The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-06-08

preparations Hiqher 1han Ordlnar-
iIy-National Guard Cared For
Taxes Affected-Constituti Con-
- Vention-corrupt Practices-con-
troll of Public Utilities.
Columbus.-After nearly half a ses-
sion of lethargy the seVenty-ninth
general assembly which has just ad-
journed stepped in and passed some
very progressive measures. The cleo
tion of the United States senator oc-
Cupied time at the first of the session,
but the bribery charges which later
on interrupted proceedings for time
acted soon as an impetus to a rush
of radical measures. Among the most
important of the new laws are those
providing for direct election of Unit
ed States senator's, workingmenS
compensation, more adequate control
OF public utilities, the establishment
of central board of control for all
the state institutions, limit of one
per cent on the tax rate and the nom
partisan election of all judiciary.
A Progressive Body.
Though this legislature has been
more progressive than any for de-
cade, there were several bills pro-
posed of that type which did not be-
come laws. Among the bills killed
We're provisions for statewide primar-
les, direct nomination of United
States senators and a uniform school
book bill No action was taken on
the liquor question although two i'm
pOrtant bills relating to local option
in cities were killed. They were pop
*. ularly known as wet" measures.
N A resolution was passed which
Y/makes the nomination and election of
y all delegates to the constitutional con-
vention of 1912 strictly non-partisan.
The nominations are to be by nomi-
mating petitions only. The delegates
may be pledged to submit separately
to popular vote any proposals in re-
gard to the liquor traffic. Another res
olution demands convention of
states to amend the national consti-
tuition SO as to establish the direct
election of United States senator's.
The income tax amendment to the ma
tional constitution was ratified by res
olution.
In Labor's Fields.
In the field of labor some of the
years was enacted. In line with sim
liar legislation now being considered
or tried out in other states, work
ingmen's compensation act became a
law a state board of awards is Gre
ated which makes grants to injured
workmen or their dependents in case
Of death, provided that the accident
took place while he was engaged in
pursuing his industrial vocation. The
money is paid from state insurance
fund to which the employer contrib
utes 90 per cent and the workmen 1C
per cent. A graded schedule OF
awards is provided. The law is ap
u plicablc TO all employers using five
persons or more, but is not compul
sorry. However, if the employer re-
fuses TO accept the law, the defences
OF contributory negligence, fellow
servant and assumed risk are denied
to him.
The working hours of women EN-
pIoyed in any other labor than in
mercantile establishments, hotels OF
households are limited to "a weel
and not more than ten a day. An
other law makes the use of the unior
label without authority misdemean
or.
Supplemental to the compensation ac
is one which requires reports from fac
tory owners to the state inspector o
workshops and factories of any fata
or serious accidents within their es
Establishments. A penalty is provided
for noncompliance with the law. The
penalty for failure to provide guards
for dangerous machinery is increased
At the last moment bill was pu
through which gives to the state fac
tory inspectors power to close up fac
tories which have failed to compl!
with fire regulations.
One Radical Change.
The most radical change in thu
election laws was that providing TO
the popular election of United States
senators according to the Oregon
plan Candidates for members of th'
legislature may sign either one of tw'
statements. By the first he pledge
himself to vote for the man for sen
ator who receives the most vote
at the regular election. BY the othe
g., he declares that he will not be bound
A. will follow his own judgment
names of the candidates for ser
a. who have qualified by filing pet
CCs are placed upon the ballot of tn
W Sular election.
agAnother act provides separate ba
gSt in the election of judges. Their
are to be no party names or emblem
on the ballot. This law is expects
to be of great value of obtaining CON
petent judicial officers.
The bill providing for the initiativ
and referendum in cities Isl an in
portant measure. Cd Any ordinanc
may be submitted to the council b
petition of eight per cent. of the qua
,ified voters of the municipality.
action is not taken thereon within
days the ordinance shall be submitte
to the voters at the next regular ele'
tion unless special election be cal
ed by Is per cent. of the electors. A
ordinance passed by the majority
this manner is not subject to veto b
the mayor. e Franchises and specis
ordinances can be referred to the pei
pie for ratification by vote of tn
council or upon petition of eight pc
cent. of the voters. (3) Franchise
and grants for public utilities sha
not become operative until go day
after passage, during which time
referendum vote may be required b
a petition of the voters, per cen
for ordinary election or Is per cen
at special elections az Emergenc