The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-02-26
D. A. DONOVAN,
Special Columbus Correspondent.
Columbus. Ohio.

beyond the touch of the consti-
tutional initiative and referendum
In other words, the nine measures be-
come Immediately operative, while the
rest, excepting the appropriation bills,
must wait for 80 days. Evading the
referendum provision of the |. and R. |
is quite an easy process if the assem-
bly, has the votes. The process con-
sists of tacking on an emergency"
clause by a two-thirds vote of each
house. Then the measure so treated |
isn't the least bit affected by the con-
stitutional provision that Compels or
dinary state enactments to be sus-
pended for three months to give the |
people the opportunity to vote upon
them if the people so desire. This
lodging Of the I. and R. is made par
ticularly easy fer the simple reason
that the general assembly is the sole
Judge of whether measures are "emer
gencies" or not. The constitution says
that the people shall have the right to
pass upon every measure enacted by
a general assembly, excepting only
measures appropriating money or levy
ing taxes, and emergency laws neces-
sary for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health or safety"
The constitution, however leaves it to
the assembly apparently to determine
If the bill in hand is necessary to the
Immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety" So there
were nine measures so considered Eyl
the assembly during the recent ses-
sion. One of them was the auto law.
Another was the bill for the safe
guarding of the initiative and referen-
dunn. Still another was the measure
clarifying the law relating to the issu-
ance Of bonds. Many people would
differ with the assembly as to the re-
lation between these measures and the
peace, safety, etc" And then the
question arises, What is there to pre-
vent an assembly from making all its
laws emergency ones if there are
enough votes so to do?"
Will Issue Licenses Soon.
Secretary of State Graves an
nounces that he will begin issuing IL
censes under the new automobile law
within week. A large force of clerks
will be put at work to handle the rush
for licenses, which will probably last
two months or more. Blanks to con-
form to the new law are being gotten
out now and will be mailed to those
who wish licenses upon application.
The department will be open day and
night while the rush is on. Under the
new law gasoline automobiles will pay
license fee of SIS. Electrics pay SO
and motorcycles So. The Ohio Auto
mobile association recommended this
schedule of rates.
Intends to Stay in Race.
Representative NJ A. Warnes of
Holmes county, Democratic floor lead
er in the house, who was in Columbus
Thursday, said that he intended to re-
main in the race for the Democratic
nomination for congress in his district
and that he did not consider that the
attack made upon him and other mem
bers of his party by the Republican
members for drawing pay for extra
services would injure his chances of
winning However, there are other
Democrats close to the state admins
tration who are of the opinion that
notwithstanding that the house exon
Grated the members who were at
tackled, it would obviate lot of pos
sible criticism which would do the
party no good if he would remain out
of the race.
Can't Sell Liquor on Trains.
One of the last acts of the general
assembly recalls the fact that it is no
longer legal in Ohio to sell liquors on
trains. The new license system is the
cause of the prohibition of intoxicants
in transit for the simple reason that
there is nothing in the license law
permitting trains to act in the capac-
ity of saloons. Thus it was that the
assembly was forced to pay back to
four of the leading railroads part of
the liquor tax which they had paid
for the year 1918. The part refunded
covered the portion of the year after
the license law became effective and
amounted to $152 for each road.
Enact Measure by/PopuIar Vote.
The first law to be initiated" in the
year 1914 may be one aimed at loan
sharks. Such a measure was drawn
for introduction in the general assem-
bly, few weeks ago, but at the last
moment the governor changed his
mind and failed to send in message
recommending it. Charitable and
philanthropic organizations, who are
backing the movement to enact the
measure by popular vote, say they are
not willing to trust the fate of the
measure to the next assembly.
IS Speaker Smashed Precedents.
Although the speaker of the house
is entitled to cast his vote whenever
he wants to, it isn't considered entire
ly regular for him so to do unless
there is a tie. So when Speaker
Swain voted last Tuesday on the emer-
gency clause to the auto bill, he was
smashing precedents, although he was
acting entirely within his rights.
There is no fast rule on the subject,
however, and no law or constitutional
provision to cover it. In the case of
the lieutenant governor, who presides
over the senate, the situation is diff
ferent, however.
Leave for Home,
Needing the call Of home, Ohio leg
islators brought to close day of