The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-25

n supreme court, within a few
" days, will come up some more
questions involving special
legis lation, and it is sure to have its
effect on the municipal code, which
is to be reported during the week.
Members of the senate are going very
slowly with special bills. The house
passed 55 special acts in one day. but
the senate has not enacted any of
them into laws They are not hurry
ing in the upper house and 1t Is evil
IDENTIFY their intention to let some Of
the bills die. The charter law of
Springfeftf has been attacked because
a taxpayer down there did not like the
way one branch of the government
was run, and the result is likely to
be that Springfield will have to go
back to the general statute under the
old division and classification of cities.
such as the law under which Canton
operates. In this event the town will
be ripped up, and the Springfield rep
resentatives will have to vote for the
code bill to save themselves. SO with
Akron and Youngstown. There is a
measure before the legislature now to
change the governments of these cit
les. 1t will apply to only two cities in
the state, and is therefore special leg
islation. Under the ruling of the su-
preme court it does not suffice to tack
one or two cities onto a bill, other
than the city it is desired to reach
for the legislation is just as special
as If it applied only to one city. SO
any bill passed for the two cities
named cannot be other than unconsti-
tutional and would be so declared
were the question to be tested.
General Dick has assumed COM
mand of the Ohio division of the
Spanish war veterans, and as such
commander has it in his power to
do a great deal for the boys. 1t must
be said to his credit that he has been
the friend of the boys ever since the
war closed, and has worked hard To
secure for them many things that they
would otherwise not have received.
The matter of back pay was furthered
While he cannot help but gain some
political advantage by his acts, they
were done in such way as to be given
semblance of disinterestedness. Ger.
eral Dick is pushing law at WASH
ington that means the reorganization
of the Ohio militia, and grants con-
cessions that have not heretofore been
held. The militia is to be better
equipped and If possible there is to be
provision for some of the expenses
that have now to be borne by officers
and men. The militia is to be in
closer touch with the federal govern
ment and the law is to be SO drafted
that the president, under certain con-
ditions, can call out the militia, with
out undertaking the red tape of tho
state. 1t is thought the law will be
very popular with the men, and vita
be another feather in the cap OF the
Akron politician.
During the coming week a bill Is to
be introduced to give better water
supply to Columbus. Incidentally any
city in the state can take advantage
of it's provisions. Thus it will not pe
a special law and will stand muster.
1t is proposed to so frame law that
any city in the state, in a great public
exigency, such as threatened water
famine or threatened scarcity in the
time of fire may, under resolution of
the mayor, issue bonds for such sums
as are required to relieve the condl-
tions. Columbus is short of water
and it is proposed here to dam the
Sciota so that the people will not
damn the water. 1t will have time to
settle If stored away behind great
dam. Canton may take advantage OF
the law at any time occasion might
demand 1t.
The fiasco growing out of a 'resolu-
ton by Representative Sharp, TO in
vestigate the state treasurer's Office
to see If money is being loaned out
and interest pocketed by the state
treasurer, is to be carried to its con-
clusion during the week. The Sharp
resolution, 1t will be recalled, was
killed and committee was appointed
by the speaker to look into the mat
ter. That was 80 days ago. The cont
mittee visited the treasurer's Office a
day or two ago, counted the money
saw that 1t was all there. and is ready
to report. Treasurer Cameron was
given ample notice to get all of the
money back II he had any outstand-
ing, so the investigation is simply a
farce. Nobody ever claimed that the
state lost dollar SO the investigation
was not required in the first place.
Th at II took ut.o, ifealf q narfupc :