The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-10-09
Columbus Gossip
GRO. r. BLAkR.
(ata2 Corrsspondsnt.)
n oLUMBUs, O., Oct. s.-The ACTOR

n OLUMBUS, o., Oct. 8.-The acton
u of the supreme court in sustaining
the validity of the Longworth law re-
garding the submission of the constitu-
tional amendments to the electors, II
is believed, makes certain the adoption
of the amendment abolishing the dou-
BILE liability of stockholders In Ohio
corporations and the amendment maxi
ing each county a legislative district.
II will probably enhance the chances
of the amendment clothing the gover-
nor with veto power. The suit to test
the law was brought by Attorney Gem
eral Sheets at the instance Of Governor
Nash and Secretary of State Laylin, in
the hope that the law would be an
nulled, in which event the amendments
would be printed on separate ballot,
In conformity with the law which has
been on the statute books for years,
which method, in their opinion, would
enable the voters to express their pref
erences more intelligently. The rela-
tive merits of the two acts did not en-
ter into the case, however, the ques-
ton of the constitutionality of the new
law alone receiving the consideration
of the court. While the amendments
will not appear on separate ballot,
they will be placed in separate col
umn, and as pains will be taken to ex-
plain the manner in which they should
be voted upon, 1t does not seem prob
able that there will be much blunder-
ing. The action of the court largely
augments the work of the force Of the
secretary of state. Constitutional
amendments have never been submit
ted before as provided for in the Long
worth act, and change in instructions
to election officers will be necessary.
New questions will be presented, which
will demand much attention by the
secretary of state. The Republican
state convention endorsed the stock
liability, veto and single legislative dis
trict amendments. They simply COM
mended the taxation amendment for
the consideration of the voters. The
ShuoiSSN hhS
legislative and taxation amendments.
II was due to the efforts of Hon. II.
H. McFadden, of Steubenville, more
than to any other person that the
amendment making each county sin
gle legislative district was endorsed
by the Democratic state convention.
After the proposition had been prac-
tically killed Mr. McFadden mounted
the platform and made strong speech
fayoring endorsement of the amend
ment. The chairman put the ques-
tion to yive voce vote and declared 1t
lost.
Mr.. McFadden took exceptions to the
ruling and demanded that the roll of
counties be called Gil the proposition.
This was allowed, and when the result
was announced it was found the en-
dorsement motion had carried by nice
majority.
Another important decision was
handed down by the supreme court. 1t
was in the case brought by Prosecutor
Gallinger, of Crawford county, to test
the legality of the voluntary relief de-
partment of the Pennsylvania railroad.
The circuit court of that county held
that it was illegal, but the decision of
the highest court reverses this ruling,
declaring the department to be valid.
This is the second time the supreme
court has upheld it.
A summary of the fees received by
the officials Of Cuyahoga county filed
with the auditor of state shows that
the Office of auditor of that county is
more remunerative berth than the pres
idency of the United States. The fees
of the auditor for the year ending the
first Monday in September reached the
enormous sum of S51, ,3i0.S1. The fees
of the treasurer amounted to about
$40, 900 and the sheriff $4,000.
Had Auditor Wright, of Cuyahoga
county, been successful in mis- fight to
have $5,000,000 added to the taxes OF
the Cleveland public service corpora
tons he would have received an addi-
tional fee of 100000.