Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-02-04
OUR. COLUMBUS LETTER.
THE FARMER MAKES HIS PRESENCE
KNOWN IN THE HOUSE.

COLUMBUS, o., Feb. 2.
The fact that the farmers of this great
state are pretty well represented on the
floor of the house, has already been
pointed out in former letters AS the
days go by this state of things becomes
more and more apparent. And there is
one thing about these farmers, they are
not afraid to talk right out in meetin'
nor to vote along the lines of their talk,
much to the discontinue of the "law-
yers and Democrats" as the opposition is
getting to be called.
A Series of Strange Things.
The other day series of very strange
things was enacted and the farmers
were responsible for two of them. Four
matters came up in one day that were,
every one of them, turned face about from
the direction set by their farmers.
crease the salaries of the supreme judges
of the state. Now. no one in all Ohio
denies that man who is capable of fill
ing so important position, ought to be
worth more to himself and more to the
state than $4,000 year. When our
farmer brethren were through voting,
they had buried the measure as deep as
the bottom cf the sea! et.
Just before dinner bill to allow Lick
ing county to issue bonds to buy grounds
for state encampment for the militia,
came up. The law authorizing such an
encampment was passed just before ad-
journment last year. The Licking
county people had had several fights
among themselves on this subject, and
the night before they had met and
healed over cleir troubles. They natural
ly supposed that such action would in
sure their measure clear sailing when it
came up for a vote. There was not a
man among them that was not sure it
would pass by an almost unanimous
vote. What was their surprise, not to
say CONSERVATION; to stand there and see
bill pass the house abolishing the
whole idea of a state encampment and
repeating the bill passed last year. There
wasn't an angrier body of men in all
Ohio than were those Licking county
citizens when they realized what had
happened. And thus another measure
went 'contrairie wise"
The next thing to raise its head was an
amendment to a, certain sheep bill,
which the farmers didn't like little bit
The author of the amendment made q
speech that was full of arguments, loud
oratory and arm swinging, and when he
was through the farmers sat down upon
the amendment with no little emphasis.
Then they passed the original bill tosuit
themselves.
The fourth thing that went 'cross-
eyed" that day was joint resolution to
ask the house of representatives at Wash
ington to pass certain bill that would
give Ohio $75,000 for certain swamp
lands that the general government had
sold within the borders of the state.
When the vote was taken. it was nearly
8 in the afternoon and every one was
tired. It is not necessary to say how
hard the measure was sat upon; it was
not only voted down, but an amendment
asking congress to do just the opposite
from what the authors intended was
passed.
During the afternoon q Cincinnati
member essayed to speak against a joint
resolution in favor of keeping the chi
cago fair closed on Sunday. He said it
was time to do away with the Pur'-
tanical laws of our fathers; and he set
forth many other arguments in very
forcible manner. When the vote was
taken it was found that about twenty
agreed with him, and over seventy
thought just the reverse.
So that for season Of general knock
downs, that day has not been equalled
80 far this winter.
Hard to Foretel1.
In talking of these things in the even
ing an older member said: "There is NO
telling in advance what the temper of
the house is likely to be. One day il
may seem to- do one thing and at another
it is likely to do just the opposite on the
same matter. It is one of the strangest
experiences Of legislative life, to note the
different tempers that the house exhibits
at different times" &eet
Increased Salaries.
| The same member talked with me q
little later on the measure to increase
the salaries of the members of the legis-
lature. Said he: "If men went into the
legislature as they 60 into other offices
and callings, there might be some JUS
tice in raise. But the people can not
be induced to Keep members in their
seats longer than two terms, and then
they must needs send new timber. Thus
you see that new men are always COM
ing. NOW because. am serving my
third term Is no sign that Others could
In my county; really l am a sort Of a
misfit In that regard, an accident, If you
please. really don't think that the
average member, inexperienced as he
must be under the circumstances. is
worth more than $500 q year"
On the other hand, While all that my
friend says Is true, Is 1t not also true
that II the salary We're higher, more
colnniensuIaoe naie:1:o:a WiIn me outies ana re-