The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-24
TOM JOHNSON'S
MEASURES ARE IN
One Of the I'm porta Mt Bills Pro-
vides for Submitting Applica-
tions for Public Franchise
to Popular Vote.
BY Der E. WILLIAMSON.
(staf Correspondent.D


(Staff Correspondent
Columbus, Jan. Elf the theory
that great minds operate more slowly
than minds that are composed of more
fiabby material, holds good, the legis-
lature of Ohio consists of nothing but
giant intellects. 1t took all Tuesday
forenoon to get started, though there
was no business to be transacted but
what was In sight. In the afternoon,
however. the flood gates were opened
and the bills poured in. They came so
fast that it was impossible for the clerk
to read all of them, and he skipped sec
tions here and there. Before the roll
of counties was concluded, and before
Stark county was reached, a motion to
recess till Wednesday morning was in
terposed, because so many measures
had been offered that the printer would
not have time to set them in type nor
get them printed for the calendar, and
the clerks would hardly have time to
Htuule lHc HOOu Oh matter.
ANARCHY DEFINED.
An important matter introduced was
the bill defining anarchy. 1t makes
an anarchist of any fellow who, with
one man or set of them or an organ
ization, attempts to subvert the opera
tions of the government of the state or
nation, and puts penalty of not more
than 80 years and not less than ten
years in the penitentiary, on anachists,
and denies them the right of citizenship
forever after.
A measure making it an offense to
make street railway men work more
than ten hours to get days pay, was
presented, and another making it COM
pulsory on the part of all electric roads
to equip cars with air brakes, was in
troduced.
Representative Williams, Of Mahon-
ing, got in his bills fixing the life PEN
atty on burglary of an occupied dwell
ing and amending the fellow servants
law, so that servant injured by the
neglect OF a fellow servant, may re-
cover from the company.
WILHELM'S LITTLE VICTORY.
In the senate Senator Writ opposed
Senator Wilhelms bill to admit James
N. Nay, of Beach City, to the Gallipolis
epileptic asylum. The ground was
that Mahoning county cannot get some
epileptics in because of already having
her quota and it was thought Stark
ought to be considered IN the same
light. BY close vote, Wilhelm won
out.
Tom Johnson's bills came in when
county was reached. There
were lot of local bills. of no special
interest throughout the state, and be-
tween them were interpolated bills
with reference to the street railways.
One of them calls for the elimination
of the consent of property owners
when franchises are wanted, and pro-
vides also for the elimination of the so
years franchise clause. One of the
important features of bill introduced
during Tuesday afternoon was that
whenever franchise Is granted by
council. it must be submitted to vote
of the people before it is legal This
applies to every road in the state. 1t
also fixes a 2 cent fare per mile.
COMMISSIONS LARGE POWERS.
The big bill was the one that was
in this correspondence sew
eral days ago. to change the method
of fixing the taxable value of railroads
In the state. 1t provides that the gov
ernor, the attorney general, the auditor
of state and the commissioner of rail-
roads shall do the assessing and shall
have power to make any inquiry neces-
sary to secure information concerning
ghe value of holdings of steam and cleo
tric railways.
The commission is given power to
subpoena anyone 1t desires, from the
president of the concern to the lowest
employe and make them bring in any
books or papers necessary to allow the
commission the means of ascertain
ing exact selling values.
ON CORPORATIONS
Another bill with Johnson color to
it. provides means of getting state
ments from and ascertaining all facts
relative to corporations holding public
or quasi-public grants. 1t provides
that subpoenas may be issued and per-
sons may be compelled to show every
book of the concern so as to give all
the details necessary. These bills all
went over to the proper committees,
where they will be considered. There
are other Johnson bills to come, cover
ing every point In the effort to obtain
equitable taxation.
BER 10. WILLIAMSON.
& rNnK ur,rIu,p Dorrru