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

measures passed by three-fourths of
once until repealed by the council
or the people.
An extensive bill to prevent corrupt
practice at elections was enacted All
candidates and campaign committees
are required to make an itemized
statement of all money received or
expended. Persons who make single
contributions that are accounted for
in some other account need not pre-
sent a statement. The candidate is
required to verify the accounts of the
committee employed in securing his
election. 1t is provided that no per
son, except a member of Congress,
shall enter upon the duties of his
office until he has complied with this
act. Statements are to be public and
open to inspection for two years as
are all accounts of treasurer of any
political organization. Certain cam
paign expenses are given the stamp
of legality and corrupt practices are
clearly defined. The sums that can
didates for various Offices are per-
mitted to spend are determined by a
scale according to 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 it is required
that the polling places be kept open
from $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
ficient acts of it's 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
iness 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, it has pow
er, to hold hearings and to examine
such books and papers as it 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 it 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, il
shall make an order authorizing the
companies to do these things in con
junction that are specifically granted
While the intent of the bill is tC
centralize control over public utili
ties, the issuance of franchises and
the regulation Of operation under
them is left to municipalities. The
act does not affect street railways.
Each member of the public service
commission will receive an annual
salary of $500. The commission may
hire assistants and is also reimbursed
for necessary travelling expenses
Total annual expenditures are not tt
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 othel
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 othel
buildings are considered and rule!
adopted looking to a better state o
: affairs and ascribing responsibility fo
lax conditions. Fire protection anC
!, fire prevention receive especial at
tention. Provision is made for thu
construction and erection Of elevators
!. stairways and tire-escapes in and up
on public buildings. The enforce
ment of the provisions laid down il
: the code is divided among the severa
departments of the state fire marshal
the chief inspector of workshops ant
factories and the state board O
health.
= Teaching Agriculture.
5 A progressive measure that was en-
| acted early in the session and whicl
: seems to be generally approved is on
providing for the teaching of agricul
e ture in the public schools of the state
: The state is mapped out into fou
e agricultural districts and in each on
Y is a district supervisor of agricultur
+ appointed by the state school CON
f missioner who co-operates with tn
0 local board of education in determiT
d. ing the course of instruction. TIL
: provisions of this act do not, howevel
l. apply to city school districts, but onl
n in the country schools.