The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-02-16

resolution was UNANIMOUSLY
adopted by the board of managers of
the Ohio penitentiary Friday after
neon protesting against the passage of
the proposed law abolishing capital
punishment, and expressing them
selves as strongly opposed to any
change whatevcr IN the present mode
of furnishing murdereds
Speaking of the boards action Sec
retary frank Cook said
There are at present in the peni-
tertiary about 200 life convicts. Most
of these men are held for murder, the
balance for burglarizing inhabited
dwellings and criminal assault. 70
abolish capital punishment and make
life imprisonment the severest penalty
for murder would make it possible for
life prisoners or desperate criminals
confined in Jail awaiting trial for
house burglary, or criminal assault, to
kill one or more guards, or officers in
an attempt to escape, or for revenge
and receive no punishment whatever
for the murders thus committed.
THE present bill as it has passed
the senate provides that man con-
victed of his second murder may be
legally executed. That is supposed to
be a protection to the prison guards,
but it does not protect them for the
reason that all life convicts are not
held for murder and such prisoners, if
the proposed law goes into effect,
could murder guard, or fellow pris-
oner for any reason without fear of
any punishment for the crime.
Representative Roberts of Cuyaho-
ga will offer a joint resolution for the
submission of a constitutional amend
ment to change the present system of
taxation. 1t will give the general as
sembly the power to classify subjects
Of taxation. The purpose of the pro-
posed amendment is to get at the
money on deposit in Ohio banks and
other forms of credits, such as bonds,
etc. He would lay a tax of one-quar-
ter or one-half of one per cent. upon
these, and says AN enormous revenue
would follow.
At present only $50 600 in cash
is returned in Ohio, and two banks in
Cleveland alone announce deposits OF
$S0, 900, 600.
Mr. Roberts will have the backing
of the state board of commerce.
State Game Warden j. C. Porter
field is against any law which will
prohibit the killing of quail, notwith-
standing the fact that several MEM
bers of the legislature, interested in
the preservation of the birds, have
proposed the enactment of statute
fOrbidding the hunting of quail for
from three to five years. Mr.. Porter
fields reason is that il hunters are
forbidden absolutely to kill quail, the
interest in their propagation, and the
importation into the state by private
individuals will cease entirely, as they
will then have no further interest in
whether there are any quail in Ohio
or not.
Senator Pollock of Stark county,
has introduced two bills in the inter-
est of the coal miners of Ohio. One
mines shall be insulated and that mo-
tor machinery shall be provided with
shields to protect the miners from in
jury and loss of life 1t provides a
penalty of $1O0 to $500
The second bill defines carelessness
in the operation Of coal mines, and
provides that where AN accident occurs
| no nf lofo hipa
or other causes, where complaint OF
such defects shall have been previous
| ly complained Of, such complaints
| shall be accepted in court as prima
facie evidence of guilty knowledge in
| suits to recover damages.
| Senator Hypes's salary bill for state
officials will be amended in two par
ticulsrs. One will provide that it shall
not apply TO existing terms upon
which state officials have entered, but
| shall apply to any extension OF these
terms. The second amendment pro-
posed will make it clear this salary
is in full payment for all services rem
dered. These amendments were de
| ny NIL ily PSF
after he had conferred with Attorney
General Ellis. Auditor of State Gil
bert, Secretary of State Laylin and
! Treasurer McKinnon.
Senator Hypes discussed with these
| gentlemen the terms of his proposed
bill fixing state salaries for all ap-
pointive officials, heads of state de
partments, such as insurance commits
sioner, fire marshall state inspector
of workshops and factories, adjutanr
general, commissioner of labor, state
librarian, secretary to the governor
etc.
If the hoQse concurs in the Huffman
bill passed in the senate, all disputes
in the future over the appointment o.
members of the deputy state super
yisors of elections, will be settled by
| the state central aoJnnaiff aae of th.