The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-02-06

WOuld make Jnem BhIely hepuDhcAn
without affecting any of the other dis
tricts from which counties would have
to be borrowed it might be agreed to.
An effort, and most determined one,
has also been made to take Erie coun-
ty out of the Thirteenth district and
put 1t in with one strongly Republican
in order that some of the patient and
long-suffering statesmen there may
have their rewards, but 1t is extremely
doubtful as to whether this will be
done and 1t most certainly will not ul-
less there be general shifting of the
districts about.
AS a possible means of untangllng
the vexatious skein of taxation mess-
ures with which the state is afflicted
and taking out from the laws those
which are needed as well as suggesting
new ones for enactment, a state taxa
ton commission is proposed consisting
of probably three-perhaps five mem
bers-appointed by the governor. The
feasibility and practicability of such a
plan are apparent. The statute books
groan under the weight of taxation
measures of all kinds, but they are in
such a confused and jumbled shape
that nobody really knows exactly
where they are or what they are. rhe
taxation system of the state lacks uni
formity-the laws need codification
and classification in order that the
good may be saved and the poor sent
the way of all flesh" The purpose Of
the commission would be to do this
and present to the next legislature an
entirely new set of taxation measures
framed along modern lines and drafted
with an idea of treating all taxpayers,
big and little, with fairness. If the
plan ever reaches the stage of an ac-
tual bill it will undoubtedly be passed,
and when it does the entire state can
breathe sigh of relief.
Representative Guerin of Erie coun-
ty, who looks like a boy with his
round, smooth, almost unshaven face,
but is in reality a man of considerable
force and power, has proven the sur
prise of the present session. Guerin,
who was an ardent supporter of Price
Of Athens for speaker, was placed at
the head Of the revision committee for
his services. Speaker McKinnon
thought no better way of putting a
man out of sight than that could be
found. A study OF TIE house journals
for twenty years showed that the COM
mittee had not held meeting. What
better way to tell Mr.. Guerin to 60
"way back and sit down" could be
| found than that? argued Mr.. McKin-
non. After Guerin had been appoint
ed he looked up the law and found
that the committee, in reality, was an
| important one, and could be made a
power. The only reason for it's mac
tivity in the past lay in either the in
ertia of the members, or failure to
understand their prerogative. BY the
rules of the house every bill iEtTo-
duoed should 60 to the revision COM
mittee for immediate action, to be
changed IN wording, or, II need be,
sent back as unconstitutional and un-
worthy of deliberation. Mr. Guerir de-
cided to take advantage Of the oppor-
tunlty presented. He Immediately
called the committee together and or
ganized. The next day he announced
to the speaker that the committee was
in shape to do business and would ex-
pect all bills to be sent there. Mr.. Nc
Kinnon was astounded. He looked up
the law and found Guerin was right
and from that time on all bills have
been going to the committee regular
ly. In reality it has been made the
most important of all in the house
Mr.. Guerin has asked for and been
granted clerk for the committee al
S. day, and his friend, Claude B. Dc
Witt Of Sandusky is going in. AS a
means of extinguishing Mr.. Guerin
his appointment to the revision com
mittee was distinct failure.
|
The sentiment is growing toward
economy in the expenditure of all pub
| III liOhCJo, anu pCSuuoC vi tulo IL IL
probable that the legislature will pass
a number of bills cutting down the sal
aries of state and county officials
and refuse to adopt all others for tn,
raising of pay. A bill is now in fol
the advancement of the supreme
judges to $1,000 from $4,000. Withou
discussing the justice of this it can b,
safely said that it will not pass thi,
session. Two years ago the Legislature
passed bill increasing the salar,
from $4,000 to $4,000, but it was onl!
accomplished after a hard struggl,
and following years of agitation l
can hardly be expected therefore that
at this session. another advance will
be given. The judges of the first su
preme court received $3.50 year
then the pay was raised to 81 500, an,
finally by slow degrees 1t was put Vi
to $4,000, where 1t remained for man,
years. After that, two years ago, cam
the jump to $4,000, where 1t will ur
doubtedly remain for some time, a
least, to come.
GEO. u. MARVIN.