The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-01-09
cox ISSUES CALL;
NAMES SUBJECTS
Ohio Legislature to Convene In
Special Session.
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, The TIME

Matters To Be Considered by the As.
sembly Include States Public
School System, Screening Of Coal
Revision of Auto License Law, the
Initiative and Referendum and Mu-
nlclpal Home Rule.
Columbus, o., Jan. 7.-Governor
James M. Cox, in a proclamation con-
vening the Eightieth General assem-
bly, Monday, Jan. 10, outlines the sub
jects that will be presented for the
consideration of the legislature.
These subjects, nine in number,
deal with changes in laws creating
and maintaining the public school
system; relations between coal oper-
ators and miners and particularly the
regulation of the weighing of coal at
the mines; amendments which will
provide for the direct selection at the
! primary of candidates for United
States senator. and for filing sena-
torial vacancies; repeal of the 1914
appropriation bill for the purpose of
effectng economies in the expenses of
the state government; revision of the
automobile license law which will
place the funds so derived in the
| highway department exclusively;
amendment for the purpose of safe
guarding and protecting the initiative
and referendum; placing Of all reye-
nues derived by departments in the
treasury Of the state each week; re-
vision o, banking laws which will en-
able state banks to adjust themselves
to the provisions of the currency bill;
provision conveying the right of
municipalities to issue bonds in case
of municipal ownership of public
utilities, il they are self.supporting.
Because of the novel provision of
the constitution under which the SEN
ators and representatives will assem-
BILE, the governor combined in one
official paper his summons and his
message, recommending legislation.
instead of transmitting his message
after the two houses had convened
and had notified him they were ready
for business. as has been customary.
| Discussing the public school ques-
tion. the governor refers to the work
done by the school survey commits
sion, and says it's report will be sub
mitted in full to the assembly He
continues:
1T will be noted that while condi-
tions in both the city and rural
schools need legislative attention, 1t
is suggested that at this time we d.
rect our efforts to the rehabilitation
Of the rural schools, where the neces-
sity for change is more pressing.
Country schools in Ohio, as in every
other state, have in many sections
drifted into a deplorable condition as
a direct result of system designed
originally for conditions that no long
er exis. Some counties are poor in
property resources. The time has ar
rived to take hold of the conditions
which inevitably penalize the poor
sections with inefficient schools. ]
recommend, therefore, such changes
in existing laws as will enable every
county to make consolidation of dis.
tricts, where desired, and to enjoy
efficient supervision and the service
OF trained teachers. This justifies
state aid, the commonwealth provid-
ing half the cost of supervision in
every county"
Screening of Coal.
Governor Cox refers to the findings
OF the commission appointed at the
last session to make investigation Of
conditions In the Ohio coal fields. He
says the commissions report will he
submitted to the legislature in due
time. The governor pronounces the
bill drafted by the commission to be
better than the one discussed at
the recent session, inasmuch as it
aims to protect the interests Of the
miner, the operator, and consumer,
He adds that the commissions sug.
gestion in behalf of conservation be
laid aside for the timo and the gen
eral assembly consider the question
Of the mine run.
Referring to the election of sena-
tors, by direct vote and the filling OF
vacancies, the governor says: "If a
/ vacancy should now occur, before the
governor can acJ power must nave
, been conferred upon him by the leg
p islature OF his state, and unless such
power has been conferred by act OF
. the lawmaking body, there is no way
: of filling such a vacancy until a spe
3 cial election shall have been had in
5 the manner provided by law" He
recommends legislation covering this
point,
Governor Cox next recommends
that the Warnes law be so changed
as to place all funds under 1t derived
. with the highway department. Undel
y this plan, he says, there can be co
: ordination of the states actlvitie:
3 with reference to the maintenance
!; and protection of the public high
J. ways.
Initiative and Referendum.
: Taking up the subject of the initia
tive and referendum, the governo
suggests the Strengthening and re
, fining Of the present act. He referreC
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