The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-08-29

UeCtlnE OF tne mousse COniiihttee VI
twenty three, which is considering the
code, Wednesday afternoon, the
greatest interest manifested itself
while Wade Ellis, the George B. Cox
special representative among Rhe gov
ernor's code makers, was speaking.
Ellis was closely questioned and there
were some developments that were MT
looked for and some admissions that
made the bill somewhat lame.
Mr.. Ellis took occasion. at the outset
to disclaim any intention on the part
of the governor or his advisers to die
tate to the legislature. He said the
governor simply desired to be helpful
The question Of the powers of munic-
ipalities was taken up. The alleged
Inconsistency in the Nash code in sec
tions referring to the council and the
board of public service was explained
by Ellis ..,...s4
One feature that is now in the bin
Vsls specially pointed out by d, the
speaker with the statement that it
was placed in the law at the direct
suggestion of the governor. This pro-
vides that weekly statements of the
condition of the funds of municipal
ity by the auditor and treasurer Of the
city must be made and left with the
mayor for inspection. Every taxpayer,
1t was agreed, would thus know how
he stood at the end of each week and
could thus keep track Of the business
Of the city and decide for himself
whether the city affairs were being
economically administered.
II has been stated that the loag list
of sections that are repealed at the
end of the Nash code would admit Of
close inspection. Ellis admitted, be-
fore he had been talking ten minutes,
that two sections are repealed at the
end of the Nash code that are whole
some measures and oughi to remain on
the statute books. These are with ref
erence to taxation and II the Nash
code could have been adopted without
reference or hearing, there would
hNhNN pCch itit a vacuum 0H Cilt tdNd-
tion question that would practically
have invalidated whatever might be in
the code on that question.
The matter of assessments for i'm
provements created considerable dis
cussion. No petition of such improve
mcnt is required in the Nash code and
all assessments are paid for by benz
fits, in accordance with decisions Of
the supreme court. The code covers the
street intersections assessments tha,
the city may pay and permit assess
ment against the whole city where al
improvement benefits the whole city
alike. a-sf a
Assessments by foot-front are not
provided for at all In the code and
Ellis explained that this was omitted
because of the question which part of
the lot was the front. The code pro-
vidcs simply for the benefit system
direct =
On the question of organization of
cities, Ellis said he had no private
opinions about the. measure. 1T can
be amended" said Ellis. "in several
matters, so as to improve it. l want
to suggest one amendment now.
think boards of health should be merg-
ed with boards of public safety ir@
stead of boards of public service and
suggest that you make that aniciiI-
mcnt.
Then some smaller cities upder this
line Of demarkat'on. object to police
judges and police clerks as additional
expense. the mayors now acting as
police judges. There Is nothing Ill the
law to prevent n mayor FROM being
elected police Judge, too. II it is de-
sired to merge these Offices the nom
nations may be given 20 the same
man."
A question as to the constitutional
ity Of electing man to two ofiices
was raised but Ellis said 1t was all
right in this casc.
On the nuestitn Of councilmen tcing
a resident OF the state for i've years
Mr.. Allen wanted to know il the con-
s.itution didn't conflict. Ellis said 1t
didn't He said five might be little
too high but he thought 1t was al
right.
1t was evident that the committee
would do son.e editing on the code at
about this point from remarks made
by members. ,tf
Members raised the question wheth-
er it would he possible to legislate
office-holders Gut Of Office. Ellis said
the constitution didn't prevent 1t.
Mag, of Mahoning; Sharp. of Fair