The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-10
GOVERNOR is AGAINST LOBBY
Herrick's Message Denounces Men
Responsible for Milking Bills
That Make Trouble.

The seventy-seventh General As
sembly of Ohio convened January !,
the House being organized by the Re
publicans, who have 62 votes against
SO for the Democrats, and the Senate
being organized by the Democrats,
who have 10 votes, counting one Inde-
pendent. Senator Lamb OF Lucas
county, who voted with them, against
Is for the Republicans.
Lieutenant Governor Harding pre-
sided in the Senate. He Will be sue
ceeded January s as President Of the
Senate by Andrew l.. Harris, Re-
publican Lieutenant Governor-elect.
All the Democratic caucus nomina-
tions in the Senate and all the Repub-
lican caucus nominations In the
House we're ratified.
Carmi A. Thompson Of Lawrence
county was elected Speaker OF the
House, and In accepting the honor de-
clared economy is to be the watch
word.
The sentiment of the speeches made
in both branches was that PARTISAN
ship should be avoided in legislation;
that economy should be practiced in
public expenditures; and that all
forms of graft and corruption should
be eliminated.
The governors message was read
this afternoon. Speaking of the state
canals, he says.
II will not do to go on forever de-
claring for the maintenance of what
we ironically call our water ways"
and the permit them to sink gradual
ly into worse and worse condition of
ruin and wretchedness. If the peo-
pie want to keep them, the duty is
plain and the way Is clear The state
cannot both maintain and abandon
the canals, what 1t has been trying
to do for many years.
] most earnestly recommend the
abolishment of the lobby in Ohio. 1t
Is neither possible nor desirable to
isolate members of the general as
sembly from the people 1t is right
and proper that executive and admin
istrative officers of the state, who are
| the servants of the people, should
| keep In close touch with the members
of the legislature in order to ascer-
tain and carry out their wishes. 1t is
necessary and desirable that the pub
lie at large. or any citizens who are
! specially interested in some subject
of legislation, should have full oppor-
| tunity to appear before the proper
committees in either house to be pub
| licly heard on any matter affecting
the welfare of the state, of the inter-
ests of any business or class Of people.
But beyond these limitations all con-
tact between Legislators and outsiders
in the work of legislation should be
stopped
There is a creature, however. who
more richly deserves the scorn and
/ contempt OF men than the lobbyist.
| 1t is he who is responsible for the
| so-called "milking bills" introduced
for the purpose of extorting money
from special interests. He it is who
often brings the lobbyists in self-de-
! fense to the legislature.
The Governor recommends addi-
| tional legislation to protect life and
| property in mines insofar as the same
| Is required by the modern methods
employed in such industries; that au-
| thority be given to the Diary and Food
Commissioner to enforce the poison
and cocaine laws; the enactment of
laws to foster and preserve the rapidly
diminishing forest areas Of the State.