The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-06-11
CAMPAIGN BY
THE PEOPLE
To Secure Adoption Of Proposed
Amendments to OhiO's
Constitution.
TAXATION QUESTION IMPORTANT

State Board Of Commerce Starts
Movement to Make Ohio the Best
State In the Union In Which to
Earn a Living, to Operate a Busl'
ness, to Own Property-How Cam
paisn 10 to Be Conducted and Why
Every Voter Should Cast His Ballot
In Favor Of the Amendments.
The General Assembly has submit.
ted to the voters for adoption at the
election to be held Noy. 3, 1908, three
amendments to the State Constitution,
the adoption Of each of which is OF
vital importance to the progress, pros.
perity and common good Of all the
people of Ohio.
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENTS.
The purpose of these amendments
iS as follows:
l. To permit the passage of a bill
over the Governors veto by a vote of
two-thirds Of the members-elect Of the
General Assembly.
Explanation: AS the constitution
now stands bill to be passed over
the Governors veto must receive not
less than the same number of votes it
received on its original passage. I'm
der this rule the loss Of one vote
would prevent the passage OF Q bill
over the Governors veto.
2. To fix the date for conVening
the regular sessions of each General
Assembly on the first Monday In Janu-
ary next after 1t Is elected.
Explanation: The constitution now
provides that the members of the Cen
eral Assembly shall be elected In the
sVen-numbered years and that the reg
ular session shall convene on the first
Monday In January In the even-num.
bered years. II the pending amend
ment Is not adopted the General AS
sembly elected in November, 1908, will
have to be convened In extraordinary
ceSsiOn in January, 1908, for the pur-
pose of electing UnitSG States sena-
tor to succeed Senator Joseph B. For
Rker. whose term expires March 4,
1909. 1t will also have to be convened
In regular session in 1910. as required
by the constitutional provision 1t is
sought to amend.
A new General Assembly will be
elected in November, 1910. That Gen.
eral Assembly will have to be con.
vened In extraordinary session in jan
uary, 1911, for the purpose Of elect.
iLg a United States senate" to sue
ceed Senator Charles Dick, whose
term expires March 4. 1911. 1t will
also have to be convened in regular
session in 1912 as required by the con-
stitutional provision 1t is sought to
Gmend
There will be session of the Cen
eral Assembly In 1909, 1910, 1911 and
1912 unless the pending constitutional
amendment is adopted. II 1t is adopt
ed the sessions In 1910 and 1912 can
be avoided. The expense Of these ses-
sionS will be saved for the taxpayers.
The people Of the state will secure a
corresponding rest from the many agi-
tationS incident to session Of the
General Assembly.
3. To classify the subjects Of taxa
ton in order to secure a just return
from each.
Explanation: This amendment does
not make 1t necessary to change any
law now on the statute books. 1t does
not grant any authority for the ex-
emption Of any property now taxable.
It provides the only way in which the
demand for the taxation Of public
bonds now exempt may be satisfied.
1t provides the only way In which
greater equality in the burdens Of tax
ntion can be secured: the only way by
means of which methods cen be de-
Vised to obtain a just return from the
owners of franchises, stocks, bonds
and other intangible property.
Its real purpose is to siVe power to
the General Assembly to revise the
laws of the stste as changes in condi
tions, experience and reason may from
time to time show to be necessary for
the promotion Of the general welfare.
This amendment was drafted and
proposed by the tax commission ap-
pointed by Governor Harris to investi-
gate the subject of state and local
taxation In Ohio. In transmitting this
report to the General Assembly, Gov.
ernor Andrew L. Harris endorsed its
recommendations in the following
words:
Il heartily endorse the recommen'
dations made by the commission and
especially It's proposed amendment to
Article XII, Section 2 of the Constitu-
tion."
CONSTITUTIONAL AMkh1MEhTsj
nEEEArEn nv MEGI ENT rN