Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-21

fePECIAL TKLEGRAM 70 THE DIsPAroH-I
COLUMBUS, O., February 2O.-The new
administration in Ohio is embarrassed. The
victory at the late election was not more
than half won. The small majority In the
Legislature is not safe for partisan legisla-
ton, and cannot give that support to
Governor Campbell which he would like.
During the Gubernstoriar contest he made
numerous promises, and the clamor for
place is astounding.
The legislative machinery which was de-
signed to grind out Offices in all parts of the
State does not move in that smooth, hsr-
Inonious manner which it was intended it
should. Nearly two months of the legisla-
tive session is over and the masses have re-
ceived nothing in the way of promised
recognition.
ALL WANT OFFICES.
They are here by the hundreds. Cincinnati
furnishes the greater number but Dayton,
Cleveland, Toledo and other cities have
their representatives anxious that something
be done in the way of legislation which will
give them the Offices. Yielding to the de-
mand the Democratic majority set apart this
week in which to accomplish the bulk of the
reorganization work.
An measures of this character 50 far have
originated in the House, where the working
majority is largest, and the least embarrass-
ment is met from the party stand dpoint. The
first great piece of work to claim attention
was the redIstricting bill, which was not
forced through the caucus without much
trouble and many sore places which promise
to last. A few members did not go into the
caucus, and hence are not committed.
There is no certainty that the redistricting
- l.. =, i l.,
the Senate the feeling is growing stronger
that the measure is doomed to defeat. There
are q few men in the House who carry their
consciences with them, and are not pleased
with any character OF party legislation.
THREE SENATORIAL KICKERs.
In the Senate there are at least three
Democratic members who have announced
they will not vote for the redistricting bill.
The Democrats cannot afford to lose a sin
gle vote. 1t requires their full strength to
enact 8 law in the Upper House. Senator
Soncrant, of Erie county, announced the
next day after the bill had been agreed
upon that he would not vote for it for the rea-
son it placed his county in district with Lu-
cas- county and he could not support it, as it
would be against their harbor interests to
have a member of Congress who would be
compelled to look after the interests of both
counties.
He takes it for granted, because of the
political strength of Lucas, that they would
surely have the candidate, and would look
after the harbor interests OF Lucas county.
The bill cannot pass without the vote of
Soncrsnt and he remains firm in the posi-
ton that he will not accept it in its present
form. Soncrant has made a proposition to
the Republicans that he will vote with them
1or bill with Lucas out of his district, and
give the Republicans two districts in Cuya-
hogs county.
A CHANGE POSSIBLE.
It is barely possible Soncrant may be
able to force the Democrats to change the
outlines of their districts or accept his COM
bination with the Republicans for another
district in Cuyahoga. Possibly, rather than
have no redistricting of the State, the Demo-
crats may concede the demands of the Sena-
tor from Erie.
But new difficulty presents itself. Sena-
tor Brown, of Cincinnati, refuses to vote for
the bill unless some action is taken for the |
repeal of the Sunday closing Law, especially |
IS it applies to Cincinnati. He even thinks |
the law ought to be changed for the entire |
State.
Brown has only this chance to get what he |
wants for his constituents, and he will make |
use of the power in his hands. A caucus
was held last night to see what could be |
done with the Owen Law, and il was developed
that there are 10 or 20 Democratic members |
in the House from country districts who
will not touch the Owen law. The result
was an adjournment to next Tuesday even
ing, when the Hamilton county members
hope to have some plan by which they can
relieve Cincinnati from the provisions of the
Owen law.
SOME PLAN WILL BE ARRANGED,
The demands of Brown are even more en-
bsrrassing TO the spoils hunter than those of
Soncrant. It has been decided, however, to
make an effort to meet the wishes of both
these members. Another trouble presented
itself last night when it was learned Senator
Pattison, the new member from the Fourth
district, would not vote for the redistricting
scheme, and especially he would not vote
for reorganization bills unless they have
something more to recommend them than the
mere fact of securing Offices.
Already the majority have reorganization
bills well under way for Cincinnati, Day-
ton, Hamilton, Columbus, Springfield and
Others to follow, and the discouragements
furnished by refractory members can be
better imagined than told. The relations
among the majority have become 50 strained
that 1t Is not beyond the probabilities that
none Of the reorganization measures will
reach the dignity Of Law.