The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-01-30
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER.
A Disorganized H0use--Constitu-
tiOneI Amendments--New Canal
Bifis-and the Repeal of the
Hawk and Owl Law.
COLUMBUS, OHIo, Jan 25. 1883

COLUMBUS, OHIU, Jau <C' 1000
En-. SPIRlr-Dear Sir: The adjourn
ed session Of the 65'h General Assem-
hIy has been In session for one month,
and almost nothing has yet been done,
and tho probabilities are that nothing OF
real importance to the people can be
done this Writer, for this House since
the organization, and the redistricting
eerymander OF last winter and the pas
sage OF the unconstitutional Pond law
and other obnoxious measures. has SO
disorganized the R publicans that hard
iy any two can agree upon the same
thing. At the commencement OF this
ression i, was supposed that they would
pass some strict temperance Law. to get
even with The Dutch ss they called them,
bu. the voice Of the people OF last DC
tober indicated to Them that It was best
for them togo very SLOW. is is now
eertain that no Temperance bill Of any
kind can become a law This session, but
that some constitutional smendment will
be submitted to the people. One has al
ready passed the House which provides
that the General Assembly shall have
power to legislatc concerning tbe manu-.
fac,ure, snd sale OF spirituous, vinous
and mali lqanrs, in. the state, and il
may provide against the evils resulting
fhereirom, regulate, restrain, tex, IL
cense, or, prohibit by law the manufac-
turs of such there Of. The Senate has
smended il so as to submit it TO tht
people whether license or no license
fhall be granted, several conference com
nittees have been appointed, bat ncn'
could agree so it is still hanging fire il
the committee on conference. Other
have been proposed giving the Legis
latufe power to license, restrict, or pro
hibit The traffic in spiritucus, vinous
asd mslt liquors, or may impose
srecial tax on persons engaged therein
or may by law provide for submitting
TO the electors of the State, counties
townships, cities. and incorporated vii
lagos at special elections, the option o
prohibiting the tiaffi, in spirituous
vinous, and malt l'qaors therein, 10 b
determined by msjority of all th
electors voting al such election, ant
shall provide for the enforcement o
such option by appropriate legislation
and still another which is intended as
straight out prohibition proposition de
claring that The manufacture and sal
of spiritrous, mat vinous, or other In
toxicating liquors as beverage. is fol
ever prohibited in this State; and tn
I General Assembly shall provide by suit
tble eusctments for the enforcement G
this inhibition" The exact means b
which the State may enforce the ptoh
btion of the manufacture Of liqnors
beverage is not indicted. 1t alsu al
thoriz.s the leyying of special tax o
The manufacture go the people may rel
.assured to get whack at some OF thel
next October.
Canal bills lave been very numerou
this winter notwithstanding the lars
number Of bills introduced last Wiutei
The one most likely TO pass was Intro
6uced BIZ the Chairman of the ctmmi
tee on Public Works. It's provision
are to sell that portion in Cincinnati C;
nal which is declared common nui!
ance, for not less than the appraised va
ae, and place the amount OF none
thus obtained in the State treasur
which shall bear interest at the rate
four rer cent per annCm, the intero
thus obtained to ne used in keeping
the canals Of the Stste TEis bill seen
to be favored by many of the member
The lobbyists which we're 20 numero
last winter On these canal bills have
vet not made their appearance this vii
tfr.
Early this session the "Wyand
chief" introduced a bill to repeal Il
Hawk and Owl law, which passed bot
Houses and is now law; so The tow
ship clerks can issue no more certlhcat
for their scalps, so the hunter is sad al
the iva 90" is glad. The Hamlllt
delegation lave not yet introduced the
Iill 10 repeal the school law which q
ihorizts the levying OF one per cent
oil the taxable property of the State
the purpose Of keeping up our comm'
schools, so as to leave it 70 the sever
counts to raise their own scnool fund
i;u II. NJ.