The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-01-21
DROP FIGHT ON
SENATOR BAKER
Cincinnatian to Retain Fin
ance Craftsmanship.
LONG SESSION PREDICTED

Governor Harmon Sends Message to
General Assembly Advising Re-
sumption of Probe at Cincinnati,
and Also That Authorized Investi-
cation at Cleveland Begn-Repre-
sentative Reed introduces First An
ti-Salocn Leagus Measure.
Columbus, o., Jan. 2O.-Indications
now point to a lengthy session of the
general assembly. the committee of
the whole of the senate having failed
to reach an agreement as to a long
or snort session and referred the
Mather resolution, making final adj
journment Feb. 10, to the judiciary
committee, where it is expected to
sleep itself to death.
The Republican members of the
senate opposed to Senator Thorne
Baker as chairman of the finance
committee, have evidently given up
their fight to rescind the action
whereby the report of the committee
on committees was Endorsed. The
Democratic members of the senate
caucused and decided to stand pat on
their, acton taken in voting for
Baker.
A large number of bills were intro
duced in the house and it is Known
that many more are in course of
preparation by members of both
houses, which adds to the belief that
the session will be prolonged.
In his first message to the general
assembly Governor Harmon urges
that the probing of municipal affairs
in Cincinnati, twice Interrupted by
the courts, be completed. and that
the investigation of charges of al
legged irregularities at Cleveland, au-
thorized by the last legislature but
never started, be commenced. He
also wants the Howe senate commit
tees investigation of state depart
ments carried to a conclusion.
In addition the governor would
have the legislature make amend
ments to the present laws so as, to
give him full power to investigate at
any time any state department and to
make appropriation making this law
effective.
Changes in the state depository law
so as to compel the letting of the
funds by competitive bids is asked.
In the place of the present several
state taxation boards made up of ex-
officio of different state officials, the
governor recommends that a separate
board of three members be created
who shall have charge of all state
taxation matters, such as the excise,
Willis taxes, etc., and have general
supervision of corporations, their
charters and amendments thereto.
A law is requested compelling all
the state departments and institu-
tons to keep an inventory of their
property,Aa thing that has never been
done.
The governor closes his message
with a recommendation that the GEN.
tennial anniversary of Lincoln, Feb.
II, 1909, be made a legal holiday,
that the anniversary be not made an
annual holiday because of its prox-
unity to that of Washington.
The first of theAnti-Saloon leagues
temperance measures of this session
was introduced in the house by Reed
of Wood county. It provides against
the sale of intoxicants in any place
where there is gambling, vaudeville,
boxing, or in any theater; against all
screens, stalls or separate apart
ments, and that no liquor shall be
sold within 500 feet of a school,
church or factory. The penalty is
putting the offender permanently out
Of the saloon business, together with
a fine of from 500 to $500.
Representative Crist also intro
duced bill forbidding the soliciting
of orders for liquor in any dry COM
munity and empowering the common
pleas judge, prosecutor, mayor or city
solicitor to appoint secret service
men to investigate offenses.
In the batch of bills which went in
the house there were five relating to
mileage allowances. Large drafts
made by members of the assembly
last spring, which aroused much crit
icism at the time, are responsible for
the array of new bills providing for
mileage. One, introduced by Mr..
Bense of Ottawa, will compel mem
bers to make statements at the close
of the session that they did not ride
on passes. In all the bills introduced
the allowance is 2 cents a mile.