The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-06-16
NEW LAWS BY BUCKEYE LEGISLATURE
Summary Of New Legislation Placed on Ohio Statute Books
by Her Recent General AssembIy--Severa important
Changes Will be Noted

scale according 10 the Importance OF
the office and In some cases to the
size OF the vote.
Another bill relating TO elections
was one requiring a referendum on
bond issues over $4,000 ordered by
county commissioners, the amount
and purpose of the Issue TO be print
ed on the ballot A further innova-
ton in the election laws was made by
the act that adds one-half hour TO the
end Of the day at election time. Ac-
cording to the new law II Is required
that the polling places be kept open
from $3.50 a. m. until 6 o'clock in the
evening. Another bill that Will affect
the vote In municipalities where col
leges and universities are located is
the one forbidding students and other
temporary residents to vote unless
they state they are not there for any
temporary purpose, and do not intend
to return to their former home.
ELECTED Much Discussion.
The public utilities bill was one
that was amended again and again,
emasculated so that the commission
created was left almost poWerless,
but finally passed In such form that
II is considered one of the most ef-
fcient acts Of its kind BY this en-
actment the old railroad commission
is changed to the public service COM
mission. Companies doing business
in the state are definitely classified
according to the nature of their bus
mess. The term public utility" is
used to include every corporation,
company, co-partnership, person and
association, their lessees, trustees or
receivers defined in the section re-
lating to the various kinds of opera
tiOns.
The commission is given control
over stock and bond issues of public
utilities. Evidences of Indebtedness
on the part Of the companies can be
issued only when expressly authorized
! by the commission, when necessary
for the acquisition of property, i'm
provements, or maintenance OF ser
sive within the state. The commits
sion shall fix the amount Of the issue
and in order to determine whether it
should issue the order granting the
| floating of bonds or stocks, il has pow
er to hold hearings and to examine
such books and papers as ii sees fit.
One section provides that when
ever two or more telephone compan-
les are doing business in the same
municipality, or whenever the lines
of two or more telephone companies
intersect or parallel each other
within the state and 1t Is possible
for the companies to be operated in
connection with each other they may
be permitted to do so. The compan-
les shall file with the commission a
petition, joint or otherwise, including
the manner of agreement that they
are desirous of entering into, and the
objects of the same. If the commits
sion be satisfied with the petition, it
shall make an order authorizing the
companies to do these things in con-
junction that are specifically granted.
Each member of the public service
commission will receive an annual
salary of S6,50O. The commission may
hire assistants and is also reimbursed
for necessary travelling expenses.
Total annual expenditures are not to
exceed $500.
The largest bill introduced at the
present session and one that is care
fully drawn up in detail is the build
ing code. BY the establishment of the
code the construction, repair, altera-
tion and additions to public and other
buildings, are regulated. BY this code
the regulations relating to these mat
ters are all standardized and sys-
tematized, and in addition, the sani-
tary conditions of public and other
buildings are considered and rules
adopted looking to a better state of
affairs and ascribing responsibility for
lax conditions. Fire protection and
fire prevention receive especial at
tention. Provision is made for the
construction and erection of elevators,
stairways and fire-escapes in and up
on public buildings.
Teaching Agriculture.
A progressive measure that was en-
acted early in the session and which
seems to be generally approved is one
providing for the teaching of agricul-
ture in the public schools of the state.
The state is mapped out into four
agricultural districts and in each one
is a district supervisor of agriculture
appointed by the state school COM
missioner who co-operates with the
local board of education in determin-
ing the course of instruction. The
provisions of this act do not, however,
apply to city school districts, but only
in the country schools.
Another new law was passed that |
establishes a standard of commercial |
fertilizers, requiring branding>t to show
il phosphoric acid is insoluble and if |
ammonia is large unavailable. 1t is |
provided that each firm putting ferti- |
lizer on the market shall take out a |
state license, the fee to go to a fund |
to pay for analysis. The state board |
Of agriculture is given the right to |
print analyses and justice courts are
given final Jurisdiction in fraud cases. |
Under another law assessors are |
required to report vacant farm land |
to the state board of agriculture.
This is done to facilitate the board |
in it's work and to give a definite and
accurate census of uncultivated farm
lands.
An important new law gives the
state superintendent Of banks power
to veto the establishment of new
banks. He is also given power to
approve reserve depositaries 1t is re-
luired that 80 per cent of each share
shall be paid in before entering into
business.
Another bill provides for both ac-
i've and inactive county deposltaries.
A minimum rate of one per cent for
active deposits and two per cent for
Inactive deposits is prescribed 1t is
provided that private bank may be
N active depositary If there be no
state or national bank in the county
ieat and that a state or national bank
outside the county may be selected If
here be no private bank at the coun-
v sent Rnt In NO case shall a hank