The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-08-19
Capital Gorrip
BY GEO. T. BLAKE,
(staff Correspondent.)

1
Columbus, Aug. 18.--Governor Nash
is deeply chagrined over the action of
three morning papers in publishing on
Saturday morning q code purporting
to be the one he will submit to the leg
islature. In an unknown manner a
copy of the governors code in the form
in which 1t was presented to the state
bar committee was secured by one of
these papers and that led to its pub
hcation in the way described as the
bona fide article. AS soon as the al
legged code appeared the governor at
once gave out fer publical ION by the
press of the state an abstract of the
genuine measure The code printed
prenaturely does not contain the num-
erous changes made in 1t by the state
bar committee. One of the features
this body changed was the one giving
the governor power to appoint police
commissions. In the revised instru-
ment this authority is delegated to the
mayor.
1t floats in from Sandusky and Cedar
Point that the Republican members are
the cities of the state. AS everybody
knows, people in different cities are
differently constituted. What would
suit Youngstown would not suit Can
ton at all. GAINESVILLE would complain
about what suited Canton perfectly.
So 1t will be all over the state. In
this contingency the minority must act
with much wisdom. Bv declaring un-
equivocally for the home rule the DEM
ocrats may aid in getting it. There
are some homo rule Republicans in the
lower house as we'll as the upper house,
and if the Democrats keep together
they may hold the balance of power
; and really accomplish something for
J the state. At any rate Democratic
, member has great responsibility, and
is very likely to have as much to do
with framing a code for Ohio cities as
The Republican member. Some of the
people of Youngstown have interested
the rselves in the code, being wide
enough awake to take hand in the
matter and see that they get what they
want. They are recognizing that the
Democratic members are going to have
J something to say. and are pretty wei
satisfied that they have representa-
tive on either side of the house. They
think the interests of the people OF
Youngstown will be pretty well con-
served and with the legislators actin;
together for form Of government
that Youngstown wants, greau goo1
can be accomplished in the general
formation of an acceptable code.
The line of demarkation between
cities and villages is placed at 10000.
City officers provided for are mayor,
auditor, treasurer, solicitor, board of
public service and board OF public
safety. The mayor appoints the board
Of public safety, consisting Of four
members, and the solicitor, and the
board of public service, composed of
three members, is elected by the people.
The mayor will appoint the police and
fire departments, but cannot remove
appo.ntees. The beard Of pubic safe
ty may do this and must confirm ap-
pointments. The board Is also u civil
service commission for its departm ant.
Each city Is made a un'c.pal court
district, with clerk and police ,u5ge
elected for two years.
Eaob cifv oonpoiI xuill boya az Joaef
nine members, three e'ec,e1 at large,
and six by wards, with a member add
ed for every additional $1,000 in popula-
tion. Whea the number elec,ed Is Is
or more, one in every five shall be
, elected at large. Councils must reds
trict their cities before January 1. The
city solicitor shall be police prose-
cutor or appoint one. Council is given
no administrative powers and the
board OF public service no legislative
powers. Council is to fix the num-
Der to- be employed in police and fire
departments and for compensation.
Present employees are to be retained.
Franchises are not to be granted for
more than 25 years. City and village
tax is limited to ten mills in any one
year unless the people by a two-thirds
vote approve. The requirements for
street railway franchises as to COM
petitive bidding, routes. ETC., are as at
present.
Members of the legislature have been
heard to express themselves as not
caring what the lawyers appo'nte by
the State Bar association thought CT
the code. There are some lawyers in
the legislature. They are not very
good lawyers. it is true. but they have
shingles out, and they consider 1t a
reflection on them when outsiders at
tempt TO tell them the law. So what