The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-02-18
BY o. A. DONOVAN.
Special Columbus Correspondent.

ed by either house of the assem-
bly, went through the lower
branch recently when approva,
was given to the Kramer honest elec
tions" measure, which goes now to the
senate for consideration. The Kramer
bill supplies that which is now lacking
in the present laws, namely, a right o.
recount of the ballots cast in initiative
and referendum elections. This righ
was held to be lacking when demand
was made recently for a recount in
certain counties of the ballots cast or
the home rule" amendment. The
pending measure contains provisions
that are unique in their drastic re
quirements. Prior to a vote upon any
proposal submitted to the people un
der the initiative and referendum, any
interests suspecting fraud to be pur
posed could compel the sheriff of the
county to name a number of individu
ais as special deputies to be stationed
at precincts where fraud might be in
dlcated and to have all the powers oi
election officials to command honesty
II, after an election, the courts should
determine that in any precincts voters
had been intimidated or fraud had
been practiced, the entire vote of such
precincts could be thrown out. A Wig
orous effort was made during the
house discussion to take this section
out, but the house blocked any amend
ment. The bill received 100 favorable
and only 8 negative votes.
Attack Made on Proposed Merger.
Vigorous attack was made on the
proposed merger of seven Ohio and
two West Virginia insurance com
panies at a hearing held before the
state blue-sky department Wednesday
to determine if the certificate issued
by the department to the Is trustees
who are promoting the proposition
should be revoked on the ground that
the state insurance department and
not the blue-sky department has au.
thority to issue such certificates. At.
torney General Turner will decide
which department has jurisdiction
He will give his ruling next Thursday
The trustees want authority to hold
shares of stock in trust pending the
outcome of the efforts to unite the
companies into one concern. Officers
and directors of the various COM
panies are fighting the proposed con-
sclidation, realizing if it goes through
+hey would lose their places. Former
Gov. Judson Harmon and Former
State Insurance Commissioner E. H.
Moore of Youngstown represented the
trustees. Judge John M. Sheets of
Columbus, w. L. David of Cleveland
and John Schmidt of Cincinnati ap-
peared for the opponents of the
merger
Protest Civil Service Measures.
Protest is being made against the
two civil service measures pending in
the general assembly because they
discriminate against soldiers and sail
Ors who have fought in defense of this
country. The old law provided that,
all other things being equal, soldiers
should be given the preference in fill
ing appointments. No consideration
is given any person who has served
in any of the wars of this country in
either of the new bills, and soldiers
are demanding that they be amended
to give recognition to soldiers. Grand
Army posts, camps of United Spanish
War Veterans, camps of Veterans of
Foreign Wars, the Sons of Veterans
and other patriotic bodies will ask
the legislature to incorporate a pro-
vision in the civil service law that
will give recognition to those who
served the country in time of war.
May Recommend Bohm Bill.
The house labor committee has
given intimation that it believes all
persons should get at least one days
rest in every seven, and it is likely,
therefore, to recommend for passage
the Bohm bill providing that in nearly
all industries in Ohio employees be
given such a relaxation from work.
The bill, however, exempts railroad
men employed on moving trains, bak-
ers and some other employments
where constant attention on the part
of employees is required The senate
Judiciary committee probably will rec
ommend for passage the Lloyd bill
regulating the operations of loan
sharks.
Jitney Bus Line In Columbus.
Columbus is to have a jitney bus
line. 1t will be in operation within
one month At least so automobile
busses will be used at the start and
more will be added as the demand
arises. Jitney busses will run on all
the principal trunk thoroughfares. The
fare will be jitney, which means
FIVE cents. Jitneys are all the "go" in
western cities and they are meeting
with success. It is probable that the
city will exact license fee for each
bus operated.
Rules on Lending of Money.
The state may only lend money to
banks at the regular bidding period
once every two years, so Attorney
General Turner holds in a ruling to
the state board of deposits. Bids for
the use Of the funds must be sub
mitted to the board between the first
and third Mondays in March, and the
awards are made for two years in the
following April. In another ruling it
is held that farm products of the
Ohio State university and the state
experiment station at Wooster may
only be sold for cash. mo trust
goes" says the opinion.
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Decides Against Brokers.
II is gambling To hnv and soil