Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-17
REFORM.

NIL StNNs |
THE Ohio state Journal, in its issue
of Saturday last, has lengthy ehi-
torial article entitled "The Municipal
Code
In this the Code prepared by the Com
mission appointed by former Cover
nor and now known as the Pugh-klbler
bill is discussed at length, and the un-
hostility of the state
journal to it, and to any other bill EN-
bodying it's essential principles, Is
clearly expressed.
The alternative plan proposed by the
Etate Bar Association is also mooted
and is declared to be totally "unac-
ceptable to the powers that be-" Ihe
Significance of this statement lies
largely in the fact that the state Jour-
nal is the accredited organ of the Re
publican party in Ohio. Indeed the ar
ticle In question takes no pains to
conceal its threat that neither OF tue
plans for municipal government VIII
be allowed to pass by the coming Leg
tslature.
This then is the ultimatum which
is going TO confront Mayor Doyles
committce at tic threshold of Its work.
and which will continue to confront 1t
to the end. 1t may be set down as
certain that no plan that reckons
without the political boss, and which
does not leave him in substantial con-
troll. and IN which the matter of spoils
is not to be the dominant feature, VIII
have any chance of surviving.
The warning crack of the Oversecr's
whip can be heard all through the cdi-
torial TO which we have referred and
the committee may as well give heed
10 II. And while its dictum that the
Legislature will not pass any act con-
tanning the main principles OF the
Pugh Kibler Code, apparently smpli
fies the work of the committee by notify
ing 1t in advance what 1t cannot do,
If really adds immensely to its labors,
md probably renders them abortivc
from the beginning.
The Pugh-K bler Code is the result
pf long and patient work, whlcf
brought TO It's aid all that experience
md wisdom could suggest to bear upon
lts subject, and If defective In ought
II was not for want of time or care
nhe plan of the State Bar Association
loo has been carefully elaborated ai
Ter a comparison of views on the par
pf able jurists, and all conceivable
bhases of the situation have been can
Sassed in It's preparation, 80 as to pre-
sent practical scheme OF city govern
ment and one which Will avoid legil
snfirmitles and constitutional objet
tlons.
And this also, the committee Is II
formed by the state Journal, will nc
pass muster by the powers mat be.
If then. neither Code Commission
selected with special reference to II
fitness for the work, nor the wtsdol
of the Dido bar after years Of affor
have succeeded In satisfying the pol
ticians whose O. X. is necessary
pass anything through the General Al
sembly, is II reasonable TO suppose tha
another body of men, presumably u
better equipped, can, In the few r.
naming days between now and u
meeting Of the Legislature, ana In Il
Intervals 10 he snatchcd from the
other duties. not only harnonlze 60,
flicting views among themselves, br
can perfect n plan which viii at II
same time give the people the reii,
they want. and 90 which they are q
titled, and also satisfy "the powc
that be?" This Is the problem TO
solved, And the article in the sta
Journal is authority for concludiI
that this last condition is TO be the {
scntial one. by the powers that b
we understand is meant the local hos
es who control the situation here no
and whose wishes, filtered through {
various grades of party service, "
reach Columbus and dominate the 4
tion OF the Legislature.
The London Saturday Review &c
tinues its campaign against the n
nraguan treaty. II declares that S,
ator Lodges speech last Tuesday, d
ing the executive session of the Sena
should at least make II clear how 60
plete IL Lord Iansdowne's surren'
10 the United States. The Revl