The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-01-02
LEGISLATURE is
NOW IN SESSION
Treadway Calls Senate to
Order.
RETAINS JOB ONE WEEK

House Proceeds to Elect Vinng, DEM
ocrst, Speaker over Langdon, Re-
publican, Who Becomes Minority
Floor LoaSar-GoVernor' Message
Read In e.sh Brancheo--Probe Into
Election Frauds In Adams County
Slated Fer Early Action.
Columbus, o., Jan. promptly at
10 o'clock this morning Secretary of
State Carmi A. Thompson, in the
house, and Lieutenant Governor
Francis w. TroadVay in the senate,
dropped the gavels which called the
Seventy-ninth General assembly Of
Ohio to order.
In the house, after invocation of
the divine blessing, the members
proceeded to elect Samuel j. Vining
of Mercer county, speaker, Mr. Vim
ing having been selected for the posi-.
tion by the caucus of the Democratic
members Of the house. The Repubi.
cans "oted for Lawrence X. Langdon
for speaker, and he will become floor
leader of the minority in the house.
In the senate Lieutenant Governor
Treadway will preside over the delib-
erations until next Monday, when
Lieut. anant GoverHorelect Atlee Pom
creme will become lieutenant Cover.
nor and by virtue of his Office pre-.
siding officer CT the upper house.
In the senate, Senator William
Green Of Coshoctou was chosen
chairman pro ten. The house elected
c. W. Kempel of Akron as clerk. The
senate elected W. V. Goshorn Of
Gallon. Senate sergeant-at-arms is
Rodney j. Diegle of Sandusky. House
sergeant-at-arms Is William l.. Mech.
ling of Celina.
The reading of the governors mes
sage IN both branches was the prin-
cipal business of the session.
1t is the general belief that the
general assembly will at an early
date take up the subject OF ballot
corruption in Adams county. with a
view to enacting legislation to stop
the practice Members of the general
assembly keenly feel the stigma
brought on the state for permitting
the deplorable condition to exist so
many years in Adams county and
they will make amends by vigorously
probing other Ohio counties placed in
the Doodle class. The investigation
will not be confined to Adams county
but may extend soon to several coun-
ties north of Columbus, where the
strength Of the two old parties is
about equal. In some of these, il is
rumored, vote-buying has been prac-
ticed extensively. A tier of southern
Ohio counties near Adams. put under
suspicion by some of the Adams
county electors who confessed selling
their votes, will be the first to be in.
vestigated.
In his message Governor Harmon
paid particular attention to the sub
jects of taxation. the rejuvenation OF
the state canal system, aad the sim
gle board of control for all state in
stitutions. He urged the amendment
Of last years taxation law so that the
limit of taxation will be 10 instead
of 10 mills and that the tax levy for
any one year for all purposes does
not exceed that collected in 1909.
He also demandeda a more equitable
method of assessment, so that all
classes Of property be listed at 100
per cent of their true value and that
means be provided to prevent the
concealment of stocks, bonds and Sc
curities of all kinds.
As to the canals, he urged the com
pletion of the improvements on the
Miami and Erie and Ohio canals on
the line of the original program. His
idea Is to place the work of improy-
ing the canals under the direct SUI
perysion Of the chief engineer of the
board Of public works.
lie urged the pruning OF expenses
In all state institutions, with the pos
sible exception OF the Girls Indus
trial home at Delaware.
He also repeated his recommends
ton for an income tax amendment TO
the federal constitution.
The necessity Of a corrupt prac-
tices act to prevent election scandals
like the one unearthed in Adams
county was pointed out.
The single board Of control for
state institutions was recommended
for second time. Longer terms of
Office for members of the state tax
commission were also urged.