Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-04-05
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER
Proposed Changes in the Welt
eel Street Railroad Law.
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE.

PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE.
Slow rrogress of the Senate on Appro.
preparations = Several Important Tax
Bills on the House Calendar Cause o
the Depleted Condition Of the State
Treasury-The State Tax Smaller Than
is Generally Supposed.
COLUMBUS, O., April 8.
The demand from the two large cities
for the repeal or amendment of the So
called Weitzel law passed in February,
1888, that has arisen in the large cities Of
the state, has caused the introduction of
three bills on the subject in the house.
One is for the repeal of one of the sec
tions of the statutes that helps to make
mp the Weitzel law. The author of this
bill didn't know just what the Weitzel
law was, and instead of getting in both
sections he only tackled one. The other
two bills seek to amend the law in very
important particulars-so important that
they change the whole scope and plan of
the law. The Weitzel law has two i'm
portant features. One is to cause new
street railroad companies to get the
majority Of the consents on property
frontage on every street and part of
street over which the new route goes.
The other feature is to compel new
company to build seven times as much
new track as it occupies of the track of
an old company. These are the essential
points of the Weitzel law, and it is as
serted that in the 10 years there has not
been new street railroad route laid out
and built by new company in either Of
the two largest cities of the state and but
one new route in the third and fourth
largest cities, and in one of these the new
route has been absorbed by the old COM
pany. The other two bills tackle these
two main features of this law. In the
manner of attacking them the two bills
are essentially alike. They provide for
a majority of the consents on the whole
route instead Of on each street and part
of street, and that new company need
only build as much new track as it occu-
pies of the track of an old company in
stead of being compelled to build seven
times as much. This is all that one of
the bills does, but the other goes much
farther. It prohibits the renewal of
charter, compelling the old company to
come in like new one and bid for the
privilege of operating over the route. 1t
also provides that municipalities may
have the right to appropriate the tracks
of any company at the expiration of its
charter, and hereafter municipalities are
to have the right to appropriate tracks
and plants during the life of Sae charter,
The committee on municipal affairs Of
the house has ell three Of these bills and
has begun hearings on them. The street
railroad men have made one feint at
fighting them, and next Thursday night
lively discussion is likely to occur over
the last two described bills. The abso-
lutte repeal is as good as dead now.
Senate on Appropriations.
The senate Is not hurrying itself with
the appropriation bills with as much
speed as was anticipated. Neither the
general nor deficiency bills have been re.
ported as yet, though it is expected that
at least one of tSese bills will be passed
this week and the other reported for
early passage next week. If the general
bill gets through the senate will have
consumed its usual four weeks at con-
sidering the bill. This means the middle
Of May before adjournment at least. In
1885 the legislature was in session until
the middle OF May, three years ago until
the Sd of May. two years ago until April
81 and year ago nearly as late. So it
will be seen that with two sessions legis-
latures have been known to run nearly
as long as it seems likely that this legis-
lature will run. The house committee
is busy with its report on the second bill
and it will bs ready for report as soon as
the senate has passed the first bill.
Tax Bills in the House.
The house has several important tax
bills upon its calendar. The Hunter bill
to tax sleeping and parlorcar companies
on mileage basis will probably not pass
the house. The taxation committee re-
ported it for indefinite postponement,
but the author of the bill, with the aid
of friends, rescued the measure and got
it upon the calendar, but the attorney
general Of the state has rendered an
opinion that the bill is unconstitutional
as being in violation Of the United States
constitution. But in spite Of this decla-
ration the author wanted to get chance
to fight for his measure before the house
The latter humored him and gave his
bill a place for consideration. It can
hardly pass in the face Of the attorney
generals opinion. The committee has
reported another bill, however, to tax
sleepingcar companies on another basis,
and II is expected that the measure If en-
acted into law. will yield the state $685.
900 or $4,000. The committee has also
reported a bill amending