The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-25
TosO9og
CONGRESSMAN WILLIS ACTS
IN the OHIO LEGISLATURE
Record Is Submitted in Contrast With the Work OF
Last SeSSOnr-Ha Voted for Ripper" Bills in
Cincinnati and Toledo and Was Aligned Against
Labor and Progress on All Issues.

IT, was recommended for passage by
the committee on taxation, but the
standpat candidate for governor, q
member of the committee, did not
sign the report.
To Uphold Petty Graft.
II. B. All provided against the ac-
ceptance and use of railroad passes
by members of the legislature, state
and other officials. 1t was referred
to the Judiciary committee. f-r. Price
of Athens moved to lay Mr. Stages
motion on the table. The standpat
candidate for governor voted to chlor-
oform the bill.
On Treasury Whitewash.
House Resolution 33 provided for
the appointment by the speaker OF
the house OF committee of three to
count the monies in the state treas.
ury and conduct a thorough investi-
cation of the manner in which the
affairs Of the treasury had been ham,
died over a period of ten years; also
to report whether there had been any
Irregularities, such as illegal loans Of
the funds of the state. This was the
beginning Of the fight to expose con-
ditions in the treasury which subse-
quently led to a statewide scandal.
The resolution was referred to the
finance committee, which returned
white-washing report and recommend
ed indefinite postponement of the res
olution. The standpat candidate for
governor voted for indefinite post
ponement.
Both Ways at Once.
House Joint Resolution 13 memoH'
allied congress in behalf of an amend
ment for the popular election of Unit
ed States senators by the people. The
standpat candidate for governor voted
"No." When 1t came up again he
voted YES" The facility for being
on both sides of a question seems to
have been developed at an early day.
1t will be recalled that he favored
President Wilson's policy on the
tolls exemption, but after making
trip to Ohio opposed the president.
Infamous Cincinnati Ripper.
II B. 67 was piece of ripper legis-
lation depriving the people Of Cincin-
natl Of local self-government and car
rying the appointment by the COVER
nor OF the state OF five members Of
the board of public service of that
city. In the house the bill was in
charge of the standpat candidate for
governor, who was it's pilot until il
was destroyed by an overwhelming
public sentiment March /, 1900, In
order to save the bill from defeat, II
was amended so as to provide that
the governors appointees would serve
only until the next municipal election
The standpat candidate for governor
voted against the amendment and 1t
was lost. Foreseeing defeat unless
the bill was radically changed, Repub-
l!can members from Cincinnati sub
mitted another amendment, permit,
| ting the electors OF that city to elect
all of the members of that board and
taking away the entire appointing
| power of the governor. On the roll
call on this amendment the standpat
candidate for governor voted second
from the end. BY the time his name
was reached the amendment had car.
ried. so he voted for il.
Inconsistency In Tax Stand.
I II is interesting to observe that
while the standpat candidate for gov
ernor has been declaiming against
the appointment of personal property
assessors, he voted for the appoint
ment of assessors when s. b. 297 was
up. 1t provided for the appointment
by the county auditor of Cuyahoga
county of AZ assessors in the city OF
Cleveland, and such number of assist
ants as such auditor deemed neces,
sary.
More "aipper" Work.
Many people will recall to what ex-
tent "rlpper" legislation was carried
in the legislature under the old order.
1t developed into such legislative
abuse and such widespread disfran
chisement of the voter in municipal
matters that the supreme court
prompted in considerable degree, no
doubt by public indignation. declared
all ripper" laws to be unconstitu
tional. The last one of these that
was passed was s. b. 225, providing
for the appointment by the governor
in all cities OF the third grade OF the
first class OF board of four police
commissioners to control the police
department, This was directed al
Mayor Jones OF Toledo. On April 10
1909, the standpat candidate for gov
ernOr voted for the bill.
These measures Will recall the poll
cies OF old. and they definitely fix the
mental attitude OF the standpat candi
date for governor on the vital Issues
OF the day because the Laws passed
by the present general assembly. in
large degree. remove tho conditions
created by the bills IN question.
The administrator OF Governor Cor
cheerfully submits the work Of the
last general assembly with respect t.
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