Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-26
.Ohio's Governor
Outlines Avance

Columbus, Dec. 26--Claiming thai
Ohio has today on its statute books
more real progressive legislation, re-
Gently enacted, than many other states
in the Union Governor James M. Coz
today outlined through the United
Press, in the following article the pro.
gram which Ohio's legislature has put
through:
BY Governor James nj. Cox. of Ohio
Written for the United Press
Upon Ohio's statute books are writ
ten fifty-six of the most progressive
laws in the nation, evolved from fifty
six campaign pledges to the people of
Ohio before the last election. Thanks
to a body of men composing Ohio's
general assembly, so patriotic in spirit
that to oppose the right of the people
would be treason, Ohio is enabled to-
day to call herself among the fore
most of the states enjoying the free
| dom of the peoples prerogatives. am
grateful for this opportunity to tell
the people of the nation what Ohio has
already done in the past eventful
twelvemonth. Briefly:
The Warnes Tax law takes taxation
out of politics, creates uniformity and
will bring to light every dollar of tax
able property in Ohio. 1t provides an
appointive taxing official in every
county. Local political chickering's, in
fluence and obligations are effectively
eliminated
The Mothers pension law levies a
pittance of tax on the comfortable for
the benefit of the needy-the mothers
and their dependents. 1t will save
many families from want in every one
of Ohio's 8S counties the first year.
The second year we estimate it will in
crease in effectiveness fifty per cent
Ohio's compulsory workmen's COM
pensation law is step in advance over
all of them. 1t provides system of
claim investigation that defies fraud.
1t gives both workman and employer
a square deal at negligible cost to
each and clears away masses of costly
court litigation. It's compulsory feat
ures affords every workman its bene-
fit and insures protection to his de-
pendentS.
The new liquor license act eliminated
1904 dives and joints. 1t put out of
business first all of the winerooms so
frequently patronized by young girls
and women and is step toward higher
morels, less debauchery, white slavery.
and common evils emanating from the
influence of liquor. 1t brings to light
of day business that has thrived in
the dark. 1t absolutely eliminates OBJ
jectionable liquor traffic and limits
the trade to one saloon for every five
hundred of population in counties now
known as "wet."
Our "Blue Sky Law" operated by
the state banking department abolish
es the shady operations of illegitimate
land sharks, wild cat speculations and
fake banking institutions. 1t places
sole control in the right place.
Boys under 16 and girls under 10
years of age are barred from health
racking employments, an evil so COM
mon in most states, by Ohio's newly
enacted child labor law.
Ohio today has a general code of
good roads laws. Most important is
the Hites law, providing for a half
mill levy in every county to be used
in the construction of II main market
roads and a system of inter-county
roads connecting every section with
a fine paved highway. A sum of eight
hundred thousand dollars is now in
the state treasury waiting to be spent.
1t provides for the raising of $780,
900 annually for ten years. 1t will
free Ohio from mudholes and provide
highways that will reduce the cost of
transportation of farm products.
The housewives market basket is
now protected by an act prohibiting
combinations to fix prices and provid-
ing that violators shall be fined and
sent to the state penitentiary. There
is also now no loophole for the dealer
who uses short measures.
The state has appropriated ample
funds to fight the great white slave
plague. 1t has in addition considered
the general health precautions more
amply than ever before. Upon Ohio's
statute books were also placed during
the past year, laws granting munich
palities the option of home rule in any
practical form; creating an efficient
industrial commission; eliminating po-
litics through the civil service; ad-
justing and simplifying court proceed
ure; adequate flood protection; provid
ing for thorough investigation of
farm credits; giving the state board
of charities general supervision of the
care of all dependent, neglected chill
dren; creating state penitentiary
open air farm to be constructed ami
worked by convicts; establishing ele-
mentary day school for uneducated
prisoners in Ohio's penitentiary, fit
ting the illiterate with stamina to re-
sist evil when released and face the
world with an even break: drastic
anti-lobby law and many more.
The greatest object of my admins
tration will have been accomplished
when the legislature this winter adopts
a progressive school system endorsed
by prominent educators all over the
state and lay delegates from every
school district no matter how small. 1t
will provide adequate, thorough and
efficient supervision of every school
in Ohio and a high standard will be
required of every teacher old and
VOflnO