New-York tribune., 1911-01-03
OHIO CAUCUS THURSDAY
Will Pass on Claims for United
States Senatorship.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS
Governor Harmon's Message
Urges Economy and Attacks
Shirkers of Taxation.

Columbus Ohio, Jan 2-The seventy
ninth General Assembly OF Ohio opened
at 10 o'clock to-day. with the Democrats,
for the first time in two decades, in con-
troll Of both branches and Judson Har-
mon. a Democrat, in the Governors chair,
having been reelected at the November
election.
At a caucus tonight OF Democrats in
the House action was taken 10 concur
with the Senate Democrats in the call for
a toint senatorial caucus Thursday after
noon. at o'clock This is one day earlier
than requested by the two leading candi-
dates for United States Senator, Atlee
Pomerene. Of Canton. and E. w Hanley,
OF Dayton
Unusual interest is shown In the pro-
ceedings Of the Legislature not alone be-
cause there will be elected a successor 70
United States Senator Charles Dick, Re
publican, but because Governor Harmon Is
believed 10 be in training for the Presi-
Dental nomination.
In the Senate there are nineteen Demo
Gratis and fifteen Republicans, and IN the
House seventy Democrats and forty-eigh'
Republicans The Republicans lose one
member By the death OF Representative
elect c. J. King. og Ashtabula County
The Democrats, therefore, have a majority
Of twenty-six on joint ballot
The retiring Secretary Of State, Carri
Thompson, called the House 70 order. ana
the House Immediately elected Samuel j.
VinIng OF Mercer County, as Speaker, ne
being the Democratic caucus nominee
In the Senate Lieutenant Governor Fran
els W. Treadway presided He will preside
for a week, when Lieutenant Governor
elect Atlee Pomerene, Of Stark County, Will
succeed him All the members were then
sworn in, and the caucus nominees for the
minor Offices were ratified.
Governor Judson Harmon in his annual
message 10 the General Assembly said IN
part:
When the government is conducted by
the people themselves every citizen ought
70 regard contributing TO its support as a
pa triotic duty, the shirking OF which In
wolves disgrace. Yet many evade their
taxes.
The people who support the. government
have 70 economic. Why should their pub
lie servants not do the same?
The securing OF returns under the pres
ent system has long been a farce. II Is
property duly valued and delinquencies
corrected. l per cent tax rate, and per-
haps less, will supply every public need.
What is required is assessors who Will as
sess. officers and boards that will review
question and compare returns with per-
fectly we'll known facts and make every
body understand that the state which sup
plies agencies for the enforcement Of the
rights Of citizens will no longer permit
her own 10 be disregarded
The Governor praised the new tax COM
mission and said II has already resulted
in an increase Of assessed revenue for the
wear. from excise and other corporate
sources, Of more than S5o0ooo.
A single board 70 control all the state In
stitutions was recommended 10 take the
place OF the nineteen now in power. The
Governor insisted on the reduction OF ex-
penses all along the line, and called FOR the
passage Of his recommendations made at
the last session of the Legislature, includ-
ing the enactment Of a corrupt practices
act and the election OF all judges on a
separate ballot, without party designation.