The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-13
ENACTED IN
LAST FEW MONTHS
Changes That Seem Revolu-
tionary Brought About Un-
der the Cox Regime.


to give the needed treat tment and care.
For the convenience and protection
of the people who go to court there
was effected complete reorganization
of the judiciary. The journey through
the state courts via the common pleas,
circuit and state supreme, has been a
two years trip, every step filled with
expense and trouble. Now the trip
can be made in about half the time in
90 per cent of all litigation, as a new
law gives the circuit court final juris-
diction in all litigation except that in
which the legality Of laws is ques-
toned.
To thwart agents Of public utilities
who have resorted to court delay to
prevent the operation of rate reduc-
tions by the public utilities commits
sion, appeals to the courts from such
decisions must be commenced in the
tribunal having final Jurisdiction. Such
procedure is provided for on court ap-
peals from the orders of practically
all state boards and commissions.
To prevent "hung" juries, laws were
passed providing that verdicts may be
returned except in criminal cases,
upon the agreement of threefourths Of
the twelve iurymen
With Governor Cox, himself a sue
cessful farmer, on the job, Ohio farm
ers were cared for by a bill which
creates a state agricultural commits
sion for the purpose Of consolidating
and correlating the activities of seven
different state agricultural depart
ments, whose work has been triplicat-
ing and duplicating.
For Good Roads.
All the measures advocated by the
Ohio Federation of Good Roads So
cieties were enacted. Provision was
made for the raising of S3,5O0,0OO an
nually for ten years for the purpose of
eliminating mudholes and giving the
commonwealth complete system of
improved intercounty and market
roads that will be impervious to snow
and rain.
Bills were passed to give the state a
modern budget system, under which
the governor will call bienniaIly upon
heads of departments for the submis-
sion to him of estimates Of money
needed. He thus will be able to care
fully scan all estimates, weigh the
needs Of all departments and make the
necessary recommendations to the gen.
eral assembly to secure such economy
as is consistent with good service.
For years the cost of maintaining
the public schools increased much
faster than enrolment of pupils, while
the influence of the rural schools
steadily decreased. A commission was
created to make a complete survey
for the purpose of ascertaining defects
in the system and to recommend rene
dies.
An amendment to the state consti-
tuition last fall required a reorganiza-
ton and rehabilitation of the common
school system to be made, and this
commission will report to the special
session of the general assembly next
January a new code of school laws.
The commission is expected to en-
body the best features Of the scientific
codes of other states, and 1t is the de-
sire that the new laws be made rep
resentative of the best thought of ed
ucators on the subject of administer
ing the common schools.
A "Blue Sky" Act.
INSCRIPTIONS dealers in fraudulent
securities stocks and bonds were aim
ed at when blue sky" act was pass
ed. Under it the state superintendent
of banks and banking was given pow
er to license or refuse licenses to all
brokers. The same official must GER
tify to the character of stock In all
new corporations before it may be
sold, and anybody who wishes to sell
land situated outside the state to a
resident of Ohio must certify to the
banking superintendent full informa-
ton about such land. Violations of
the law are classed as felonies, with
Imprisonment and heavy fines for pun
ishment.
The taxing machinery Of the state
was reorganlZed so as to catch the
dodgers who have escaped contributing
their share of tax money by either hid
ing property or getting inadequate val
uations. Instead of electng assessors
and thereby placing them under obli-
cation to the property owners for their
positions, a law was enacted under
which these officials will be appointed.
In the interest of the market basket
of the Ohio housewife a new act pro-
vides that whoever combines to fix the
prices of certain foodstuffs shall be fin
ed or sent to the penitentary. Dry
foodstuffs must be sold by weight in
stead Of measure so there will be no
loopholes for the inscriptions dealers
to use crooked measures.
To conserve the forests such lands
are exempt from taxation not to ex-
ceed twenty acres to a farm. The
state forester may take over waste
land and plant it with seedlings. To