The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-20

their fight against dereiiction Of duty
and miseo ndvct In Office.
The predominating feature OF the
legislative accomplishments fs q de-
sire to serve humanity. An important
departure is the law which gives the
otate board Of administration the Gus.
tody of ali unfortunate children that
are committed to state institutions.
tor tho purpose Of studying their needs
ln an observation cottage 10 be built
h Columbus. and then to send ths
Juveniles to the institution best equip.
ped to give the needed treatment and
care. Substantial foundations for that
cheerful message of hope which the
governor gave to the prisoners IN the
penitentiary on the first Sabbath Of
his administration have been built by
several new laws. One provides for
the transfer Of the prisoners from the
dirt and CRIME Of the old penitentiary
to new institution to be built In the
pure and wholesome atmosphere OF
the country. Provision was made for
the employment Of convict labor on
the roads and In making road.building
machinery, the men to receive a com.
oensation. The earnings Of the pris.
0ners In excess Of the cost q mointain.
Ing them on all classes of employment
will 80 to the dependents Of the men
incarcerated to provide against want
and hunger. and II there are no de.
pendents. then the prisoners will re.
ceive the money when they leave the
institution.
Indeterminate sentences, with
the period Of Incarceration de-
pending upon the conduct Of the
men. have been established to in
still lessons OF self.control, while
day schools have been estab-
ltshed to give the penitentiary
prisoners better equipment for
the battle Of life when they leave.
Contract labor has been abolish.
ed in jails and warehouses. as
concession to labor and to do Jus.
tice to the men.
Compulsory Workmen's Compensation.
Senator William Green. former pres.
ident Of the United Mine Workers OF
Ohio and prominent In labor circles.
has pronounced the compulsory work.
mems compensation act "the greatest
piece Of humanitarian legislation ever
put into the Ohio statutes" while
other experts declare It is the mos.
comprehensive act of the kind In ex.
istence. No longer will injured work
men or their dependents be forced to
make tedious struggles through the
courts for compensation. Instead ade-
Quate and prompt payments will come
from the state compensation fund.
while the employers will receive pro.
lection at . cost far below what they
have been paying.
Mothses' Pension Law.
Closely allied with these humant-
tartan measures 10 the mothers
pension act, which assures succor
and sustenance to needy mothers
struggling to keep precious families
ut their own firesides. A maximum
OF SIS month is provided for the
first child under "a years of age. AMI
maximum of 81 for each additional
child. This measure will not increase
the taxes. as 1t Is simply a diversion
into the channel indicated of a por-
tion OF the funds that have been given
to the poor and needy. Experience
In other states has demonstrated that
mothers pensions are both practical
and economical method Of extending
charity. The levy for this purpose is
to be kept within the limitations Of
the Smith per cent tax rate law.
To Benefit Labor.
The state Industrial commission act
was designed to eliminate jealousy
and duplication OF effort and to pro.
mote efficiency and economy In the
different state labor departments. I'm.
der the consolidation OF these depart
ments provided for by law 1t is estl.
mated there will be a saving OF many
thousands OF dollars annually and the
influence OF labor's representatives In
the state government will be increas'
ed many times. This commission will
have Jurisdiction OF all matters con.
cerning the relation of employer and
employe. Wide powers are given this
commission in the matter Of fixing
hours OF employed women and chill
dren: the commission will gather da.a
for minimum wage law for women.
Other measures especially desired by
labor are those providing for an In
vestigation of occupational diseases,
the payment OF salaries semi-monthly
placing penalty on sweatshops
larger caboeses on railroad trains. and
an eight.hour work day on all public
contracts.
Farmsrs' interests Promoted.
The agricultural interests we're es
pecially well taken care OF under the
direction of Governor Cox, himself y
successful farmer. An agricultural
commission was established for the
purpose OF consolidating the seven
different stat departments engaged IN
promoting this science,
r. Z There were n trlplleatlons and Il