The Washington herald., 1912-03-23

ernor's sermon would have done any
good. The old guard element of both
parties in the general assembly still re-
manned stubborn In their opposition 10
certain of the governors bills. But all
this changed in the twinkling of an eye.
There was what appeared a providentiai
Just four days after the Harmon
caucus speech came the bribery reve-
more insurance bill. Gov. Harmon had
no hand in this. In fact. the governor
and his advisers knew nothing OF the
the explosion came. involving nearly a
dozen OF the lawmakers. The tnvesti-
CATION and the bribery charges that fol-
lowed had been insugurated and carried
on very secretly at the behest of the
Manufacturers Association. who were
interested in the passage Of the White
more bill and some other measures
which the Lawmakers were using. or had
used. for hold-up purposes.
The disclosures sent fully a score of
members Of the general assembly on a
of the corruptly organized opposition TO
the Harmon legislative programme. All
his bills passed in a rush.
In the meantime there was a wild
clamor on the part Of the lawmakers
themselves for legislative inquiry OF
the bribery scandal. where only a year
before when Columbus was in the throes
of lobby scandal and Gov. Harmon
anti-lobby message containing a recon-
mendation for such an inquiry, the mes
sage had been laid on the table in the
The fact that the statutes OF Ohio CON
tain n clause assuring immunity to any
one who testifies before a legislative In
yestigsting committee may or may not
have had anything to do with the 1911
outcry for a legislative probe which
came from some Of the suspected mem
bers themselves.
lative investigation with its attendant
immunity bath. A number OF arrests
had been made. Gov. Harmon insisted
that II was a case for the district at
torney and not for the law-making body.
As result several indictments were
found One case has already been tried
and Is pending with the higher courts.
at arms OF the % General assembis are
awaiting trial on bribery charges. tSince
this writing two men have been convict
ed, another case is being heard. and one
of the eonvicts Is serving his sentence in
the Ohio penitentiary.1
some of the, Kept Premises.
Here,is a list of seventeen important
measures for the enactment OF which
credit is given the Harmon administra-
tion: ~ q SO. F.
The Oregon plan of nominating and
electing United States Senators by direct
vote OF the people.
Placing the Ohio judiciary beyond
the influences of party bosses by
electing all Judges on nonpartisan
ballots. SO
A workingman's Compensation act.
so that injured employees can get dam
ages without expensive and tedious
litigation. /,
A Public Utility Commission with
authority to regulate issues of stock,
rates. mergers. and service.
A Corrupt Practices act, that will
make vote buying IN primaries and
elections a dangerous undertaking.
A limited initiative and. referendum
for Ohio cities.
; A Central Board OF Control for nine.
teen State instisstions to take the
place of nineteen separate Boards of
This bill places subordinate employees
in the Institutions under civil service.
A. shorter ballot by aboiishing
Boards of Inhrmary Directors OF
lfhree members each. -
To have delegates to the 1912 Ohio
Constitutional Convention nominated
by petition only, and elected on nom
A nine-hour' work day for employed
women
An act, to stimulate the AGRICULTURAL
ad"sTy hs ssasht ey 55h,o 1ase ahS
country schools. -
Ratification Of the proposed income
tax amendment to the Federal Com
stitution.
A memorial to Congress, calling for a.
conveutiofr 10 provide for the direct cleo
ton OF United States Senator's ;
lnsurine the honest handling of all
State money by depositing in banks up-
der the competitive bidding PLAN
A complete reformation Of tax laws
OF intangible property that have been
oodging axes to place their holdings on
the duplicate the same as small prop