The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-02-28
ABOUT THE LOBDIS
- 8 At The STATE CAPITAL
Willis Blll Is Half q L8w-..Tsxatlon Talk
...The Beall Fight--.Personal
and Political.
BY Der z. WILLIAMSON.
istaff Correspondent.l


- oLUMBUs, FEB. 27.-The will
n lis bill, taxing corporations
~ one-tenth Of one per cent.
passed the house just after the
Beal fiasco had transpired but the man
ufacturers affected may CLEAN little
comfort from the fact that 1t was so
amended that the tax is only on the
stock paid in or subscribed for and not
on the stock authorized when the cor
poration papers were issued. II was
outlined in Tuesdays issue of the
News-Democrat, that the Republican
caucus had decided that the bill, being
party measure and being backed by
the state administration, should pass.
1t was also stated that Messrs. Pollock
and Metzgar, Of Stark, together with
Members Crist and Buell., of Columbia
ma, had opposed II In caucus but were
powerless to further interfere. There
was very little debate. Mr.. Willis, the
author of the bill, occupied q little
time explaining its features, but after
that 1t went through. Messrs. Pollock,
Metzgar, Buell. and Crist voted in favor
of it.
There are some other excise meas
ures that are to come up that the Re-
publican majority hopes will palliate
the offense they have committed
against the states industries in the
present instance. The scheme to tax
corporations holding public grants and
other benefits for which they have
never paid anything-at least not into
the state or municipal treasuries-will
set much better with the people.
II, however, the legislature were to
show a disposition to make the rail-
roads pay their just share by making
them tell what their roads are worth
and then taxing them for it, other
measures would not be needed. Eut
general assembly that merely filters
when somebody introduces bill de-
claring II malfeasance in Office to ac-
cept railroad pass, may not bo ex-
pected to go cunning very seriously
for the people that furnish the trans
portation.
The pet measure of the Anti-Saloon
league two years ago was ward option.
1t was dropped early in the Beal bill
fight. 1t still pends on petition prop
osition that could never be carried
into effect, but as a real issue has been
abandoned. Instead they have a bill
now that gives municipal option to
municipalities that already have it and
provides special election, with no
real change in cities that have netahad
councils thRt cared to exercise their
prerogatives. Still, the AntiSaloon
league claims a big victory and will
do some more assessing to keep the
fight up.
One thing that the Beal bill provides
is plenty of elections. When Rev.
Hare, superintendent Of the Anti-Sa-
loon league district that includes Can
ton, was here, he said to your cores
pondent that they would take o. fall
out of Canton or would at least put
the town on record. When the bill
passes the senate special election
will be attempted there when the forty
per cent. is secured. Mr.. Hare was
talking on 25 per cent. basis when
he was here. He will find 2 more diff
ficult to get forty per cent. OF the
voters to sign their names to a petit
tion. If he gets the required amount,
somebody would better watch matters
closely. Stranger things have hap
pened than that city like Canton, a
peace loving and home loving city
went dry.
Columbus preparing to greet Prince
Henry on Saturday with the hottest
ten minutes she has in stock, and she
has some pretty warm sixths OF an
hour on tap.
John r. Morgan, Oldest son of the
late Thomas r. Morgan, of Alliance,
and brother of Col. w. II. Morgan, is
at the head of newly organized COM
pany here to manufacture travelling
electric cranes. The plant is to be
fashioned after the plan Of the Alll-
ance plant.
Julius Whiting, Jr., of Canton, Wis
tied Columbus and her statesmen,
Wednesday. Mr.. Writing left the Con-
gressman Tayler boom with Treasurer
T. Harvey Smith, during his temporary
absence. Mr.. Whiting is interested in
some measures affecting building and
loan companies, which he terms fool
ish little bills"
When Speaker McKinnon suggested
an adjournment OF the Republican
caucus that was considering the Willis
bill, he did wise political act and
demonstrated that he has claim to the