The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-25
TO Offer
Fur Amendments To The
Voters Of Ohie
I've Have TO Do With Short
Ballot Plan

Four constitutional amendments
will be submitted to voters for their
approval this fall, says the Columbus
Journal. Two deal with the short
ballot and two will be proposed as the
result of alleged mistakes in voting
on amendments last September. The
so-called mistakes were the defeat of
the amendment which sought to
make women eligible to hold certain
app0intive state offices. and the adop.
don Of the amendment taxing public
bonds. One amendment proposes to
ooafer upon women the legal right OF
appointment to official positions
where their service is preferable to
that Of man. Specific instances are
cited at the Girls Industrial school at
Delaware and the Woman's Reforma.
tory at Marysville. The attorney gen
eral has held that women are not
eligible to hold Office at these insti.
tutions under the present constitution
The constitutional amendment
which sought to remedy this was de-
feased last September by major.
ny OF 22.464 votes. Its defeat is at.
tributed to the fact that voters con-
fused the amendment with one which
sought to enfranchise women.
Folly OF the adoption OF the amend.
ment to tax public bonds was held TO
be proven conclusively when the ques
ton Of raising money to rehabilitate
public works and improvements de-
stroyed by recent floods arose. Local
bond markets were glutted with non.
taxable securities when the amend.
ment became effective last January;
consequently, a market for bonds to
repair flood damages had to be sought
outside. Foreign markets have refused
70 invest in the securities which re-
Quire the payment Of tax. One OF the
amendments to be voted on this fall
will exempt such securities from taxa.
ton and thereby insure the admission
Of Ohio public securities into Eastern
bond markets. The proposal to tax
public bonds was adopted last fall by
n majority of 1915 votes.
One OF the propositions designed to
carry out the principle OF the short
ballot provides that all state officials,
excepting governor and lieutenant
governor. shall be appointed by the
governor, thus making the state gov
ernment conform with the federal
plan. Ofilcers who would be appoint.
ed under this proposition would be
the attorney general. secretary of
state, state auditor and state treasur.
er.
Judges OF The supreme court are not
% DC affected by the proposed amend.
mont. They will continue to be elect.
cd. The Office OF commissioner of
schools and superintendent OF public
works were made appointive by
amendments which were adopted last
September. The offices of dairy and
food commissioner and clerk OF the
sspreme court were made appointive
~ acts Of the present legislature. The
sormcr Is to be appointed by the gov.
aruOr and the latter by the judges OF
sbe supreme court.
The fourth proposition puts II up to
the people whether they desire the
legislature to prescribe forms OF ap-
peintive government for their county
&nd township units. Just which ON.
cials are to be left elective and which
shall be appointed Is to be reserved
70 the legislature. by this method ali
uaits will have uniform government.
This proposition Is intended, also, as a
reform In the direction OF the short
ballot.
Though the proposition for the state
70 issue 350.0O00O0 for better roads
WAS defeated by u majority OF 2Ols
votss last September, the Legislature
Aas paved the way tor raising approx.
Iaateiy S3.000.000 each year for such
purposes. through the passage OF tho
o!te bill, which provides for tax OF
! half mill ON the total tax duplicate
- the state.