The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-05-22
OHIO'S NEW LAWS.
Brief Resume of the More Important Acts Passed
by the General Assembly.

N~s-~~~~~~~-~~D~
General Assembly. The amendment in
sureS each county of the State at leas
one Representative.
Great difficulty has heretofore been OK
perienced in obtaining a full expression
of the voters of the State on constitu
uonai amendments when submitted. In
order to remedy this matter the Long
worth law was enacted. providing that
when an amendment to the constitution
Is submitted it may be approved or dis
approved by the State convention of any
polltlcal party. and the affirmative OF
negative Of the proposition so submitted
may he printed with the party ticket on
the official ballot. In that ease when the
voter desires 10 vote straight ticket
ne may 10 50 by placing a mark in he
circle AT the head of the ticket, and thus
vote FOR all the nominees and the taxa
ton amendment il recommended BY the
party convention. At the same time this
law provides that each Of the amend
ments 50 submitted shall be printed in a
! separate column, thus reserviny to the
voter me right to express his choice there
on independent of the action of party
School Legislation.
The Seventy-ffth General Assembly
has enacted some excellent school lesis-
lation. The common schools had warm
friends as chairmen of the respective
committees in the House and Senate
The most important law enacted was
House bill No. 3G9 by Mr.. Seese Of Sum-
nit. which established State normal
schools at Ohio and Miami universities.
When Hon. Z. Z. White was commits
sioner OF common schools in 1864 he ad-
vocated State normal schools. but it re-
manned for the present Legislature 70
carry the idea into effect. The present
commissioner has been a consistent advo-
cate OF the State providing for better
trained teachers and at the close of mis-
term Will see two normal schools in pric-
teal operation.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Brumbaugh
of Darke County, which defines element
airy, high schools and colleges, is another
law which will strengthen the Ohio
school system. 1t will be pattern for
other States to follow in the future. 1t
may meet with some opposition at first,
but Its advocates say il will result in
more systematic work in the schools and
each pupil will receive proper credit for
work done.
The Boxwell law as amended by Sel-
ator Patterson is also an important law.
1t provides for graduation from clement
airy rural schools and the certificate Civ
en- entities the holder TO admission TO any
high school in the State. Its primary OBJ
ject is to encourage the establishment Of
high schools in the townships and place
the country boy and girl upon an equal
footing with children who happen to live
in the larger towns.
The law relating to the tax rate for
schools was amended and now embraces
the Seese. Kimball. Seller and Burnham
bills. All city districts can levy an addi-
tional mill over the I-mill limit for build
ing purposes except Cincinnati. which
operates under special law of its own.
The levy for all township. village and |
special districts is fixed at 10 mills and |
an extra mills can be levied above this |;
TO pay the tuition Of pupils il no nigh |
school is maintained. With this law in |
full operation there ought 10 be no more
complaint of low wages or poorly equip |
ped school buildings
The Hays law definitely provides for |
Arbor day and the game law contains 4 |
section for the protection of the song |
birds. Better facilities are provided for |
day schools for the deaf and dumb and |
these unfortunates can be educated at |
home. Such schools are in successful
operation in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Day
ton and Elyria.
The holding Of elections in special dis
tricts on the second Monday in April was
abolished and hereafter school officers
will be chosen on the first Monday in
April under the Australian ballot.
The laws relating to school libraries
We're revised and strengthened and two
important laws in this regard were en-
acted. The growth Of sentiment in favor
of Capitalization of township schools
,alled for additional legislation and this
S found in the Hagenbuch and Kimball
bills.
The compulsory and child labor laws
we're so amended as to make their en-
orcement easy The age is fixed in both
It IA years.
uencTal Leg SlSiatiOns
A vast amount of general legislation
las been enacted The Beal local option
aw is probably the best known statute
made by the present General Assembly
S advantage has already been taken OF
Is provisions in many parts of the
state. CHARACTERIZED as the most unique
iece of temperance legislation ever pass
d in Ohio, because both saloon and anti
aloon leaders professed TO be satisfied
Tith it, it is proving TO be all that its
dvocates claimed for it and is banishing
he saloon from many Of the smaller mu-
icipalities Of the State.
The Longworth general bond bill law
ermitting townships and municipalities
0 issue bonds for many purposes hither-
0 denied them without special legisla-
ion is yet an experiment. Its success
ill depend upon the officials who act un-
er it. In the hands of corrupt Coun-
II it would be a power for evil while
ne composed of upright business men I
'ould be enabled to use it for great good.
The Longworth board OF review law
larks a radical step. Boards OF equal ,
.ation and revision in the municipalities !
re dUoiSueu uuueE II Wueu tue couuty
uditor requests the State board Of ap-
raiserS and assessors to appoint 4 board
[ review. which will take the place Of
Il these boards. The compensation Of
lese boards are to be fixed by the coun-
commissioners and the time they shall
t by the State board. Time will tell
S value.
The laws relating to insurance were
.vised and the Comings health code is
distinct improvement over the old stat
tes on sanitary matters. Lawyers will
nd much TO study in the new statutes
fecting court procedure and when the
lreau of uniform accounting gets into
orkins order county officials will find it