The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-01-24
COLUMBUS LETTER.

Ed. News. Herald MANY Of your read.
ers would doubtless like to know whether
or not the Solons at Columbus are doing
any good for their country. Local legis.
lation consumes much more time than
general. Last winter an effort was made
to amend the road law. After great
deal Of work law was perfected, but
only four counties adopted it; and the
Representative from Warren county in.
forms me that they want 1t repealed.
Many Of our people OF Highland county
realize the necessity Of better system
than we have; but the question is how
to get 1t. Mr.. Tryen, Of Lake county,
spent much time last winter in formu.
lating law to meet all the difficulties.
1t was brought before the House for con.
sideration, and nearly day consumed
in discussion and amendments, when it
was postponed for a week and ordered
printed. 1t has 30 many Objectionable
features that we can scarcely hope for
any improvement over the old law. In
the first place, the number ofsupervisors
is changed to one in each township, and
he to be appointed by the Trustees. Sec.
ond, the work is all to be let by contract,
which is an impossibility in our county,
and others similarly situated, without
opening door to greater swindling than
the old law possibly can. Another prop.
osition is, to abolish the two.days.labor
system; but the feature most oppressive
in it is the payment for all road repairs
in taxes into the county treasury, the
Auditor and Treasurer getting their per
cent. out of them, and then being ex-
pended on the road, without the man
that paid them having the right to work
them out only under very limited restric.
tions. II something better than this
can't be Matched, Old Highland had bet
ter "endure the ills she has, than fly to
others she knows not of"
Another measure that caused warm
debate vas the telephone bill, which
proposes the reduction of the telephone
charges. 1t would not effect the towns
and villages much, but Cleveland and
other cities are very anxious for its pass
age. 1t failed to pass the House by one
vote. Its importance was manifest in
the House by the lobby that appeared
against its passage. 1t is claimed by its
opponents that it is fast overtaking the
Standard Oil monopoly. Another meas
ure not yet brought before the House is
one to change the pay OF County Com
missioners from the present per day and
make it salaried office. 1t is urged by
many, and will probably be brought be.
fore the House.
The liveliest day of the session was
when the woman's suffrage bill came up
"a question not often thought or spoken
of in the country districts, but in the
cities where thousands of women are
wearing their lives away to exc out
enough to keep soul and body together
making shirts at three or four cents
each, and other things in proportion. 1t
becomes serious question whether they
ought not to have some means of self
protection. The same law in regard to
men holds equally true of women. Take
from any class OF men the ballot, and
they become thing. No one stops them
to court their favor or instruct them in
their political duties. Another grave
question is how to counteract the effect
of the fearful tide of ignorance, poverty
and crime that is pouring in upon us
from the Old World. Many intelligent
and worthy emigrants are every year
coming here to make this their home
and help to build up uur country. But
it cannot be denied that fearful tide of
ignorance, poverty and vice is pouring
in upon US that will tax every energy Of
our people to neutralize and American.
ize. And the question is, How far would
this be effected by admitting to the right
of suffrage almost one-half our native
born population =? land that the highest
and virtue.
Two petitions were last week present.
ed to the House praying for some sup.
preston OF the oleomargarine fraud OF
coloring it in imitation OF the finest but
ter and thousands using it, notwithstand.
ing its composition. A letter was also
received from one of the Grangers of
Highland county complaining OF the
same swindle. So the Solons will Ger.
tainly try to remedy the abuse.
BRUTUs.
College and Conservatory Notes.
Mr.. Jas. Wildly spent portion of last