The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-04-15
SENATOR j. j. SULLIVAN'S RE
MARKS ON THE CUYAHOGA
COUNTY FEE BILL,

MARKS ON The CU 4 AhO6A
COUNTY FEE BILL.
In the Senate of Ohio week or more
ago, the Dempcy fee bill for Cuyahoga
county officials, was brought up as the
special order, when Senator Sullivan of
Holmes, at once took the floor in oppo-
sition, especially in opposition 10 the
clause to make the County Clerkship a
one term office. He made strong and
telling effort, of which the following is
an outline
Mr. President, l have no speech to
make upon this hill. merely want to
explain my position and my connection
with it, that the Senators may know why
| oppose the passage of the bill, so that if
| should egain be charged with personal
feeling in opposing the bill, the charge
would fall to tie ground liieless; and, as
I was going to say when on the floor be.
fore the noon recess, that l objected to
the passage of the bill on Saturday last,
principally because of a certain cunning
little clause" tucked on to the tail end of
it, which | will read for the Senators
This, as l am informed on good author
ty, is of doubtful Constitutionality, and
if l am correctly informed, the gentle
man from Cuyahoga county in this Gen.
eral Assembly, was so informed by the
Attorney General Of the state. AT the
meeting of the Committee on Fees and
Salaries on Thursday evening last, a
committee of which have the honor to
be member, this bill was considered
There were present, in behalf Of the
bill, its author, Mr.. DempCy, and com.
mittee of three, Mr.. HutchiDs, Mr., Cur
tiss and Mr.. Hodge, all worthy and hon.
orable gentlemen who, in concise and
pleasing manner, stated to the commit
tee the objects of the bill; but when ask
ed to state the purpose of this clause,
no explanation was offered. No one
present could or would undertake it.
And on my motion said clause was struck
ont of the bill without dissenting vote
or voice by any gentleman present. The
report was made out accordingly and sign
ed by every member of the committee,
including myself. Now then, on Satur-
day last, portion of the committee, for
reasons best known to themselves, gave
way. place it to the glib tongue and
persuasive Wiles of one or two members
of the Cuyahoga delegation, changed
the report-sfter, however, consulting
me, and obieCting to the Change-snd
inserted the word consecutive" so as it
would read.
have no special interest in the affairs
of Cuyahoga county or it's people, but l
have general interest in the affairs of
the state and all the people in it, and as
l have information on this point, posi-
tive and conclusive, that this clause was
inserted in this bill for a special purpose;
and when I know that purpose to be
selfish and mercenary one, to enhance
the political prospects Of one man, and
that man, too, member of the General
Assembly from Cuyahoga county, Can
not and will not support the measure.
And when l know, Mr.. President, that
it is intended as thrust alta most worthy
county official, now occupying the posi-.
tion of County Clerk Of Cuyahoga Coun-
ty, my oath of Office will not permit me
to countenance any measure obnoxious
as believe this to be. l despise trick
cry in any form; and when see man
thus aimed at from the rear; when he
has no chance of taking care of himself,
there is that in my nature which revolts
against it, and impels me to cry, "Haltl"
And when l know the man sought to be
destroyed by this bill in its present form
is no less a man than Colonel Hinman, a
most worthy gentleman, a strong Repub.
liCan, and the present county Clerk, who
when r belion was rife in our country,
bid adieu to his fond and loving family,
and went forth to battle and to death, if
need be, to save che Union of the states
and preserve the supremacy of the flag;
when l know this clause is aimed at him
who for years sacrificed the comforts and
happiness of home, to be the prey,
might say, of bombshells and bayonets,
that this country might live; and when l |
know his career in civil life is only in
keeping with his brilliant military rec.
ord, l will never consent to legislation |
depriving him of the laurels now enCirc.
ling his brow, gathered there through |
years VI uOuobJ anu uuIlIluB luuubJIy |
in the service of his country, both in |
civil and military life; and though this
bill may have some merit, and may be
in demand by the people of Cuyahoga |
county, (Which l doubt very muCh), it |
should be defeated, as a rebuke to the
instigators of this most iniquitous meas.
ure, seeking to deprive citizen of this
commonwealth of rights and privileges
delegated to him by the Constitution. 1t
should be defeated l say, as a rebuke to
gentlemen in their avaricious tendeDCie
and to teach them that though they may
nave glibness of tongue and suave and
persuasive manners, and though they
nay be masters of languages, they must
not undertake to crowd through this
honorable body, legislation of a person.
Il or malicious character. trust this
Dill will not pass,
At the conclusion of Mr.. Slllivan's
peeCh, Mr., Pond moved to strike out
he Objectionable clause he referred to,
which was unanimously agreed to. The
ill was then put on its passage, receiv.
ng 81 yeas to 16 nays. No Democrats