Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-03-24

works and thus t&king in the whole
scheme of the plan at once, would say
that this was the seat OK large city and
that the circles. squares and other shaped
outlines were but the ruins heaped over
with earth Of old-time buildings and ap-
proaches. These seem to be the pro-
tective walls, the places where huge
buildings stood and the outlines of
thoroughfares and streets. That's all
right enough, but digging down into
these has never brought forth anything
but dirt, so that one is driven to the
conclusion that these mounds were
built as mounds originally, but whether
for habitation, protection, military in
structions, or worship nobody can tell.
One irreverent member of the house
says he thinks the ancients were after
the permanent encampment and for
that reason reared these walls as they
did. This member is evidently "agin
the appropriation"
Should Be Preserved.
My impression is that the state ought
to purchase these grounds or so much of
them as can be conveniently used, and
turn them into a public park. These
ancient and wonderful earthworks ought
to be preserved and it is the duty of the
state to do it. The octagon and circle,
which with the ground surrounding
make about $50 acres, can be bought for
$93, 900; '+the old fort'' will be preserved
by the fair ground ASSOCIATION as their
deed especially prohibits any digging in
the mounds. So that if the state went
into this sort of scheme, it would aid
to preserve the best of the wonderful
andmysterious works. If the soldiers are
encamped upon any part of them year
after year, they will soon be obliterated
from the face of the earth. But it will
be many a day before the soldiers go
into camp on the permanent camping
ground in Licking county.
To Prevent Double Taxation.
One of the most important bills con-
sidered recently was that of Representa-
tive Clapp, which was meant to prevent
double taxation, but which will in reality
increase the tax rate and increase the rate
of interest. The bill passed the house
with the aid of votes of men who were
at heart opposed to the bill, but who
were afraid that the farmers in their
constituency would be angry if they
didn't vote in that way. Now the whole
state is discussing and cussing the bill
in all its bearings.
One good way to deal with this bill
would be to allow it to rest peacefully
in the bosom of the senate committee
until next January, and then the first
week of the session pass it. 1t will only
take about two weeks for those who
urged the passage of the measure to hear
from the people in such a way that they
will be climbing over each other to have
the bill repealed. Sometimes it is wise
to give the people what they want OF
seem to want only to prove that they dc
not know what they want. This is
one of the times.
Said former member of the legisla-
ture to me the other day: II came very
near introducing a similar bill when !
was member of the house. drew ii
all up and then thought would go
home and get little legal advice on the
proposition. My lawyer friend soon
opened my eyes to the results that would
follow and dropped the scheme like a
red hot COAL"
II declare" said an editorial friend to
me the next day after the Clapp bill
passed the house, II thought that tn
bill was a reasonable one when I first
had it brought to my attention, but
swow when got through my investiga-
ton was almost ashamed to own it to
myself"
But this sort of an idea has been dis
cussed by the people for twenty years
and now it might be splendid idea tc
give them a taste of it by way of horrible
example; but hope they will not get a
taste of il at such time that the legis.
lature cannot repeal the measure when
the people have cried "enough," as they
are sure to do in two weeks after taking
the dose.
| The Columbus "Ripper."
The Dayton ripper" bill is off ou1
hands, but the Columbus ripper" is
still a bone of contention. 1t may be
brought up at any moment and it may
be allowed to die a natural death. An
effort was made to get it before the
house the other day but just at the last
moment it was discovered that there
was big fight coming up against it.
The whole thing may result in the
federal plan being adopted, and if such
is the case the delay will not be without
its result to the people of Columbus.
Beet Sugar.
Representative Carney, of Hancock
tlaic, is tlaLa E,.ct