Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-19
ELECTION
Laws Need Not
Be Changed.
That Is Gov. Nash's
Opinion.
Somebody Put Changes In His
@ Code.
Especial Correspondence

Columbus, O., Aug. 19--Mr. III. FL.
Mcmahon has rendered an opinion on
the Governors code. He says that
he has read the code published In the
papers, and is informed that 1t is the
bill that stood before the State Bar
association committee worked on 1t,
and that material changes were made
in 1t after that committee handed 1t
back to the Governor. He claims that
there is much more in the code than
there seems to be.
81 should say" remarked Mr.. Nc
Mahon, "that the code as published
seems to provide for the extension of
the Cox government as 1t is exempli-
fed in Cincinnati, to all the cities of
the state. The governments OF Column
bus and Cleveland would be smashed
to smithereens. That is all ] care to
say about the Governors code. l can
not discuss it from legal point Of
view until am better acquainted with
its provisions"
Governor Nash declares that some
body has been ringing in'' few
things in his code, and that he will not
stand for it. In explaining his code,
Governor Nash stated that his coad-
tutors and himself had conceded
with Secretary Of State Laylin in the
opinion that nothing need be done
with the election laws so far as they
applied to cities; that the general law
would cover the matter of elections,
registration and all, with the organiza-
tions of municipalities as proposed in
the new code just as they do now, and
| nothing was said in the code about
election matters.
Said the Governor: 1T is quite
probable that legislation in the matter
Of election laws would be permissible
under the rule Of the Supreme court,
that would not be in legislation for the
government of cities. At any rate these
laws are on the statute books; they
have not been set aside, and we have
concluded to let them stand. With
the new organization of cities regis.
tration will be given to the same cities
that have it now and to no more
In the Governors abstract Of his code
there is clause which states thai
there was a provision in the code fol
the abolishment of the city and county
boards Of election and the appointment
in their place of single boards of dep
uty supervisors by the Secretary Of
State to have charge of both county
and city elections and to have charg,
Of registration.
When asked about this the Governo
insisted that there was nothing in hi
code about it, but when shown th
statement in his abstract he ac
knowledged that he was wrong bu
said it was not put in with his consent
and in all the discussion he and his co
laborers had about the subject the,
had concluded to cut out all referenc
to election laws, and let present con
ditions continue. Evidently this pre-
vision was added without his know
edge.
The sentiments expressed by tn
, Legislative committee of the Boar
, of Trade are to the effect that the ne,
, municipal code law should present t
the people Of the state the largest Ill
, erty within reasonable regulations.
, meeting of the committee will be hel
Aug. Both, and on that occasion the
will ask for a full attendance Of th
members of the Board of Trade an
\ other citizens of the state who al
2 interested in the matter. of municip,
governments.