The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-01-11
CANAL LEGISLATION.
REPORTED THAT GOV. PATTIsoN
WILL FOLLOW GOV. HERRicK's
PATH AS REGARDS TO 1T.
WEEKLY COLUMBUS LETTER.
Gov. Pattison Continues to Make
His Appointments Wholly Inde-
pendent Of Political InfIu-
ence or Dictation.

Announcement Is made through ap-
parently authoritative sources that
Gov. Pattison will follow in the path
of Gov. Herrick as regards canal legis-
lation. Gov. Pattison is staunch
friend Of the waterways and will veto
any legislation which looks toward
the sale or abandonment of canal
property. Several bills, looking to
such action, are being prepared, one
by Representative F. e. Demuth, of
Paulding. 1t Is not improbable that
Gov. Herrick's suggestion to submit
the proposition to a popular vote, by
means of a resolution to amend the
constitution to permit bond issues
sufficient for the complete rehabilita-
tion Of the canal system, will ultimate
ly be adopted. In connection with the
canals there is one thing likely to be
brought about by legislation this win
ter-the abolishment of the state
canal commission. This commission
has had under its direction the sur
vey and reclaiming of state lands
along all the canals, and they have
accomplished much good for the state,
In many instances reclaiming lands
that have been devoted to private
uses for two score years. Their work
however is about completed, and It is
believed that in future the state board
of public works can handle the duties
with less expense to the state. Friends
Of the canals. though, are not wholly
convinced that this is not a step in
spired by persons with designs upon
the canal properties.
There promises to be lively fight
over the inheritance tax law, the re-
tention of which Gov. Herrick urged
In his message to the general assem-
bly,. IL was the governors pet meas
ure two years ago, and though It con-
tributed much toward his defeat, he
still maintains that the principle is
right.
Half dozen members of the house,
republicans and democrats alike, have
declared their intention of introducing
bills providing for its repeal. Only
one member, Senator Duval, OF JEFF
ferson, has so far declared for the
measure, and his support is condition
al that the exemption be raised from
$4,000 to $4,000. "The principle is
right" he says, "and Il is that for
which / am proposing to fight. The
$4,000 limit is too low, but a $4,000
limit will make the law apply where
1t was intended, to those wealthy men
who have added much to their for
tunes by tax lodging and investment
In non-taxable securities" Senator
Duval will also take up with the at
torney general the question of the
possibility of enacting a law which
will impose a tax upon property dis
tributed in anticipation of death with
a view to evadlng the operation of the
inheritance tax law. Since the law
became effective there have been nu-
merous instances of this sort by which
the state has suffered.
The fate of the GS recess appoint
ments made by Gov. Herrick Is a mat
ter of much interest just now. When
the appointments were reported to the
senate by the governor last week they
were referred TO the various senate
standing committees, which will de
! lay action upon them until Gov. Pat
lson shall have had time to signify
his desires regarding them. What the
rovernor has in mind he alone knows.
senator Williams, of Cuyahoga, who
offered the resolution making this
committee reference possible, said
ifterward that there were some of the
appointments he would vote to con-
irm. He made no designations, how
ever. His vote, with the republican
combined strength, would be sufn-
,lent to confirm. Senator Lamb, in
dependent, is also an uncertain GUAM
ity in this connection. Lamb ex-
planned his vote on the senate organi-
:ation by the statement that he had
ilways been a democrat and his SYM
)athies were naturally with Gov Pat
ison's administration. Whether this
same tendency will apply toward the
'ecess appointments Is yet to be de-
ieloped. Lamb will not discuss Il,
urther than to say that he will vote
rs he thinks best.
Already the effort for a universal
primary election law is deyeloping.
Senator Huffman has introduced a
primary election bill providing for
ONT primaries on the first Saturday
September preceding the Novem-
per election, at which all candidates
or boards of education, representa-
ives to the general assembly, com
non pleas judges In counties making
me division, county, municipal
md township officers, and members
f the party county central commit
ees, shall be selected. All candidates
before such primaries shall be nomi.
lated by petitions bearing at least 8
Ter cent of the party vote of at least
'ne-siXth Of the election precincts in
he district, based upon the vote of
he last preceding election. Polls
'halrbe open from $50 a. m. to 4 d.
n. One objection to Huffman's bill
s that 1t is provided that any party
nay have a separate labeled party
ballot on which the names of a slate
made ticket may appear, to the detri-
nent Of any candidates who may dare
oppose the party machine.
Senator Williams disappointed many
| legislators with his bill to extend the
erms of the general assembly mem
lers to three years by fixing no re-
nuneration for the third year II
teens assured that they will not be
lble to collect for that year. Article
, section 81, of the state constitution,
provides that no change in their com
Iensation shall take effect during
heir term of office, ard In this case
hey were elected for a term of three
ears, under the constitutional amend
nent.