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

|
the other has passed that stage, and
j those accused of violating the anti
trust law, will soon have the oppor-
tunity to explain why their charters
should not be revoked.
The first mentioned alleged unlaw-
/ full combination Is the bridge trust,
which may also come In for legis-
lative inquiry. steps to that end hav-
ing already been taken. Tho second
is the Ohio Wholesale Groeers' AS
| sociasion Company; the third is the
Standard Oil Company, upon which
| tn attorney general will soon turn
his searchlight. In few days he will
J confer with Attorney General Hadley,
of Missouri, anc go over the testimony
which he obtained in Cleveland last
week against the Standard and Repub-
| lie Oil Companies. AS Hadley said he
obtained evidence 10 oust the Republic
from his state, it is believed that Ell
! lis will find sufficient grounds to begin
: custer proceedings against the Stand
ard in Ohio.
The alleged bridge trust has been in
dicted in q number of counties
throughout the state, on charges of
violations of the antitrust laws,
| Complaint against the Wholesale
Grocers' Association was made by the
higgins Company, wholesale grooers
OF this city and is directed not only
against the alleged trust but also
against the Arbuckles.
The legislative visit to various state
! institutions is not to be a junket this
year. Chairman Baldwin, of the house
finance committee, has decided that
sweeihearts, wives and daughters can't
go along, and there is to be no private
| car.
The committee will devide into four
parts, and start Tuesday to inspect
16 institutions.
Two years ago the inspection was
social event OF great cost to Ohio
taxpayers. Several members took their
| families. With porters and pages.
the outfit numbered n.
Representative Hiram S. Bronson,
member from Franklin county, has
called upon Attorney General Ellis to
render an opinion on the constitution
ality of a proposed law to pay the
railroad fare of members to and from
! their homes to Columbus several times
month during the session of the
| general assembly. The matter has
been considered and the statement was
made that such an act would be un-
contitutional and Ellis was appealed
to for for an opinion,
| In case it is found that the rail-
road fare of the members can be pa d
from the contingent fund Mr.. Bronson
will introduce the bill to pay the ex-'
penses.
Three penitentiary convicts have
been granted patent on a device for
| the holding together of railroad rails.
: The device is said to be a good one,
and prominent busine1s men have the
invention under advisement, and
there is strong probability of its be-
ing taken up and placed upon the mar
ket.
Senator Lamb is considering the
idea of Offering a resolution providing
for constitutional convention be-
fore the next session of the general
assembly, two years hence, believing
that there is much need of revision
of the constitution, and that more
1 III 10 lia
! crue in this manner than from the
submission of so many constitutional
/ amendments.
Within The last few years there have
been number of constitutional
| amendments submitted to the vote of
the people, some of which have been
adopted, some defeated The present
general assembly is endeavoring to
load down the ballot at the next gen.
eral election with a number of others.
! This condition of affairs leads Senator
Lamb to believe that the time is ripe
for another constitutional convention.
One of the principal reasons for the
proposal, however, Is that the senator
believes that it will be impossible to
enact satisfactory and valid salary
law under the present conitution.
With trifie more elasticity in the
constitution relative to this particular
feature 1t would be easily possible. for
the people of the STATE are generally
lined up in the demand for county
salary legislation.
What will the week in the Ohio leg
islature bring forth?
1t may be said with some confidence
that it will bring forth 2-cent rail-
road fare measure, or rough house
4 1t will also bring forth some other
important legislative matters, but the
2-cent fare bill, hasint' already passed
the senate, is the only piece of import
ant legislation that is likely to be en-
-LaA .l.-e. L.. 4 !.