The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-03-31
What Are the Democrats Get
ting Out Of 1t.
MORE ILLEGAL BOND ISSUES.
Needed Amendments TO Delinquent Tar
Laws-Jury Service Evasion.
Corporations and
Elections.

tions Of acts of this KIND There was
some excuse for legislation of this
kind when the supreme court seemed
TO be inclined to hold it not in viola
tion of the constitution, but now that
it has plainly decided that such special
legislation is unconstitutional, there
ought to be an end to it. There is
hardly day now when the senate
does not pass some such measure. 1t
is to be hoped that the house will act
with more regard for law and order
and the courts, and refuse to concur,
though it must be confessed that the
prospect for it is not encouraging.
The climax in such legislation was
reached this week when a village
which had issued such illegal bonds
and the supreme court held them in
valid, was authorized by the senate to
issue bonds to take up the invalid
bonds. If this can be done, a ready
method has been found for circum-
venting the constitution in matters of
this kind. The next bill passed by the
senate authorized Cuyahoga county to
issue bonds of the precise kind that
the supreme court held to be invalid.
A one-sided Bargain.
1t begins to look as though the al
| lance Of the Democrats with anti
Hanna Republicans was becoming
pretty costly bargain with the Demo-
Gratis. 1t has just cost them the right
| 70 90 40 ri in
uation of the state canal commission
al least as it is presently constitut-
ed. There is grave reason to suspect
that this board, like the old state ros-
ter department of unpleasant memory
is being kept alive for the principal
purpose of furnishing jobs for Re-
publicans. This may be an unwar-
ranted judgment, but that is the way
it looks to a careful outside observer,
At least little inquiry should have
been made into the matter, and many
| Democrats wished this to be done. The
law which established the commission
at first provided that it should be BIZ
partisan. The last board was so COM
posed. When the Republicans had
control of the last legislature, they
took advantage Of the opportunity to
continue the commission two years
more as usual and at the same time
took out the provision that the DEM
ocrats must have representation in it.
Governor Bushnell appointing the
present board ignored the Democrats
of the state, and taking advantage of
the freedom the new law allowed him,
put it entirely in the hands of the
Republicans. Now the Democrats
have a chance to secure representa-
tion in the commission again If it is
to be continued at all, but the steer
ing committee" it is said, set its foot
down upon the proposition to make
the commission bipartisan, as well as
the proposition to discontinue it. OF
course the present commission, having
been appointed by Governor Bushnell,
Is composed of his special friends, and
he does not want to see either or both
of them thrown out of Office. But is
it not about time the political debts
that are supposed to have been created
against the Democratic party and in
favor Of Governor Bushnell and his
friends, IN the senatorial fight, were
thoroughly discharged?
The Sheppard bill extending the
commission has gone to the house.
Some of the level-headed Democrats
there have wriggled out from under
the spell of hypnotism thrown upon
them by the anti-Hanna spellbinders,
and being clothed once more, and in
their right minds, see that they have
been following the direction Of a cor
rupt ring of designing politicians, who
have been voting them like so many
automatons, to the political advantage
of the ring If nothing more. Have the
Democrats all become only anti-Han-
ma Republicans? When do we Dem
ocrats cease to contribute to this COM
bine and begin to draw something
out?
Even Stuck For the Dana Law.
Looking over the field of the present
session, it does not strike the sub
ized very extensively upon their COM
bination with the anti-Hanna Repub.
licans. The combination has worked
all right when the anti-Hanna Repub,
licans were to get some benefit, but
the Democrats failed even in getting
the Dana law repealed. The law
which will help to prevent a fusion
of the Democrats with the minor par
ties in an efficient way at the polls, is
still there and will stay, The only
thing the Democrats can claim as the
result of the combination with the
anti-Hanna Republicans is the over,
throw OF the Cox regime in the city
OF Cincinnati, and it was not the anti
Hanna Republicans that helped them
to do that.
From the very inside Of the anti.
Hanna Republican organization the re,
port comes--and it cannot be doubted
that the reason that the Swain bill
reorsanlzlng the city or Cincinnati
failed and the Otis bill passed, is thai
Charles J.. Kurtz promised Otis thai
II he remained true TO the anti-Hannl
combine, and worked faithfully tC
keep his people in line he should have
the dlctation OF matters in Cincinnati
politics.
Tax Title Legislation.
Senator Pugh has introduced an eX
cellent measure which ought to pass
without any CDpCSitiOn. IL provide,