The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-09-05
improved the laws relating to road

improved the laws relating to road
taxes.
1t passed an act for the benefit of
the Patrons of Husbandry.
1t improved the homestead exemp-
ton laws, and thereby still further
throwing the strong protecting are of
the law around the poor man.
1t improved the lien laws.
1t improved tfe laws relating to
children's homes.
1t passed an act to punish persons
for swindling laborers who hold Or
ders from employers.
1t passed an act making it unlawful
to pay wages in scrip, check, draft, &c
payable otherwise than in money, and
fixing a penalty for it's violation. The
truck system, imported from Europe,
is extensively practiced in the mining
and manufacturing districts Of this
State. Store orders are given, instead
of money, in payment Of wages. Men
with families seldom see any cash.
The coal, iron and salt regions are
special sufferers. 1t is estimated that
the laboring classes, the producers,
lose annually by this system of Amer
ican serfdom from 81 .OOO,OOO to $2,-
100000. They have had no legislative
protection against this great wrong
until the present Legislature passed
very severe laws to prevent its con-
tinuance. An act was passed making
it misdemeanor to issue or circulate
scrip, checks and similar evidences Of
indeb: edness as money, under a pen
atty of not less than $40 nor more than
500 for each offense.
1t passed an act to prevent and pun.
ish the Introduction and spread of q
cattle disease commonly known as
Texas or Spanish fever.
1t provided by legislation for taking
possession and control of the Public
Works of the State and keeping them
in repair.
1t passed an act rendering it unrec.
essary to have more than one set Of
Judges and Clerks at any election al
the same voting place, thus saying the
tax payers of the State not less than
$4,000 each year, as computed by al
intelligent gentleman, who is familiar
with the matter.
1t passed an act to prevent and pun.
ish fraud as to the making and sale o.
butter and cheese.
1t provided for the thorough inspec'
ton of mineral oils throughout the
State.
1t passed an act abolishing Coro
ner's juries thereby saving to the peo
pie of the State thousands upon thou.
sands of dollars.
For many years. and especial,
since wages have been reduced ani
times become hard, railroad employee
have been oppressed by the crying
evil Of foreign attachments. Claims
of long standing, and claims which arr
exorbitant and to which there is
valid defense, have been sent into 9th
er States for collection, until hundred
of honest and industrious railroad me,
have been driven from employment
The last Republicans Legislature wa
applied to for relief, but to no purpose
| The present Democratic Legislature
however, has made this Odious prac
tice of evading the exemption laws o
Chic an indictable offense, punishabl'
by a fine of from soto $50 for eacl
| violation.
This Legislature has done more t.
facilitate the administration of justic
than has been done for twenty years
| The District Court system had com
pletely broken down. While we haf
only three Common Pleas Judges il
| q district, we were sure of Distric
Court. bat when the number was near
ly doubled, each Judge seemed 10 dc
pend in some measure on the others
and the result was that no Distric
Court was held in some of the cOuntie
for two years. Besides the people go
thoroughly disgusted with the prac
tice Of Judges sitting in review o
their own judgments. These evil
have been completely remedied by al
act which requires the selection o
Certain Judges to hold the Distric
Courts. This will restore confidence
in that Court and secure pronp
disposition of its business, and many
cases which would otherwise be car
ried to the Supreme Court will nov
be ended in the District Court.
Even greater evil as to the business
in the Supreme Court, has been RENE
died. For a number of years no per
son has been permitted to carry up fol
review in the Supreme Court the de
cision of any other Court, unless OF
leave granted by the Supreme Court
or, in vacation, q Judge thereof. II
time the business of the Court increas
ed under this system, until the dOcke
was four or five years behind consc
quently, when case thus placed OIL
the docket was reached in the regular
order, the Court. ordinarily, was moi
composed of the same members as
when the filing was allowed. Thi;
has been remedied, so that hereafter
there will be but one examination of &
case, and the Court is required to in
O
to the Supreme Court for delay, OF
frivolously. Another great cause O
delay was the requirement that ths
Court should re-examine the cases OF
the facts, the records sometimes Gov
ering several hundred pages. The
new law abolishes this absurd prac
tice. 1t is believed that under thi'
new system the District Courts ant
Surrovpo (IOnri will ho ahla Eaor