The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-06-20
TAX PAYERS
Of Ohio Have Cause TO BE
Very Thankful
The Way Gov. Harmon Is
Using Veto Power
Bills That Would Increase
Public Expenditures
Are Being Kept Off The
Statute Books By Veto
Something About School
Book Commission


Columbus. o., June 16--Taxpayers
throughout Ohio have cause to be
thankful for the use Governor Har-
mon is making of the veto power.
Bills that would increase public ex-
penditures and thereby add to the
load taxpayers are carrying are be-
ing kept off the statute books by a
wise use of the veto. Never before
have the people heard the doctrine of
economy so strongly preached by one
of their public officers. IL all officers
connected with the government, state,
municipal and township, would follow
the lead of the governor and work
with the purpose in view of making a
success of the new 1 per cent tax rate
law, there would not be any trouble
The pairing knife should be used.
Four bills have recently been ve-
toed. They are the Huffman bill grant
ing Chief Engineer James Marker
100000 with which 20 make survey
of the canals and draft estimates of
the cost of deepwater barge canal
from Lake Erie to the Ohio River; the
Whittemore bill eXempting civil ser
vice employees from the law forbid
ding the increase OF public officers
salary during his term; the Kennedy
bill establishing a criminal court in
the city of Lima and the Fulkerson
bill to pay mayors extra when pre-
siding over the police court in the abb
sence of police judges.
In his veto message Governor Har-
mon says the chief engineer has COM
pleted the investigation he was di-
rected 70 make by the governor. AS
to the survey he says:
I'm view of the surveys and reports
already made, the fact that the con
stitutional convention will deal with
the general subject before the pro-
posed report could be made and the
dCllflly VI lue iSuSidi 6o'Oi hihSh'
with reference to system of inter
national waterways, which doubtless
will include consideration of those
of Ohio, my Judgment is that no use
full purpose would be served by the
expenditure of this large amount oi
! money at this time.
"The proper course seems to be tc
preserve the property now used oil
available for such purposes and await
developments. | do not think public
sentiment in the state is now prepared
for so heavy an undertaking with state
funds alone as that which the bill con
templates"
The disapproval of the Whittemor'
bill was based on the discovery of ;
Joker, namely that civil service em
ployes would be exempted from th'
provision of the county officers salar!
law, requiring the turning over of fee
collected, so that the bill would ALLOW
them to pocket these fees.
The Kennedy bill for new Grim
inal court in Lima was disapprove'
In accordance with the governors
policy of opposing increasing the ju
dicial force of the state"
Regarding the Fulkerson bill givinI
mayors extra compensation for actin
as police judges, the governor says;
II do not think this a wise measure
If the other duties OF the mayor pei
init 1t is part of his duty to act as pc
lice Judge in such emergencies an
when he does his salary should cove
the service, especially as there is n
deduction from the salary of the pt
lice Judge unless his absence or dis
ability covers more than go days 1
any year, SO in such cases there
| double payment"
The governor vetoed sections of tn
Crist bill for paroling girls form tn
girls industrial school, and the Rui
sell court stenographer act.
From the Crist bill was cut the pr'
vision for the payment to the boar
of trustees of one-third of the wage
: of an indentured girl and the confisc'
| tion of this amount II she should \
! returned to the school for misconduf
TO save the main provision of the RdS
sell bill-the authorization of officih
stenographers of common pleas coir
to serve in the circuit court-thfr
was cut out provision for appointmfn
of official stenographers on demtn
of indignant defendants in crimna
cases,