The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-03-11


general assembly was practically fin
ished today. While the senate fulmi
mated over minor items in the appro.
priation bill, the lower house was en-
gagged in that form of legislative
housecleaning known as clearing UP
the calendar"
Therefore the moment has arrived
to point out what sort of scratch
the present legislature has made on
the tablets of history. From close
viewpoint 1t would seem that the
18th assembly is rather more marvel
Gus for the things it has not done
than for those which it has accomp.
lished.
Three hundred and eigbty-f1ve bills
were presented to the legislature for
passage from January 4, when the
session was called to order, until
yesterday, when the last one was in
troduced. One score and few odd
have been enacted into law; a great
many more have been killed by slow
suffocation, violence or otherwise
but the vast majority have proven to
be stili-born, and have not lived be-
yond the time Of their assignment to
committee.
The Rathburn quadrennial appraise-
ment bill, one of immediate and wide
general Interest, was made into law
today. 1t provides for the assessment
of real estate for taxation every four
years, beginning next year, the work
to be done by board Of five apprais
srs. This does away with the decen-
nial appraisement
The really important bills which
passed, in addition to those which
went through today, are these:
The Dean character bill, providing
for a strict examination Of saloon
keepers as to their moral record and
the revocation of their license in case
that record proves to be bad. This
bill was amended by the temperance
cation of orders for alcoholic drinks
in counties voted dry and the "wets"
though under protest, accepted the
scheme.
The Mooney bill, which permits the
people of the state to call a conven-
ton for the revision of the constitu-
tion, is quiet measure which never
theiess may result in more than a !
little excitement when the time comes
for the fruition of the idea.
The Ritter bill for the remodeling
OF the penitentiary, which finally be-
came law yesterday, is the step de-
Cided on by the legislature in answer
TO the appeals of many years for
penitentiary which will not be a tu-
berculosis pesthouse. Steel cells will
be substituted for the germ-ridden old
ones, and infirm convicts will be given
liberty of a sort and wholesome work
on the prison farm at Morgan Station.
The Langdon bill providing a pris-
on sentence for illegal sellers OF CO.
caine Is step which has been urged
by Juvenile courts, the heads of char.
liable homes and humanitarians gen
orally, particularly in Cleveland,
where the cocaine evil overtops, in
way, almost any other assailant of
youth
The Calvey bill, forbidding the en-
ployment of women over machinery
where emery dust gets into their
lungs Is one of those urged by the
hnti-tuberculosis societies, and though
opposed, 1t passed both houses by
practically unanimous vote.
The Mendelson bill for the medical
inspection of school children is an
other fruit of the medical crusade
Which has found It's greatest strength
IN the Cuyahoga delegation.
Among the bills Of lesser general
interest which were passed are the
following:
BY Kirkpatrick, permitting wives to
testify against their husbands in
cases of neglect of family and deser.
tfon.
By Vaughan, fixing the mileage oil
members Of the legislature at 2 cents
the round trip once a week during
the session.
BY Grinnell, establishing a perma-
nent headquarters for the G. A. r. in
Columbus.
BY Norris, providing for two state
inspectors of high schools to ascertain
II the tuition is up to the standard.
By Gilligan, allowing municipalities
to Issue bonds to build free lodging
houses.
BY Schaeter, permitting the state
to purchase the site of the ColIinwood
school disaster, 70 hold forever in
memorial of the children who burned
to death there year ago.
BY Thompson, providing heavy pen
alties against those who reveal tele-
phone conversations overheard in
eavesdroppins; passed yesterday.
BY MendelsOn, allowing the grantal
of franchises for the building of sub.
ways and elevated lines in Ohio. up-
on vote Of the people in a referendum
like that which Cleveland enjoyed last
October.
By Tuttle. allowing public schools
TO give free courses In agriculture and
trades.
BY Mathews. boosting Bill Miller's
salary $1,000 year. Bill Miller is AZ.
sistant attorney general.
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Death Won In Race.
A race In an effort TO save a human