senate April 8, the resolution in
structing the Sergeant-at-Arms to proceed to
& ton wss argued for some hours, Messrs.
Owens, Andrews and Burress, denying
Jurisdiction, and Mr.. Johnston and
other Republicans claiming it. Various
motions came from the Democratic side to
amend by the substitution, first, of Senator
Ellis for the Sergeant-at-Arms, and then the
first Assistant Sergeant, all of which were
lost. Efforts were then made to stave off by
moving recess and adjournment. On the
previous question the resolution was adopted
ayes, 19; nays, 9, party vote. 1900. When
the House met this morning, the Speaker
and Speaker pro tenn. being absent, MIR.
Richards Rep J, went to the Speaker stand,
and, calling the House to order, moved that
Mr.. Hitchcock (Rep. be called to the chair,
Mr.. Converse demanded the yeas
and nays, and the nomination was
agreed to, whereupon Mr.. Hitchcock took
the chair. Mr.. Bates's Senate bill for
leasing the Cincinnati Southern Railway
was called up at 3 o'clock and read the
third time, and after several amendments,
was carried by vote of 60 to 2. The bill as
it stands provides only for leasing and ad-
vertising the proposals.
In the Senate, April 4, the Southern Rail
way bill, with House amendments, was re-
ported back to the Senate in the morning, and
by vote of 2 to 2z the amendments were
not concurred in. The Committee on Federal
Relations was discharged from further con-
sideration of the bill authorizing the city of
Covington, KY, a foothold on the Ohio shore
for free bridge across the Ohio River, and
the bill was referred to a select committee
Kleinschmidt, and Ransom. A petition was
received from 1S1 citizens of Lucas County,
asking for an appropriation to complete
the Providence Slack-water on the Miami
and Erie Canal, in accordance with the re-
port of John W. Erwin. Referred to the
Committee OF Public Works. A petition of
so merchants of Lucas County, asking for
the passage Of the bill to punish
frauds in securing extensions on
debts, and release of one debtor
and substitution of another, was referred to
the Committee on Judiciary. The Ransom
County School bill was called up for its
third reading. A number of it's provisions
were discussed for some time, including
that increasing the salary of the State
School Commissioner from $4,000 to
$500, which was lost, and the bill
Mr.. Curtis's joint resolution for amending
the constitution by providing that regular
elections for State and county officers and
members of the General Assembly be held
on Tuesday next after the first Monday in
November, the question to be submitted to
October, was agreed to without opposition,
and sent to the House. the House,
the consideration of House Joint Resolu-
ton No. 81 (Mr. Nigh's proposed amend
ment to the judiciary clause of the constitu-
ton, was taken up as the special order of
the morning. Mr.. Rowland offered an
amendment to Section Is, allowing the
General Assembly to increase or diminish
the number of judges in any Common Pleas
Court, or abolish the Probate Court in any
county or other court established by law.
Agreed to. Mr.. Howland's amendment to
Section 8, striking out the clause
dividing the State into eighty-eight
Common Please districts. Agreed to.
The gentleman's amendment to Section
IS, providing that the term of Office of all
judges of the Court of Common Pleas in Of
fee, who were not elected as judges under
this amendment shall then expire, was
agreed to. Mr.. Converse argued against the
whole resolution, claiming that the bill
would double the number of
Common Pleas Judges now in office,
and add to the expense of the judicial
system nearly 100000. That the Probate
Court is peoples court, in which any
person may transact business without the
aid of an attorney; under the bill transfer
ring the businhss to the Common Pleas, it
would be necessary for all having business
there to engage an attorney to transact it for
them, and that the expense to the people
transacting such business would thus be
greatly increased. When the resolution
came up on passage, it was lost by vote of
sixty-fve ayes to twenty-seyen nays, sixty
six being necessary to carry it.
Brown, of Lucas, and Knox, were appointed
committee of conference on the part of
the Senate on the Southern Railroad Lease
Bill. House bill by Mr.. Barrett, to create a
Commission to investigate as to the cause
and remedies of hog cholera, was read the
third time and disc ussed until nearly time
for the noon recess, when message was re-
ceived from the House transmitting the
joint resolution proposing an amendment
to the article of the Constitution relating to
the Judiciary. The resolution was
| after discussion, adopted. The following
bills passed: To create a commission to
investigate the hog cholera; authorizing the
construction of roads through wild lands to
public highways; to allow any creditor Of
on any claim. House bill authorizing an in
crease of taxes for township roads was
lost; reconsidered and laid on the table
.........In the House, the death of Hon. Ben
Inman, Representative from Sandusky was
announced, and resolutions passed appoint
| inga committee to report such action as waa
deemed fitting for the accession. The yot.
whereby the House refused to adopt tn,
| resolution submitting an amendment t,
the article of the Constitution relating t,
the Judiciary, was again reconsidered ant
the resolution adopted and sent t,
the Senate for concurrence. Messrs
Dempcy, Richards and Meyers wer
appointed a committee of conference
on the part of the House on the Senate bill
to provide for leasing the Cincinnati South
ern Railroad. House bill, by Mr.. Siefert t.
authorize the Board of Public Works t.
build a culvert under the Hooking Canal
near Lancaster, was read the third time, an,
ELECTED some discussion, but was fnall
passed. Resolutions in honor of the mem
ory of Mr.. Inman, late Representative fror
Sandusky. County, were adopted, afte
speeches by Messrs. Minns, Converse, Ho
loway, Brunners, Money, Luccock an
Blake.
In the Senate, April 6, Mr.. Oglevee's Hous
bill requiring the publication of sales unde
attachment to be made in German papel
if published in the county, as well as thos
in English, unless otherwise ordered by tn
defendant, was lost. On motion to reco1
slider, the bill was afterward laid on tn
table. Mr.. Kessler's bill to regulate the pric
of legal advertising in Hamilton Count
was taken up and read the the time Mr.. Bate
amended by striking out the clause requirin
the advertising for proposals to be made
two newspapers. The amendment was agree
to, and the bill passed by vote of % to
.y-C L.