The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-02-16


Franchises-Houss Reeonslders and
Passes Huber Measure TO Teach
Agriculture In High sehools--lndo.
lent Legislators to Be Fined.
Columbus, o.. Feb. 1e.--The Win
ters public utilities bill sanctioned
by Governor Harmon. has been in
troduccd in the house. AS finally de-
cidcd upon, here are its important
provisions:
1t makes the present railroad com.
mission the public utilities commits
sion Of Ohio, giving the three mem.
bcrs control over public utilities OF
every kind. Their salaries are in
creased from $4,000 to $500 a year.
The expenses OF the new commission
arc limited to $4,000 a year. The
commission will have no power to
grant franchises. AS at present,
franchise granting powers will reside
in tho local units Of the government.
To curb telephone companies in
particular. the bill provides that he.
fore any public utility can lease or
buy any other public utility II must
first secure permission from the com.
mission. There can he no merger Of
public utilities until the commission
gives permission.
The commission Is given absolute
control over issues Of stocks and
bonds. Before any utility can issue
additional stocks or bonds 1t must
apply to the commission, setting
forth the purposes for which the ad-
diton1l capital is to he used.
The commission will have Anal
jurisdiction in all disputes between
public service corporations. except
streetcar companies. and municipali.
ties over rates and service.
In arriving at the real value OF
public utilities. the commission must
take into consideration the physical
valuation OF plants, stocks and all
other forms OF property, both tangi-
ble and intangible. II two utilities
merge. the capitalization of the mer-
ger company can not exceed the total
of the separate capitalizations before
merging
The house reconsidered the Huber
bill. providing for instruction in agri.
cultu'a IN the first, second and third
grades of high schools. The schools
are to be under the direction of the
state commission, composed of the
secretary OF state board OF agricul.
ture, director OF experiment station.
and srhoo' commissioner. state pays
not over $4,000 annually, and not
more than 10 schools are to be es.
tablished the frst year.
The Dorc central board bill. which
was special order in the senate,
was sent back to the special com.
mittee to which It was originally re.
ferrcd. This was done because the
Russell central board hill has been
passed by the house. and win he con.
sIdered in the senate instead OF the
Dore hill.
The Bertsch bill. allowing cities TO
establish municipal pawnshops.. pass.
ed the house without dissenting
vote. Under it cities can loan money
on personal property with a charge
OF s per cent interest and per cent
for storage and Insurance. An amend
mcnt providing for a referendum
vote OF the people on the establish.
ment Of such department was
adapted. The bill provides for
small tax levy to support the city
pawnshops until they become self.
sustaining. Representatives made
considerable sport OF the hill and
several amendments intended TO ridi.
cule It we're proposed, All were
voted down. II is believed the bill
may either he reconsidered or defeat.
ed In the senate.
Members of the house OF represen.
tatiyes falling hereafter 10 attend
session. not having been formally ex.
cused, will be fined $40 for each OF.
Tense "A provided by statute. Speak.
er Vining made this announcement,
and surthef said there would he no
arpesl lie proposes that the house
shall work four days A week, in.
stead Of three. AZ heretofore that
Friday morning sessions shall be real
sessions. The house hai much to do.
he saws, and should save the state
expense by doing It's
work A. eHpedtiously as possible