The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1904-03-17
CHAPMAN BILL PASSED
Spring Elections Abolished In
the Buckeye State.
RICKETTS, RESOLUTION ALSO PASSED

Radical Change Made In the Election
Laws Of Ohio by the Action of the
State Legislature-Full Text of the
Resolution and the Abolition Dill,
with Brief Comment Thereon.
There will be no more spring elec.
tions in the municipalities and town
ships Of Ohio. The passage by the
Ohio legislature of the Ricketts, reso-
luton and the Chapman bill makes
a radical change in the election laws
of the state. The Ricketts, resolution
goes to the people for approval and
the Chapman bill has been signed
by the governor aud made law.
The Chapman bill is, as its title dis
closes, a bill to abolish spring elec-
tions. BY the passage of the Chap
man bill all spring elections are abol-
ished, and there will be no election
In April this year, as has been the
long.standing custom. BY the provis-
ions of the bill city councilmen hold
over until January, 1905, when half
the members will be succeeded by
members elected this fall. The other
half of the membership retain their
seats until Jan. /, 1906. Mayors and
and other elective city and village of
f1cers, instead Of retiring in May, 1906,
will hold over until January, 1906,
when they will give way to their
successors, who will be chosen in No
vember, 1905.
The Ricketts, resolution provides
for the submission to vote Of the
people of a proposed amendment to
the constitution, giving biennial elec-
tions, so that national state and coun-
~ elections may be held in the fall
of one year and the municipal elec-
tions in the fall of the next year, the
elections so alternating as to prevent
the balloting for municipal officials at
the same time of any other.
II the Ricketts, amendment, by any
mischance, should not be adopted in
November, 1905, the repeal Of the
Chapman bill by the Legislature which
meets in January, 1906, probably
would follow.
The provisions of the Chapman bill
are as follows:
ABoLlsHEs SPRING ELECTIONS.
Provisions of the Chapman Bill Just
Enacted Into Law.
To amend sections 4S3, SGT, 5S1 and
1442 of the revised statutes of Ohio
and sections 222 and 223 of an act
entitled IAN act to provide for the
organization of cities and incorpor-
sted villages, and to restrict their
powers of taxation, assessment bor-
rowing money, contracting debts
and loaning their credit so as to
prevent the abuses of such powers,
as required by the constitution OF
Ohio, and to repeal all sections of
the revised statutes inconsistent
herewith" passed Oct. %, 1902, re-
lating to the time and manner of
holding elections and of beginning
the terms of justices of the peace,
officers Of township, villages and
cities and to the election and term
Of Office of superior court judges.
Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of the State of Ohio:
Section l. That sections 483, SGT,
6S1 and 1442 of the revised statutes
of Ohio, and sections 222 and 223 of
an act entitled "An act to provide for
the organization of cities and incor-
porated villages, and to restrict their
powers of taxation, assessment. bor-
rowing money, contracting debts and
loaning their credit so as to prevent
the abuses of such powers, as required
by the constitution of Ohio, and to re-
peal all sections of the revised stat
Oct. 20, 1902, be amended SO as to
read as follows:
Ses. 4S3. The judges of the super
for court shall severally hold their
Office for five years, and shall be
elected by the electors of the city of
Cincinnati on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday of November of each
year preceding that in which the term
Of any Of said judges expires,
and the terms of said judges shall be-
gin on the first Monday in January
following said election; and in case
the Office of any one of the judges
becomes vacant before the expiration
Of the regular term for which he was
elected, or in case a vacancy shall
happen by any change now or here
after made by law in the date of
electing such judges, the vacancy
shall be filed by appointment by the
governor, and the judge so appointed
shall hold his Office until his success
sor, elected at the next regular elec-
tion occurring more than 30 days there
after, shall qualify; provided, how
ever, that the Judge of said superior
court elected at the November elec-
ton In 1904 shall hold his office until
the first Monday in January, 1903;
the Judge elected on the first Monday
IN April, 1902, shall hold his office
until the first Monday in January,
1907; and the Judge elected on the
first Monday in April, 1903, shall hold
his Office until the first Monday In
January, 1908.
Sec. $751; When a vacancy occurs
In the office of justice of the peace in
any township In the state, either by
death, removal, absence at any one
time for the space Of six months, res
ignation, refusal to serve, or other
wise, the trustees, having notice
thereof shall. within ten days from
and after such notice. fill any such
vacancy by appointing a suitable and
qualified resident of the township who
shall serve as Justice until the next