The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-23
OHIO LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.

In the Senate, January 13, Mr.. Rowland
introduced a bill providing that when
prisoner escapes from custody after being
sentenced and before being received at the
penitentiary, the time of his absence shall
not apply to his term of service. Mr.. Wilson
introduced bill amending the mechanics
lien law SO as to allow laborers and material
men on the construction of turnpikes and
road improvements to file their accounts
and obtain liens on the money for the con.
struction or repairs thereof. Mr.. Lord
presented the petition of H. r. Kelly and
other citizens. of Hamilton County, for
the passage of law providing for the
obtaining of the bodies of deceased
persons for anatomical purposes. Mr..
Richards introduced bill to discontinue
schools in districts when the average
attendance shall fall below eight. Mr..
Lord introduced bill to establish a
minimum rate on the transportation of
freights within the State of Ohio, the rate
being one cent per ton per mile. The bill
contains clauses to prevent drawbacks, and
for the stockholders to recover in case OF
violation of the law. The Governors nom
ination of 81. ]. Walls, as Commissioner OF
s atistics of Labor for the term of two years
was confirmed. In the House. Mr.. Quinby
introduced Local Option Bill, which
of thirty citizens of any township to the
township Trustees it will be the duty of
the Trustees to order vote to be held on the
first Monday of April upon the question of
permitting the sale of intoxicating liquors,
beer, ale, or wine, or the prohibition
thereof, except for medicinal purposes, upon
the prescription of a practicing physician.
If majority of such vote be in
favor of said sale, then the sale shall be sub
ject to all the penalties and forfeitures now
existing by statute, and if the vote be
against such sale, it shall be unlawful to
make sale thereof, except for medical pur-
poses; and any person violating such law
shall be subject to penalty, in 'iquidated
damages, in the sum of fifty dol
lars for every day kept open after
taking of SAID vote. Mr.. Bohl introduced a
bill rendering it unlawful to employ in a
public school any person related by blood
or marriage to any member of the School,
Board.
In the Senate, on the 14th, the nomination
of Francis Collins, Esq, of Columbus, to be
Director OF the Pententiary in place of A.
ID. Heffner, resigned, was received from the
Governor, and was unanimously confirmed.
On motion of Mr.. Lord, the President of the
Senate was requested to invite the clergy of
this city to open the daily sessions of the Sem
ate by prayer. Quite number of bills were
read the second time and referred to COM
mittee. Several new bills introduced, among
them bill 10 punish grave-robbers and
their accessories by Imprisonment in the
Penitentiary from one year to fifteen years.
Mr.. Richards offered joint resolution to
propose to the Electors of the State an
amendment to the Constitution, providing
as follows: "Section SO. No adjourned ses-
sion of the General Assembly snail extend
beyond the term of thirty-fve days."
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
......In the House--Petitions were presented
from citizens of Belmont County, for the
passage of a more stringent liquor law; from
physicians of Marion County, for the enact.
ment of law providing for the legal pro-
curing of bodies for dissection. Mr.. Mack
presented a bill to punish tramps and send
them to their place of legal residence. The
bill provides THAT any person who il a
public beggar, vagrant or tramp, or who
goes about from place to place asking and
subsisting on charity, and without any visi-
bic means OF support, may, on complaint
before any Justice of the Peace, Police
Court or other Court having competent
jurisdiction, be sentenced to hard labor
upon any county farm or any Work-house
or common jail, not exceeding six months,
and any act OF begging or vagrancy shall
be taken as evidence that the person COM
mitting the same is beggar, vagrant or
tramp" County Commissioners may bind
out such tramps tried and convicted and
sentenced to hard labor, for time
not exceeding the period of sentence.
They may also bind out any poor
person applying for means to return
to their place of legal residence at a rate of
compensation that by them shall be deemed
just, and apply the earnings of such per-
son to pay his or her transportation home.
House bIl', by Mr.. Clough, to authorize
the organization of companies to lease the
canals, came up on the question of its pas.
sage, having been postponed to this day
from the regular session. A lively discus
sion ensued in which Mr.. Clough and Mr..
Alexander advocated the bill, and were
opposed by Messrs. Bloom, Covert,
Townsend, Reed, of Ross, and Fos-
ter. The bill was further postponed.
Mr.. Hitchcock offered joint resolution
providing for an amendment to the Consti-
tuition, to be voted on at the October elec-
ton, 1879, to all Nv each county in the State
at least one Representative in the General
Assembly. Resolutions of respect were
passed, and speeches made in honor of
Hon. A. B. Monakan, deceased.
In the Senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Owens in
troduced joint resolution No. 66, to so
amend the constitution as to provide that
three years. Referred to Committee on
Corporations other than Municipal.
Mr.. Saltzgaber presented tenn.
perance petition from eighty.one
citizens of Wiltshire, Van Vert
County. Referred to Committee on SAM.
tary Laws and Regulations. Mr.. Joyce
introduced bill rendering it unlawful for
any candidate to give or offer money, cloth
ing, food, or drinks of any kind of liquor,
or to promise any Office to any elector
in his district, and fixes the penalty
at from $500 to $3,0O0......In the House,
the Committee on Fees and Salaries re-.
ferred back Mr.. Thorp's resolution without
recommendation. The resolution recon-
mends a reduction of all officers salaries as
" a natural sequence of the restoration of
specie payments" After accepting an
amendment to strike out the words relating
the House passed to the or
der of the hour, which was Mr..
Lords bill allowing the Commissioners of
Hamilton County to refund $4,000 to the
city of Cincinnati for the Strengthening of
Millcreek. The bill was passed without
opposition, and is now law. The debate
on Mr.. Thorp's resolution was then contin-
ued for some hours, and was closed under
the rules, giving way to the special order,
being the reading of Mr.. Booths bill to reg.
ulate the fees of county officers. which pro.
vides sliding scale for counties of the
various classes, ON the basis of the last
census. Mr.. Hart, of Knox County, intro.
duced bill for the general reorganization
of cities of the first, second and third grades
Ia the Senate, January 16, the following
bills were introduced: Providing that in
all villages and cities with three thousand
inhabitants and over, Boards of Council
shall hold one session per month, in the
daytime, and members allowed two dollars
per day for actual service; making
vagrancy misdemeanor, punishable by
from one hundred to ive hundred dollars
fine, to be worked out at seventy-fve cents
per day. The appointments of F. S. Rus
sell, of Hooking County, as Trustee of the
Asylum for Insane, and R. r. Hender
son, Of Delaware, as Trustee of the
Girls Industrial Home, were confirmed
..... In the House, the entire morning was
spent in discussing Booths fee bill. A
bill to reorganize the civil government ot
Cincinnati was introduced by Mr.. Klimper
1t abolishes the Board of Aldermen and thu
Police Board. After the introduction O
several bills, Mr.. Booths fee bill was agai1
taken up, and finally adopted by a vote OF 81
ayes to "a noes with an amendment tbof tb,