Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-02-25
LEGISLATIVE
SITUATION
Matters New Holding Attention
Of the 6eNeral Assembly,
HEARINGS ON IMPORTANT BILLS


urs Opposed by the Morgan Inter
.ssts-Woods Utilities Bill Analysed
~ an Attorney--Uniform School
Beck systenn.
Columbus, O.,-(special) MANY a
seed hill IL placed in jeopardy in the
lecAsAAtnre because 1t is misunder-
stscd. A ease in point is the Elson
IN, psrmittins the consolidation OF
rival telephone companies. The mis-
understanding In connection with this
III ErNw out o. ths fact that a couple
ef navspeper mon happened TO drop
tAto committee hearing on the bill,
ef whieh they had not been notified.
They promptly suspected secrecy and
sseatsA q mystery. The next morning
hAriAE headlines he'd the bill up as
n cooperation scheme to flch some
tAkAa frem the people. Since then
tAe. Measure has been freely discussed
b eesnmittss meeting and among the
rsesnsers OF the general assembly
anA, while at Columbus the bill is
Looked upea a. n meritorious PROPOSE
tfeA. viewed from the peoples stand
petnt, the bad napo given 1t by the
vcAlnsaning but misguided newspa-
Ber Rea still obtains in large meas
ire n ether parts OF the state. A
trsth nssev ovortakes lie; news
peeur correction seldom overtakes a
newsDaDSr error. The correspondents
wie Mads the mistake iii regard to
IN nis0a bill have not followed 1t up
VITA further denurciation having
sesn, tho lishG. somewhat late to be
srae-thsv have maintained silence.
After fnlr' hearing of the measure
h eeuamittee. at which anybody who
had thought on the proposition was
g4NUA aa opportunity TO express it,,
tnne vhsre 1t would do the most good
o. hnTm, the committee reported the
1NN eat with a recommendation for
~ passAEo. The bill is now on the
safeaAar q the house and when reach
q viii probably be passed by an al
nnnet uaAaimous vote. Frank Woods,
aHsk6g q the utilities bill to regulate
oueSoratioRs of the state, is one of
Uhg alkvocAtea Of the Elson bill. He
6ose nst want II to pass, however, un-
a intter his utilities bill has been act
@ unoa After that time he would
RvseSly mako a speech in favor Of
- nlssN bill. If there is member
oe tts0 legislature more than any
c4zesF who has anti-corporation lean
hnys. tAat man La Frank Woods.
Wceag' support OF the Elson bill ST.
sasss sAy suggestion that it is drawn
in NO interests of the corporations
Cd c-Eaast the interests of the peo-
yss.
Fer pablic convenience railroads
~ NV pSrmitted to consolidate in
O.. l&o Mson bill seeks to extend
- ssnlsS privileges to telephone COM
Hdzsss anA for the same purpose.
XAgrs aro many home or Independent
tlsSShonS companies In Ohio whose
vAeaS b their patrons is circumscrib.
"a ~ their inability to connect with
osAsx companies whose lines extend
ists othSr counties and other cities
esa states. In many cities there are
tvu 'teieDhone companies. The incon-
vesq6nee ef having to use two phones
- uaaSrstood. The Elson bill, if
DasssA, would mean the elimination
q 1--WE phones In many cities with a
Ssass4usnt reduction of cost to users
seaIG great enlargement of service
10 tASse who had been using but one
q 10 two systems.
TIE strongest opposition to the bin
h4s come from the ]. p. Morgan tele-
IAe1e interests. which seek to pre-
vvat any othor toll line company max
ING q contract with any of the numer
sss lsosl companies in Ohio with
v4tsh tAst interest now has contracts
1hs Morgan contracts are for exclu
sevv tsn 1ias connections for 80 years
Jezss Robert w. Tayler of the Unit
- States district court of Northern
9&10 rs1dored decision that these
ssISFa0ts were invalid as being
sssl1St public policy, but an appeal
We9 taken from this decision and the
saSs b now pending In higher court
~ Legislature can not enact law
sAa would invaiidate these contracts
e1sAt question the courts alone car
asSzAe), but the legislature can enact
iAw that will permit home or inde
pSpdeat companies to consolidate
vita eacA other in the operation o.
0s1s piA4ts. This is the thing the
NAssA bill seeks to accomplish. Sucl
OSCILLATIONS are required to bt
AaAe IA such a way that the tele
yAsns users and the public general!
WA have fall knowledge OF the condi
tAs4s thereof. The contract of con
ssIiGation must set forth the namei
- tAS directors and stockholders o
sAsA company. the amount of stool
LTD by each and the place of resi-
dSaes Of each stockholder. Thes,
nAiAes saA addresses together with 1
sSSy q the contract. when the same
b completed. must be filed with tn,
secretary OF state,
TAS public service corporations o
tAe state are now having their In
u4aEs before tho house committee ol