Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-03-13
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE
What the state Lawmakers in Both
Branches Are Doing.


Republican state convention, the gen.
eral assembly resumed work Thursday
and number of important bills were
passed in both branches, AS soon as
the house convened attention was CIV
en- to the Collinwood school disaster.
A joint resolution by Mr.. Shankland
expressing to the citizens of Collin
wood the sincere sympathy of the gen.
eral assembly in the great calamity
that has befallen them, was intro
duced, adopted and messaged to the
senate, where it was also adopted.
The house passed three of the in
surance reform bills recommended by
the joint commission appointed at the
session two years ago. The bills pro-
vide standard forms for policies make
solicitors the agents of companies, and
prohibit misrepresentation by insur-
ance companies.
The senate passed the bill by Sena-
tor Russell of Shelby county enlarging
the powers of building and loan asso-
Citations. The bill was drafted and Is
indorsed by the State League of Build
ing and Loan Associations. Senator
Howe attacked the measure on the
ground that it gave such associations
the power to do a general banking
business without subjecting them to
| the same tax that is imposed upon
banks. The bill gives such associa-
tions the power to receive deposits
from and loan money ito other" than
members, loans to be made on such
| terms and securities as the directors
may determine.
Under the present law only men,
bers can deposit or borrow money and
only mortgage security can be accept
ed. Senator Howe secured an amend
ment which prohibits the withdrawal
of money by check or draft.
Columbus, o.-All business was
set aside Friday by the Ohio
legislature until the matter of the re-
lief of the sufferers in the Collinwood
school horror was attended to. Twen-
ty-five thousand dollars was voted for
the relief of the sufferers. A commit
tee of three Collinwood citizens is to
be appointed to distribute the money,
! $100 for each child burned to death.
The committee appointed by the gov
ernor must organize in ten days and
complete its work in 60 days. The
governor signed the bill.
The house passed life insurance bills
as follows: Requiring separate an
nual statements of profits and losses
of participating and non-participating
business.
Regulating disbursements by life in
surance companies and preventing dis
bursements except on vouchers.
Prohibiting false statements of as
sets or financial standing of COM
panies.
Providing for annual standard valua-
tion of policies.
Permitting loans on perpetual lease
holds and exempting reserve from tax
alton.
Defining more accurately what con-
stitutes the surplus.
Permitting companies to value their
policies by table higher than the
4 per cent rate.
Prohibiting rebates or other discrim-
nations in favor of any policyholder.
The Drake bill to prevent fraud in
the sale of commercial fertilizers
passed the senate, but not until it had
been amended so as to provide lati-
tude of per cent from certified per-
centages of composition, and to make
the punishment for violation a fine of
from $50 to 5000 for the first offense
and 5000 to $500 for each subsequent
offense, or Imprisonment for six
months, or both.
The Neck bill revising the fee
grades in the compensation for men,
bers of boards of county school exam
iners was passed.
The bill to prevent the circulation
or publication of statements deroga-
tory to banks and financial concerns
was passed after Senator West had
secured an amendment providing that
to form violation of the law the false
report must be made knowingly and
maliciously.
Columbus, GA special message
from Gov. Harris recommend
ing an investigation of the bonds of
all the state officers, departments and
institutions, and reports froh the peni-
tentiary commission recommending
the erection of new prison at cost
of $2,600,000; from the state inspector
of workshops and factories recon-
mending legislation to prevent recur-
renee of such disasters as that in the
Collinwood school; and from the state
railway commission recommending
legislation to prevent grade crossing
accidents as a result of an investiga-
tion of the recent accident in Toledo,
were transmitted to the general as
sembly by the governor when it recon
vened Monday evening. The COVER
nor's message was the subject of a
brief debate in the house, where 1t
was referred to the finance committee
by strict party vote.
The house, by a vote of 81 to 81
took from the committee on elections
the DeMuth bill providing for the elec-
tion of United States senators by di-
rect vote of the people after the Ore
gon plan, and by a vote of 43 to AZ,
practically killed it by sending it to
the committee on federal relations.
A bill which has special bearing on
the Collinwood school disaster was in
troduced in the senate by Senator
Huffman of Butler county. The bill
provides that no school building shall
be erected in this state more than two
stories in height. All doors and stair.
ways shall be not less than eight feet
wide, and all doors shall open outward