Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-01-19
LEGISLATURE
Proceedings of the SOIOns
at Columbus.

Columbus, o., Jan. 12.-Brief ses-
sions were held Thursday by both
branches Of the general assembly. The
house simply met and adjourned until
to-day, but the senate was In session
for an hour and unanimously adopted
Senator Meek's joint resolution me-
moralizing congress to submit an
amendment to the federal constitution
providing for the election of United
States senators by direct vote OF the
people.
The motion to postpone considera-
tion of the resolution was defeated by
vote of 23 to IL and the resolution
was then adopted unanimously.
Senator Lamb, the Lucas county in
dependent, who is chairman Of the
senate committee on railroads and
telegraphs. has declared himself In
favor of a straight two-cent fare and
has a bill which he will introduce
next week.
Columbus, o., Jan. 16.-Both
branches of the general assembly con-
vened at p. m. Monday and large
number of bills were introduced. The
session of the senate was brief and
SohHucu W lhe lntlOuuCliOu VI DlliS,
but the session OF the house was en-
livened by controversy over the
resolution introduced by Mr..
O'Rourke, the Lucas county independ-
ent, which Commanded" Ohio's rep
resentatives in congress to support
such legislation for the regulation Of
railway rates as may be desired by
President Roosevelt. Mr.. O'Rourke
made speech IN support of his reso-
luton and urged that it receive i'm
mediate consideration.
Mr.. Eagleson, of Guernsey, the re-
publican floor leader, declared that
such a resolution was not opposed by
the republicans in the house, but that
there was no need for haste and Of
fered motion to refer the resolution
to the committee on railroads and
telegraphs.
The motion to refer was carried by
vote of so to Al, the house dividing
on strictly party lines, the independ-
ents voting with the democrats.
Two important bills were introduced
in the house by Mr.. Wertz, of Wayne
county. One of them provides for the
creation of state railroad commits
sion with rate making powers, and the
other provides for the employment of
convict labor on the roads of Ohio. Mr..
Wertz's railroad bill follows closely
the lines of the Hepburn bill introduc-
ed in congress. 1t provides for COM
mission of three members to be ap-
poirted by the governor for terms of
six years each. They are to receive a
salary of $4,000 each. The commits
sion Is to have a secretary who shall
receive salary Of $4,000 year. Ex-
press companies and interurban rail-
way come within the provision of the
bill. The commission Is to have the
power to fix reasonable rates upon in
vestigation of complaints and can en-
force it's orders under penalty of fine
OF from 500 to $4,000. Railroads
are given the right of appeal to the
circuit court.
Mr.. Wertz's bill providing for the
employment of convicts upon railroads
abolishes prison contract labor, but
protects all existing contracts. After
that the prisoners in the penitentiary
and reformatory are to be employed
In making tile and brick.
Columbus, o., Jan. 1.-THE house
yesterday disposed of the Farnsworth-
Paine election contest and Mr.. Paine
(republican), of Lucas county, retains
his seat by the unanimous vote of the
members.
The resolution introduced by Mr..
Yost, the minority leader in the
house, to add two members to the
committee on fees and salaries
stirred the members of that commit
tee to action. Rumors were circulated
that the committee was opposed to
county salary law and that this was
the occasion for Mr.. Yost's action.
The committee at a meeting yester-
day voted against the proposed in
crease in the number of members and
also went on record as favoring fair
salary law.
Two democratic senators, Messrs.
Ward, of Cuyahoga, and Hunt, of
Hamilton, voted with the republican
members and elected Randolph Wal
ton, republican, of Columbus, as sec
of the voters of the county.
Mr.. Rose, of Washington county, in
| troduced a county local option bill in
the senate. 1t provides that a com
mon pleas judge may order such an
election upon petition of % per cent.
of the voters of the country.
Two bills aimed to cure election
abuses were introduced in the house.
One by Mr.. Yost makes 1t felony
punishable by imprisonment from one
to three years in the penitentiary for
anyone to solicit any money, fee or
promise of reward from a candidate
for office. Candidates themselves are
also made amenable to the proposed
law. The bill Is aimed to prevent the
solicitation Of money under the guise
of charity. Another house bill by
Mr.. Hunt, Of Hamilton, prohibits cor
porations making campaign contribu-
tions under penalty of forfeiture of
charter and provides a fine of not ex-
ceeding $1,000 and Imprisonment not
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