The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-01-18

In oIucI W SuOW WHdG tuC OulO
Legislature is doing, and to show
what part our Representative is tax
ing, we quote from the proceedings of
one day last week, as reported in the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette:
: COLUMBUS, O., January 10.-The
discussion Of temperance legislation
has at last come up. It was on the
third reading Of House Bill No. 40,
of Mr.. Jones, of Jackson, providing
for sliding scale in the punishment
for drunkenness, giving the Court dis
cretionary powers to impose a fine of
from five to twenty-five dollars for
the first ofense Of drunkenness, and
ten to fifty dollars for the second Of
fense, or Imprisonment, or both. Mr..
Jones said some misapprehension ex-
listed among members. The present
bill, as amended, left the statute as it
now is, except that the Court was Civ
en- discretionary power. Thus drunk
enness was placed on the same equali-
ty with other offenses. Mr.. Jones, of
Delaware, moved to amend the bill so
that the discretionary power should
not be limited as between the first and
second offenses.
Mr.. Green, Of Cleveland, jumped to
his feet, and strongly protested against
the Legislature further tinkering with
the liquor traffic. He claimed that
the present Republican majority in
the Legislature had been elected on
the distinct promise that a law for the
submission of the whole question to
the people would be passed. Instead
Of that the Legislature had passed the
unconstitutional Pond Bill, and the
Smith Sunday Bill, which never would
nor never cou be enforced. The
people at the last election had spoken
out that they wanted no more Of this,
but some members could never learn
a lesson. He was opposed to any fur
ther temperance legislation until the
people had had submitted to them the
question Of the regulation of the traf-
fc. The law proposed was sumptuary
legislation, and would trample upon
the rights of the majority.
Jones, Of Delaware, took the floor
in reply to Green. He charged the
gentleman from Cuyahoga County
with moral cowardice in being afraid
to act intelligently on matters affect
ing the liquor traffic. There had new
er been Legislature that had been so
unreasonabiy denounced by public
clamor as the present, not only on the
temperance question, but on other
questions looking to the better admin
istration Of law and the revision of
defects in the statutes. When the So
ber second thought Of the people had
come to them they would see that this
Legislature had been unjustly ira
duced. The Legislature should not be
blamed for the acts of men of ques-
tionable practices who were not con-
nected with the Legislature, which
had the moral courage to expose them.
He was sorry that his young friend
from Cleveland should have allowed
himself to become demoralized on the
temperance question.
In answer to a question put by Mr..
Hathaway, Mr.. Green said he would
prohibition if a majority of
the people desired it. With him vor
popuE was rop Del.
The Democrats Of the House now
began to think that the talked-of
break among the Republicans would
show itself. The watchful Drummer,
and Vallandigham and Stilwell drew
near to Green and smiled when he ar
raigned the Republican party.
Mr.. Woodworth moved that the |
bill be referred to the Committee on
Tenn mparance, which motion was lost
by 80 to %.
Mr.. Warren wanted the bill referred !
to the Committee on Federal kela-
lions. A number of amendments
we're presented, but the bill failed to
pass by 81 to 30.
The same fate was shared by the
other bill Of Atr. Jones, of Jackson,
No. so, to prevent minors froa letter
ng about places where intoxicating
liquors are sold. The principal objec-
ion to the bill seemed to be that it
Vas loosely worded, and that it would
hardship in cases where the |