The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-03-05
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER.
Co,r,,nr. Ou,o .Eoh o7 Ie7

ED. SPIRIT: Both branches OF the
General Assembly have got down to
work in earnest. Bills have been intro.
duced to reorganizs all Of the public in-
stitutions of the State. and those in the
House have been read the second time
The Penitentiary bill which created so
much talk passed both Houses yesterday,
after two committees of conference had
been appointed. When the vote was ia.
ken on the report of the first Committee
of, Conference, we had continuous ses-
sion from 2P NJ till IL midnight, be-
fore taking recess. When vote was
taken it received 81 votes, lacking just
one vote to pass the bill, ,ssome of the
Democrats voting with the Republicans
When The second Committee of Confer
ence made their report vote was taken
and it passed. The Governor will ap-
point the Directors to day.
The infamous registration Law was to-
day repealed, having passed both Houses
of the General Assembly, Mr.. Hart, OF
Knox, is the author of the bill. 1t re-
peals all of last winters law except sec.
tions eleven and twelve, which provides
for the division of wards of large cities
into smaller election precincts. Mr.. Hart
is staunch old Democrat, and it was
owing to his management that the bill
passed. ! think we have the best elec.
tion law now that the State has ever had.
The passage of this bill saves to the tax.
payers $4,000, which is due to the Dem.
ocratic party as the Republicans all voted
against the bill.
The partial appropriation bill has not
yet passed; both Houses have been
striking out several items. which shows
now a reduction of S41S, 900 on the par
tial appropriation bill OF last year The
fight is about the Butt and Beaver claim
of Toledo, and the tobacco warehouse
The appropriation for the warehouse last
winter was SIC, 1000, aud now it is claim.
ed that it will take $4,000 to complete
the house; the western part of the State
is objecting to the appropriation, but ]
think we can manage to get it in order
to complete the House. i,
A bill has passed the House which
prohibits fishing in any of the waters ol
this State to low water mark of the Ohio
River in any other way than by hook
and line, which will pass the Senate when
put on it's passage.
A bin passed the House authorizing
County Commissioners to levy taxes and
issue 7 per cent bonds to replace bridges
hereafter destroyed by casualty.
3 Fhe bill that passed the House some
time since, which made it the duty OF
Justices ofthe Peace and Notaries Pub
lie to certify all pension and bounty pa.
pers at ten cents compensation, was lost
in tie Senate. - -s1s.,
A bill has been introduced into the
House by Mr.. Monahau, Republican, Of
Jackson, to destroy hawks, rats and mice
in the State of Ohio; and the Commits
sioners of each county are empowered
to levy a tax annually not to exceed one
eighth mill on the dollar. If that bill
would have its desired effect would like
to vote for it.
Mr.. Dalzell introduced a bill to permit
the schools to use the Bible as a text
book in our common schools.
Mr. Eylar of Adams has introduced a
bill in the House which is of much inter-
est to Sheriffs and County Treasurers,
providing that they shall hold their off,
ces for four years, the constitutional lim.
itation, instead of two years, and those
now in Office eligible to reelection for
four years. 1t may be that the gentle.
man has something at stake in this mat.
ter.
Two bills have been introduced in the
House and one in the Senate. providing
for stay of execution in the collection OF
debts for one and two years. The ex-
perience of members seems to be very
unfayorable for such legislation.
The women may yet have chance
for public position in Ohio. Mr.. Dodds,
the friend of the fair sex, has introduced
a bill in the House to authorize the ap-
pointment OF women as Notaries Public,
but the Judiciary Committee spoiled the
whole thing for him by reporting it back
as unconstitutional and recommending
its indefinite postponement.
1t has been extensively circulated ia
The newspapers that Mr.. Auchaur, Repre-
sentative from MHskingum County, in.
troduced a bill looking to a division Of
the school funds among religious organ
izations. This is all false. Mr.. Auchaul
presented no such bill. His bill is amend
atory of the revised school law of 1873,
which was drawn by Judge Granger, the
most prominent Republican of Zanes-
Vile, and Administrator of the McIntire
estate, authorizing the public schools of
that city to receive the benefit of the Nc.
Intire School Fund This amounts to
$4,000 year, and a similar law was
made in 1868 and continued in force un
til repealed by the law of1S75. There
Is nothing sectarian in the proposition,
for it has this provision: This act shall
in no manner apply to any school sup
ported or controlled by any church, CON
sect, or religious denomina-