The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-17

n mart of the constitution, but some
action by your body remains to set 1t
into motion. The intent Of this amend
ment is to give to the people the right
to redress a wrong through the ref
erendum, and through the initiative to
procure a right that has been denied.
The legislative action should be in eX-
act harmony with the spirit Of the pro
vision. Something should be done to
prevent the professional practice Of
procuring signatures for pay, but at
the same time there must be the ut
most vigilance exercised, otherwise
under the guise of an attempt to re-
fine The law, it might be made unwork-
able.
Shorter Hours For Women.
Seventh-"Further reduction in the
hours of labor for women, and further
restriction on the right to employ chill.
dren in factories
The inspector of workshops and fac
tories strongly urges raising the
school grade qualifications for chill.
dren between the ages Of IA and 16,
and Joins in the opinion shared by in
dustrial commissions in other states,
that the most wholesome results can
he obtained by giving to the depart
ment the right to determine the hours
Of labor for women and children
where the present nine-hour law
seems insufficient. This is not only
regarded as the easiest method OF
reaching a solution of this question
but it would quickly result in the bet
terment Of shop conditions, improve
ment in sanitation and surroundings
being a factor in determining the
hours of labor. In this connection it
should be stated that the government
u experts in Wisconsin regard the
success in that state to be due in con-
siderable part to the discretionary
powers lodged with the administra-
tion officers.
Eighth-"The rea6irmation of the
proposed amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the popular
election Of United States senators"
This has already been done by the
legislature, but a legal question has
arisen out of the issue created by the
rendered opinion Of the governor Of
Georgia. 1t is suggested that your
body take such action as the success
ful outcome Of this Just and popular
movement demands. No harm can
come from the adoption of another
joint resolution on the subject.
Ninth-"Legislation looking to the
Improvement Of the roads and high
ways of the state"
Good Roads and Civilization.
Nothing makes for civilization more
than good roads. An emphasized com.
munity life, improved facilities for
school attendance, and better means
of traffic in food stuffs, are considera-
tions which join to the general well
fare of the state. l know of no inter
nal improvement which so widely dis
tributes its benefits. 1t touches vi
tally producers and consumers of the
farm and the city as well. The road
laws of the state are archaic, and
conflicting, and the movement to-
ward better highways is seriously
hampered in consequence. These laws
should be recodifed. My informa-
tion is that the preliminary labors Of
this task, not an inconsiderable one
by any means, have been performed
without public cost by the good roads
organizations. Iowa has profted by
the law compelling the use of the split
log drag, and it is strongly recon-
mended to you for adoption Under
existing law, we are taxing automo-
biles by machine unit. AS this is
purely a police regulation, the ex'
pense should be imposed in a more
equitable way. Admittedly the best
automobile law is the New York
measure. The tax is levied on the unit
Of horse power. 1t is not fair to make
the owner Of a machine of small horse
power and low speed pay to the state