The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-01
OWNERSHIP OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
70 Be Left to Vote of the People
.-Fra chise Grants Must Be
Ratified by Electors
at the Polls.
BY Der E. WILLIAMSON,
(Staff Correspondent.)


Columbus, March 29.-The munich
pal code bill has reached the house of
representatives. One of the things
that fastened it's report to the house
was that the committee saw that it
could not quite agree, and it going
to see If the house can agree. An
other reason is that the supreme court
has taken such broad ground on spe-
cial legislation that the bills that are
In for many cites, to do special things,
are clearly unconstitutional and will
be so declared the first time the court
gets q chance at them.
Prominent among these bills is one
for Akron and Youngstown. This bill
has received so much opposition in
both cities, particularly in Youngs-
town, that the senate is hesitating
what to do with 1t. Senator Writ
has decided to oppose it. He will tie
It up in committee IL it is possible,
and falling in that will oppose it open
ly on the floor of the senate.
The Youngstown politicians have
fallen out over the measure. Repre-
sentative Williams, the Republican
member from Mahoning, has lost caste
with the party leaders on the propo-
sition, but has Joined forces with Mr..
Mag, the Democratic member from
that county.
A CHAMPION OF THE BILL.
Mr.. Mag is very clever gentle
man. When he sees the other fellows
on the verge of quarrel he knows
what to do, and he has done it. He
believes in the efficacy of the bill that
he has succeeded in getting his Repub-
lican friends to pass through the
house, but he cannot fail to see the
political advantage gained by getting
the Republicans of Youngstown into
l muddle, in which the party organ,
the Telegram, is taking a prominent
part, in the matter of pointing out
hat Mr.. Mag is full of Establishments
md that the Republican member from
Mahoning, in following the way he
has pointed out, is getting tangled in
the meshes.
The municipal code has been amend
ed SO as to exclude the schools. II
will keep them out of the maelstrom
that cannot fail to obtain in any meas
nre that has to do with the govern
ment of a municipality. Among the
things eliminated Is all reference to
the ownership of street railways and
telephones. That is left to the peo-
pie themselves to decide, as it was
thought some cities might be ready
for municipal ownership and some
might not.
Instead of seven councilmen in
every city, there is to be councilman
from every ward, and one elected at
large. who shall be president of the
council. Then where public lighting
plant or a waterworks Is to be con-
structed, it will require three-fifths of
the people instead of majority, as at
first provided.
JUST TWO CLASSES.
In the bill originally all franchises
that were sought to be granted by the
council had to be left to ratification
by the people at the polls. Yhis has
been eliminated. Councils, instead of
directors of safety will elect the health
boards. This effects the larger cit
les. The maximum population of viii
lagos is placed at 5000 instead of
5000. There are to be but two class
es, villages and cities.
II lie not meant that the report of
the bill to the house indicates that the
committee is for It. 1t was seen that
In order to accomplish anything with
II It must get before the house at an
carly date. The amendments will be
studied during the week. and 1t is ex-
peeted that a vote will be reached
by the latter part Of next week. In
the meantime Senator Writ will see
that NO action is taken on the abortiye
attempt at pleasing the people OF
Youngstown and Akron with the
measure that the representatives
from Summit and Mahoning worked
through the lower house.