Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-05-15
Review or Legislative work.


Review or Legislative Work.
Cleveland Penny press)
The general impression in regard TO the
66th assembly, whose adjourned session
came TO an end on the 4tli, is that collec-
lively speaking it WAR bad lot. 1t ia sale
to affirm that no legislature in the history
of the state ever attempted 30 msny parti-
san or otherwise disrepu,able jobs as this,
or gave ~ much reason TO suspect the
common sense and common honesty of its
members. If the 66th assembly was to be
judged by the emulation OF evidence
against its character for decency, in its
personality and methods, the verdict would
be adverse, and with hardly plea In ex-
tennation. Bnt legislative body cannot
be Judged fairly by standards of morality
and deceney alone. II Must be judged by
the work il did and the work It failed TO
slo. Without desiring to excuse the re-
cord OF the assembly at the last session,
we deem 1t only Just 10 call attention to
some of the things the assembly did do
that were highly TO be commended, be-
cause essentially important or because the
people demanded the action taken. 1t
took the nee, ssary steps for submitting to
the people constitutional amendment
abolishing tho October election. This we
he lieve to he the most important step
taken by the Legislature. Thi. act was 80
far. reaching in its proposed effects, not on.
iy upon politics in Ohio. but also in the
nation in presidential elections, but il
may we'll cover q multitude of minor sins
II passed the Ryan arbitration bill, an ex.
perimental measure from which excellent
results may ultimately be expected in
preventing contests between labor and
capital II passed an excellent regis,ra-
tion bill for Cleveland and Cincinnati,
which will ensure comparative elect oral
purity in these cities hereafter. It should
have been applied to the whole state, but
it would be churlish to deny its benefits as
far Ms it goes, and it goes a great way see
ing that four fifths of all the election
frauds in the state are reasonably charged
against the municipalities that come un-
der the law. II supplemented this legis-
lation by n law Tor the severe punishment
of political strikers, which will not
amount to much, but IN regard to which II
good inieniion must be conceded. Ii set
the seal OF popular condemnation Of bucket
shop gambling by law that should wipe
I thSSc Out vi cAlbttHCC. II
passed a law enabling boards of education
To parchase school books and supply them
to pupils at cost, as n compromise meas
ure. Besides the arbitration bill above re.
fcred to, il passed the following laws for
the beneiit of people who have to work for
a living and who have not succeeded IN
accommodating property: The Jones' anti
scrip bill, aimed at the payment of work.
ingmen in uncurrent shinplaslers, much
practiced in the mining districts; the
Haley bill restricting the employment OF
chi!d labor; the Haley bill requiring seats
TO be furnished for women ind girls IN
stores and workshops; bill enlarging the
scope OF factory and workshop inspection
with the view to the health and safety of
emp'opes; the Mooney instalment plan
bill, giving better protection to those who
purchase goods on that system; and the
Ely collateral loan bill making provision
for the organization in this city OF socie-
ties TO loan money on chattels at reasonable
interest," We doubt it any assembly in
the state ever passed 80 many seemingly
good laws for the benefit of workingmen
Hs the Goth, Out of ten measures of va
rious kinds earnestly advocated by The
PRESS in January, the legislature has
fully adopted six and partially adopted
two. Were this the whole OF the record,
the 68th assembly wo.ild live long in the
grateful remembrance of the people
For The good il did IT is entitled to the
fullest credit II the democratic majority
Is responsible for what was wrongly done
and for what was not done al all, il is also
entitled to the credit of what MAS well
done, and therefore there is no necessity
Tor AN analysis OF the votes by which GER
tain measures were adopted or defeated.
Unfortunately The record as given above il
not comiaete. The legislature failed to
take the necessary steps for submitting I,
the people liquor license amendment, oil
any kind of an amendment to the presen
reign OF free whisky. This WAS grievou'
error, and il. eff, c;s will he severely iel
in every part OF the state. II failed iC
pass u general free school book law
There would be less feeling in regard I,
this, Tor 1t was comparatively n nav issue
were it not for the fact that the failure iC
enact such a law was plainly obedience Il
the dication of the book ring. 1t failed
TO pass The Burnett free book bIll apply-
Ing only TO ihis city. in the face of proof
TINT it was desired l,y grent majority o
the people who would be Affected by 1t
II failed TO pass the Haley hour law
Which was in accord with the spirit of th'
times made farce of the Hooking vale,
investigation and Hontes,lao,Isty pigeon
liOied the homestead bill. These are til,
principle sins of omission chnrgeable Il
the 66lh assembly. II did its hest to dis
franchies the principle cities Of the stat'
in regard to the election of local officers
and wns guilty OF number of peli,
meaunesses In n legislative way which dit
not greatly concern the people OF the stat
as whole. II failed for one cause or nn-
other in most Of these minor rascnliiie
and the score may an well he wiped out
From this review il will lie seen that eve,
the generally dispised GGIh psssmbly, jndg
ed by It's legislative WORK Al this session
merely, is more to he commended thar
condemned. This conclusion may be lie
MED by those who haze only n partisa,
interest in public adairs, but TO the sobe
Judgement OF people who are not mis'e,
by croaking organs and who are able Il
iormnlate opinions of iIieis own. it will
probably 6e accepted as n fair presentation
of the lrnIh. We feel the more free Il
comment TINS upon the body under dis
cusssion because we have been unspairinI
in criticism OF its misieeds.
--Tsy lor & Miller wish to state that they hav
at last found an article they can sell ON IL
merits. tits with pleasure they guarantee b
| ha nnhlio A aLa.t E,uit.h D..,ad. -.