The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-02-18
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.

COLUMBUS, req. ll.-lu Ule nOuhe MI.
Strock introduced joint resolution
calling for the appointment of joint
committee, two members from each
house, to whom all bills amendatory of
the election laws shall be referred.
This is for the purpose of relieving the
election committee of the house and
senate, which are overburdened with
other matters. House bills were passed
by the house as follows;
Authorizing Hillsboro to issue $4,000 water
works bonds.
Preventing the placing of whirlgigs and
other catch-penny devices within quarter of
mile of fairs. This is for the purpose of pro-
tecting those who buy privileges Of fair mana
gers.
Providing that garnishees may demand wit
ness fees before testifying in cases I'm which
they are defendants.
Providing for the appointment Of natural
gas trustees at Urbana by the county commits
soners instead of the governor
Appropriating s2g7,gS TO pay the principal
and interest to the public debt, interest on the
irrr ducible debt and expenses of the sinking
fund commissioners.
The house unanimously adopted the senate
resolution providing for an investigation into
the taking of oil from state lands leased for
gas purposes.
Representative Harshberger, of Shell
by, introduced resolution to investi-
gate the election of Senator John Sher-
man to the United States senate. The
resolution recites that as it has been
charged that Mr.. Sherman used undue
influence and coerced members to vote
for him that the matter be investigated
and the testimony be submitted through
Senator Brice to the United States SEN
ate, which body will decide whether
Bherman is entitled to his seat
The senate devoted the entire day to
hearing the contest case of Shook against
Sutphen.
The house will also take a hand in the
investigation of the Pennsylvania Rail
road company's right to certain streets
in Cincinnati. The resolution to have a
committee investigate the matter was
adopted.
Mr.. Bloch, of Cuyahoga, introduced
bill which requires every stenographer
employed as court reporter to be exam
ined by committee of three members
of the bar of the county, and when there
are more than one application for ap-
pointment made examination and test
shall be competitive.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Tisch-
bein which makes election day a legal
holiday. The present law gives EN-
ployes the right to portion only of the
day in order to vote.
Senator Phillips, of Adams, has been
studying the subject of contested cleo
ton cases since the Snook-Sutphen case
has been pending in the senate. AS
result he has introduced a bill which
makes several radical changes in the
manner of trying contested election
cases. The bill provides that the circuit
court shall have exclusive and original
jurisdiction of contest of elections of all
common pleas and superior court Judges.
The case may be taken to the sup1 eme
court on error The supreme court
shall have jurisdiction of contests of
circuit court judges and of all state off.
GERS. If the contestee is a member of
the supreme court he shall not sit in de-
termination of his case.
Senator Iden introduced a bill at the
request of the legislative committee of
trades assembly to provide for an inspec.
ton Of the plumbing in Cincinnati.
Cleveland and Columbus. The bill au-
thorizes the respective mayors to ap-
point an inspector at salary of 81 800
per year. The inspector is given two as
sistants. who shall receive $1,000 per
year.
COLUMBUS, Feb. 12.-The senate dis
posed Of the contested election case of
Snooks vs. Sutphen, the former was the
Republican candidate for common pleas
judge in the sub-judicial district COM
posed of Paulding, Defiance and Will
lam counties, and the latter was the
Democratic candidate, and on the face
Of the returns got majority of s. The
evidence submitted showed that Mr..
Snooks got majority of all the legal
votes that were cast, and the senate
awarded him the seat. All
the Democrats voted for Sutphen,
Bills were introduced in the house as
follows:
BY Mr.. Heinlein, amending section
$3.50 so as to require the giving or refusal
of instruction to juries on matters of
law before final arguments are begun.
By Mr.. Weybrecht, extending to
municipal corporations of all grades the
law prohibiting the blockading of a
sidewalk by temporary stands.
BY Mr.. Griffin, rendering it impera-
tive for minority stockholders, in the
event of consolidation of railroads, to
bring suits affecting the same in the
states in which they reside.
COLUMBUS, Feb. 13.-The house trans
acted very little business yesterday and
adjourned early. A bill was introduced
by Mr.. Flumerfelt making legal holi-
day of Feb. 10, and the joint committee
to investigate into the alleged unlawful
taking of oil from state land was ap-
pointed. The senators are Messrs. Nc
Conica, Eckley and Burns and the repre-.
sentatives Messrs. Holcomb, Block,
Taylor, of jefferson; Cunningham and
Gaumer. Only local measures were
acted on by the senate.