The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-05-29
No. A..
To Benefit Labor.

I
thousands of dollars annually and the
I influence Of labor's representatives in
the state government will be increas-
ed many times. This commission will
| have jurisdiction Of all matters con.
csining the relation of employer and
employee Wide powers are given this
commission in the matter of fixing
hours of employed women and chill.
dren; the commission will gather data
for minimum wage law for women.
Other measures especially desired by
labor are those providing for an in.
yestigation Of occupational diseases,
the payment Of salaries semi-monthly
placing a penalty on sweatshops,
larger cabcGEes on railroad trains, and
an eight-he'r work day on all public
contracts.
Farmers Interests Promoted.
The agricultural interests were es.
pecially well taken care of under the
direction of Governor Cox, himself a
successful farmer. An agricultural
commission was established for the
purpose of consolidating the seven
different stat departments engaged in
promoting this science.
There were II Implications and 26
applications in the activities Of these
departments as they had been indie.
pendentiy operated, involving expendi.
lures Of p275,coo annually, and the
measure was designed to eliminate
Them. Under proper administration,
there should be saving of $75, 900 an.
nualiy and better service, through the
breaking up of Iealousies and rivaIries
and nstilling team work-sometEinq
that has been lacking.
A special commission of Ohioans
Is now in Europe studying the farm
credits system of that continent for
the purpose of recommending a law
that. will make money easier for the
farmer to get and reduce his rate of
interest, IN addition brands of fertil.
lZer are to be more rigidly inspected.
additional safeguards have been set
up against the importation of diseased
live stock orchard spraying law was
strengthened and inspection of spray.
ing material was provided for. secur-
ity against the use of unsound stock
for breeding purposes was given, the
county farm experiment law was
strengthened by giving the head Of
the Wooster Experiment Station SUI
pervision of the establishing of sucu
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 stuffs law were strengthened,
protection desired by farmers for
quail and skunks was granted and
pure seed bill was enacted.
Court Procedure SimpIified.
For the convenience and protection
of the people who go to court, there
was effected a complete reorganiza-
tion of the judiciary. The most trou-
blesome part of the tiresome and ex-
pensive journey through the state
courts-that from the circuit to the
supreme court-was cut off in 80 per
cent of the litigation, through a 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 is that authorizing YER
diets upon the agreement of three.
fourths of the l2 jurymen. Every
county will have a 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
missions are to be established in each
county to keep unscrupulous persons
off the panels,
Goodby to Mud Roads.
For the first time since the Ohio
Federation of Good Road societies
was organized 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 $3,5oc,
600 annually for 10 years for the pur
pose of eliminating mud holes and Civ,
ing the commonweaI a complete
system of improved intercounty and
market roads that will be inpervious
to snow and rain.
Another measure requires the use
of the split-log drag, and still another
gives encouragement for the forrna.
ton of local road improvement soti.
eties in each county to cooperate with
the state in road building.
Utilities Law Strengthened.
Ohio has for some time had public
service commission, which exercised
general supervision over the activities
of all public utilities, including bond
issues, rates, service, etc, but a 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.
tion Is to be made of utilities.