The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-20


county farm experiment law was
strengthened by giving the head OF
the Wooster Experiment Station SUI
pervisiou Of the establishing OF such
farms and the purchasing Of equip
ment. manufacturers Of lime are to
be licensed and their products are to
be inspected. the weak places in the
food stuis law were strengthened,
protection desired By farmers for
ouail and skuuks was granted and .
pure seed bill was enacted.
Court Procedure simpIiHsd.
For the convenience and protection
Of the people who go to court. there
was effected Q complete reorganiza.
tion Of the judiciary. The most tron-
blesome part Of the tiresome and ex.
pensive journey through the state
courts-that from the circuit to the
supreme court-was cut OF in 80 per
cent Of the litigation, through q pro-
vision which gives the circuit court
final jurisdiction in all suits except
those Involving the legality Of laws.
Another measure designed to prevent
hung" juries 10 that authorizing yer.
diets upon the agreement Of three.
fourths Of the IL jurymen. Every
county will have . common pleas
Judge. with the right to combine com.
mon pleas and probate courts in the
interest Of economy and to expedite
action on disputed matters. Jury com.
bssions are to be established In each
county to keep unscrupulous persons
on the panels.
ooodby 70 Mud Roads.
For the first time since the Ohio
Federation Of Good Road societies
was organised. all the good roads
measures advocated by that body
were put In the state admins.
tration program BY Governor Cox,
and all we're enacted into Law by the
general assembly. The most import.
ant provides for the raising Of $780,.
900 annually for 10 years for the pur.
pose of eliminating mud holes and Civ.
ing the commonwealth . complete
system Of improved intereounty and
market roads that will be impervious
to snoW and rain.
Another measure requires the use
Of the split-log drag, and still another
gives encouragement for the f0rma-
tion Of local road improvement soci-
eties In each county to cooperate with
the state In road building.
Utilities Law Strengthened.
Ohio has for some time had a public
service commission, which exercised
general supervision over the activities
Of all public utilities. including bond
Issues, rates, service, ETC.. but . new
act greatly strengthens that law. To
prevent delay and to secure speedy
operation Of all orders affecting rates,
the new law contains provision
which forces all appellants to com.
mence litigation In the court Of final
jurisdiction, and no Injunction shall
be issued by . Judge staying the order
Of the public utilities commission un-
less an investigation of the merit OF
the order has been made. Such pro.
cedure is provided for on court ap.
peals from the orders Of practically
all other state commissions. A valua.
ton is to be made Of utilities.
For Economy and Efficiency.
Bills we're passed to give the state .
modern budget system under which
the governor will call biennially upon
departmental heads for the submis.
sion to him OF estimates of money
needed. The state executive will have
power to send into each institution
and state department technically
equipped official for the purpose q!
verifying such estimates and investi.
eating the necessity thereof. This of.
ficer also may make recommendations
for changes In methods of administers
ton for the promotion of economy
and the production Of efficiency. The
governor will thus be able to scan all
estimates carefully, weigh the needs
Of all departments and make the ne.
cessary recommendation to the gen
eral assembly. Heretofore each head
OF state department has submitted
his estimate directly to the general
/ uUDcHuuly, ouu tAo i6ttcI UOuys aCCopL
ing these recommendations. appropri
ated from $4,000. 900 to $4,000, 900 an
nually. With all state officials askinG
for the maxims they believed the leg
islature would grant. the aggregate ap
preparations usually were more thar
strict economy eQuired. There were
three bills passed for this purpose
One changed the fiscal year ending
from Nov. IL to June 30; q secont
permits allowances by the state emer
gency board to be taken from tn,
state treasury. Heretofore such none,
was borrowed from private banks a
high rates Of interest. The otheI
measure creates the state budget com
mission. whose powers and duties arr
indicated above.
A Modern school Code.
A mandatory constitutional amend
ment adopted last fall makes necel
sary the complete reorganization an
rehabilitation Of the common scho0
system of the state. Believing sucl