The Columbus journal., 1903-03-04

Linoolh Letter.
Especial CousspoodsnceJ
Among tho standing committees dur
ing The pest veek the principal interest
he's oeutecsd around the proposed sle-
vator bills and tho investigation Of tele-
phone rates. After several hearings, the
Ramsey elevator bill, house roll 20. has
been recommended for passage, with
some slight ameudments. In the mean
time tho committee to investigate tele-
phone rates hes had several very warm
meetings, and at this date hes come to
no ds6nite conclusion. The evidence -
to tho expense Of conducting . telephone
business has been most startling in its
variance, and it is probable that further
svidsoce will b heard during the week.
In the strife % to whether tho independ-
ent lines shall b allowed to establish
toll stations in the large cities, the
special telsphone committee seems to
have lined up With tho old line company.
Tho joint resolution calling for con-
stitutional convention has passed the
senate by . unanimous vote. and is nov
in tho hands Of tho house committee. 1t
IL said that il will receive considerable
opposition in tho house, and may not
pass. The statement recently made that
tho governor 10 opposed to the idea OF q
convention may have some effect in 10
tarding tho resolution. There arc many
who advocate the adoption Of amend
ments, instead Of calling . convention,
on account Of The expense which would
b incurred by tho convention. Others,
however. point to tho fact that in the
last dozen years the state has spent
$4,000 attempting to adopt amend
ments, and failing in each case.
Interesting bills recently introduced
in tho senate: 179, providing penalty
Of not more than three years in the peui-
tentiary or fine not exceeding q, ,O0Ofor
the crime Of deseftiou Of minor children
BY parents; 18l, changing the registra-
tion law to permit voters to register at
the Office Of the city clerk on any day
during the month preceding the election;
l8s, amending the pharmacy law in
regard to registered pharmacists; 1S4,
permitting tho hooking or seining Of fish
in tho Missouri river ut any season OF the
year; 1888, providing that road tax in
counties not under township organiza-
ton be paid half in labor and half in cash.
interesting house bills: go and 2Sl,
to prevent fraud or counterfeiting in the
handling Of railroad tickets; 265, provid-
ing for lien on grain for the threshing
or Smelling bill; 269. to regulate the use
and prevent injury to bridges and public
highways; go, to compel the cutting
and trimming Of hedges along public
roads; 3Ol, to provide for the full width
Of public roads; 3l3, making tho birth
days Of Mckinley and Lincoln and alag
day" public holidays.
Up to date the senate has passed 81
bills and killed IL. The house has passed
% and killed 20. The senate has 38 bills
on general file ready for consideration
and tho house has 40. The number OF
bills that pass both houses is usually
about l1O.
Morris Of Pawnee has introduced . bill,
senate file go. that IL passed will work q
hardship on the members OF tho average
county board, city council and school
board. The bill not only prohibits any
corporations, agent Of corporation or any
person who has or is about to have DEAL
ings with the board, from Offering to its
members treats Of any description, but it
makes it . penalty for the member to
accept such treat. The bill provides for
Q violation OF tho act fine of not less
than S, nor moro than IS, to be assess
ed against both eiver and taker. It also
provides that il . member is treated
twice he shall lose his Office.