The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-07-24
EIGHT BIG LAWS IN
EFFECT IN AUGUST
Acts Authorize Cox to Make
Many Appointments.
new SYSTEM IN PENITENTIARY
Warden Thomas Adopts Plan Where
by 1t Will Never Again in Future
be Known Just Who Legal
Executioner Is.
D. A. DONOVAN,
Special Columbus Correspondent.
CoI,,,A,,, Ohio


Columbus, Ohio.
" IGHT big laws authorizing the
Id governor to make many ap-
II pointments go into effect in
August On August 6, the
agricultural commission law and the
road codifying commission law go into
effect. There will be four to appoint
on the agricultural commission, which
will take charge of all departments
which have anything to do with agri-
culture. Each member will be paid
an annual salary of $4,000. Three of
: the commissioners will be appointed
by Gov. Cox and one by the trustees
Of the Ohio state university. The
codifying commission will go over all
the numerous road laws and put them
into a comprehensive code. The mov-
ing picture censorship board law will
also become effective on August 6.
This board will be under the author
ity of the industrial commission Of
the state. 1t will consist of three
members, each to receive an annual
salary of $1,500. This board is to ex-
anime all public motion picture films
and only approve those of moral,
educational or amusing harmless
character. Before any motion picture
shall be publicly exhibited, there must
be projected on the screen, approved
by the Ohio board of censors." Ninety
days after the act takes effect no pic
lures shall be shown that have not
been passed upon by the board. A
fine of from $25 to $500 and imprison-
ment of from 80 days to one year is
provided as a penalty for violation of
the law.
New Public Utilities Law.
The new public utilities law goes
into effect on August 9. 1t appoints
a public utilities commission to take
the place of the public service COM
mission. The new law gives the COM
mission enlarged powers over public
utilities. There will be three men,
bers, as on the present commission,
each being paid $4,000 a year. 1t is
expected that Judge o. H. Hughes of
Hillsboro, member of the present
commission, will be one of the new
members. Judge w. l.. Dechant of
Middletown is said to be slated to be
another. Both are Democrats. The
third member will be chosen from an
other party. The civil service law be-
comes effective August g. Within 10
days the governor is required to ap-
point three men to administer its
work. The commission is to put into
effect system of civil service for the
entire state. Each commissioner Is
to receive $4,000 salary, but the presi-
dent may get an additional $500 if
he will agree to put in all his time
on the work. There will be chief ex-
aminer to appoint. He will be eX-
officio secretary. The tax commission
law goes into effect on August 9. I'm
der it tax deputy will be appointed
for each county, and he appoints as
sistants he may need. The liquor
license law becomes effective August
%. The governor appoints the state
commission and that body appoints
two commissioners for each county.
A board of charities of eight members
will be appointed August IL.
Executioner to be Unknown.
1t will never again in the future be
known just who the legal executioner
at the Ohio penitentiary is. When.
ever condemned man is executed,
three men will pull switches each pur.
porting to send the fatal current
through his body. But in every case
two of the switches will be blind. y
Only one will be real. But none of
levers is real or phony and therefore
none will know whether he caused the
death of the victim or not. 1t will be
like three men shooting with rifles
only one of which is loaded. The new
system constitutes the manner in
of the penitentiary, escapes from the
necessity OF compelling some one indi
vidual to shoulder the burden of legal
murder. There have been wardens in
the past who unfiinchingly pulled the
lever themselves that meant death to
Tie COuu0Iuu0uo WdLucu JOlSo1 ldLSAJ
retired, was the first to vince under
the duty sought by the law to be i'm
posed upon him for as matter OF
fact the law really presupposes that
It shall be the warden who shall per
sonally administer death to the con
demned through the medium of elec
tricity. Warden Jones didn't like the
notion of killing men even though
clothed with all the authority the
state could give. So he delegated the
duty to some deputy or attache and
~N.NNo-e~NNSLNN~-~N~
Aid From Massachusetts,.
The boys and girls of Cambridge
Mass, have sent to the boys and
girls of Ohio who suffered from the
floods last spring a substantial ex
preston of their love and sympathy
It is in the form of a check fol
$30412 which was given by $4,000
school children of that city. This
money has been sent to State School
Commissioner Frank w. Miller, who
will distribute it after the schools
reopen in the fall. It will be nc
easy task to determine how to divide
the money.