The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-24
COLUMBUS NOTES.

COLUMBUS NOTES.
Mr.. WILKINS introduced a bill to regulate the
charges OF telephone companies by fixing the
rates at "a per month in cities of the first class,
IS In cities of the second class, and 80 so in
other places.
The Senate has adopted the joint resolution
adopted by the House last week to omit the
reports Of the Commissioner of Common
Schools, Railroad Commissioner, and the re-
port Of the Board of Agriculture from the exc
cutive documents.
The report of the select committee of the
House appointed at the close of the last session
of the Legislature to investigate the affairs of
cooperative life insurance associations will be
required to answer the full list of questions
proposed by the State Superintendent of In
surance, as well as additional ones, and more
stringent supervision of the same.
AN attempt has been made to have Ferdinand
Seitz, who was sentenced to the Penitentiary
from Cincinnati, for life thirty-fiye years ago,
pardoned, but Governor Foster is of the opin-
ion that Seitz is better off where he is. He has
been in the Penitentiary long that the Gov
ernor thinks he would not know how to make a
living, were he liberated.
THERE seems to be general disappointment
at the delay in getting out the annual reports Of
the various State Departments. The Super
visor of Printing says that the delay has been
oceaaioned by Secretary Barnes in awarding the
contract for paper, owing to the fact that a
combination against the State was suspected.
1t is now thought that the Secretary of States
report can not be printed before the LIST of Au-
gust, and the Board of Agriculture's report
need not be looked for before November.
MEMBERS of the Revision Committee and
others who have the important work of the
Legislature to do, say that special session
be no doubt as to the Governors action. Two
years ago the General Assembly provided for a
committee who should make thorough revis-
ion of the laws. This work has been performed
very carefully, and if the present Legislature
gives these matters proper attention it must
remain in session not less than one hundred
days.
Mr.. CARrER's bill, now pending before the
House Judiciary Committee, touching the liza
bility of employers for injuries received by em-
ployes,. is receiving the attention of railroad
corporations. 1t was adversely reported upon
by the Committee on Rights and Privileges, to
which it was first referred, but the House de-
clined to postpone the bill indefinitely, and
sent it to the Judiciary Committee. 1t is prac-
tically, Mr.. Carter says, the same measure
which has recently been passed by the English
Parliament.
The county clerks of the State appear to be
sqlirming under the reduction of fees which
took place under the Williamson. Fee Bill
passed two years ago, and an effort is to be
made to restore the old fees. Senator O'Hagan
has introduced bill in the Senate to this eff
feet. The bill is said to have been drawn up by
. county clerk who was in office at the time the
Williamson bill passed, and hence was not af-
fected by il. Having been elected to a second
term OF Office he feels that he is not receiving
proper compensation for his services under the
law as it now stands, and hence has drawn up
bill which he is trying to induce the county
clerks of the State to make combined effort to
have passed.
Mr.. HILL, of Hamilton County, introduced
following
Whereas, The opinion prevails among the agri-
culturists Of the State that the management of
the Ohio State University is not in sympathy
with the object and purposes Of said institution
as contemplated and provided by the General
Government in its grant of funds to the State
for the same; and, whereas the opinion also
prevails that the financial condition of Ohio
State University is not sufficiently kept before
the people to enable them to familiarize them
selves with its wants and necessities; Resolved,
That select committee of five be appointed,
with power to send for persons and papers, to
investigate the management of the "Ohio State
University" and report to this House as fol-
lows: Whether or not the present management
is such as to fully carry out the object and
purposes for which said institution was
organized, and whether or not the funds of
said institution are applied toward the promo
tion of the best interests of the same as con-
templated by the original grant, and are man
aged with such economy as should control the
disbursement of public funds and restore the
confidence of the agriculturists of the State.
The statement that Governor Foster was
offered a salary of $25, 900 year to become the
President of the New York, st. Louis and Chi
cago Railway is not denied, but that he will
accept the position is disputed by those who
claim to know. The men interested in the new
company are the same men who have carried
the Ohio Central and Lake Erie and Western
Railway to successful completion. The posi-
ton of the line definitely decided upon is
between Akron, Ohio. and Huntington,
Indiana, between Fort Wayne and Tiffin
| 1t is about half finished from this middle por-
| ton. 1t is the intention of the syndicate to
build in both directions east and west. East
ward, the most probable route will be via
Youngstown and the Pennsylvania and Ohio
Canal to Newcastle and Milton, Pa, where
connection would be made with the New Jer-
sey' Central for New York. Extending west
ward, it is the intention to leave the Wabash at
Huntington for Chicago, and strike the West
ern Indiana road by line running through
North Manchester, Rochester and Winnamac.
The st. Louis extension will be via Kokomo
and Frankfort, using link already in opera
ton, and owned by the syndicate The con-
tract for the completion of the road has been
let to Brown, Hurd & Co., of New York, and
they are to have it completed into Chicago by
January, 1882.