The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-05-13
Plumb Bill Is Defeated.


was made certain when the house Of
representatives several days ago de-
feated the Plumb bill, which had
been heralded as the administration
amendment to the school code. The
measure sought to permit all villages
Of 500 or more inhabitants to exempt
themselves from county supervision,
to place all high schools in rural Sec
tions under the county superintendent
instead of under district supervision,
and to permit the almost total aban-
donment of district supervision in any
county II the various boards Of edpca-
tion so chose. 1t has been decided to
replace the defeated Plumb bill by the
Winans proposal, which is pending in
the senate. This is less sweeping
change from the present law. 1t ad-
heres to the existing provision which
permits only villages of more than
5000 to exempt themselves from coun-
ty supervision. 1t permits only first
grade high schools instead of all high
schools to remove themselves from
district supervision. 1t provides that
no district shall contain less than 80
teachers, whereas the present law per-
mits districts to have as few as 20
teachers. But instead of adhering to
the existing provision that districts
may not have more than 40 teachers
each, it removes all limitation, and
thus would permit the practical aban-
donment of district supervision at the
volition of the various boards, just as
the Plumb bill proposed to do. There
are now about 700 district supervisors
in the state. The Plumb bill would
have reduced the number to approx
mately 200. The Winans bill will re.
duce 1t to about $50
Aims to Reduce Fire Hazard.
A person who fails to take the
proper precautions to prevent fire may
be held for damages, so Attorney Gen.
eral Turner has ruled in an official
opinion to State Fire Marshal E. r.
Deffenbaugh, who is now conducting a
general cleanup campaign in the va
llOuO ClIlCO VI IuC SLdJC W IcuuC6 IuS
fire hazard. "At common law, one en-
ploying fire as his agency, or upon
whose property fire has been acci-
dentally or without his fault started,
who fails to exercise ordinary care
under the circumstances to prevent its
spread to neighboring property, or one
who negligently or carelessly starts
fire, is liable to damages to another
for injury to person or property, Of
which injury such fire or its spread
is the proximate cause" This is the
attorney generals holding 1t will be
seen from this that there is consider
able individual liability for damages
resulting from fires caused by care
lessness.
UphoIds Board Of Charities.
The control of the board of state
charities over children's homes Is alb
solute. A ruling by the attorney gen.
erals department shows this Because
of failing to come up to the standard
fixed by the board, the children's home
of a southern Ohio county was denied
a certificate of endorsement by the
board, which the law prescribes must
be obtained to be legally authorized
to receive and care for dependent
children. Defying the board, the insti-
tuition in question essayed to enter
into contract to care for the children
of an adjoining county, which is with
out a home. The attorney general
says that such a contract would be
illegal and that the county sending
the children to the home would not
have any right to pay out money for
such a purpose The ruling gives ad
ditional force and effect to the law
under which the board of charities is
bringing children's homes of the state
up to a higher basis of efficiency.
Agree to Permit Appeal.
It looks as If police chiefs will be
able to appeal to the state civil serv-
ice commission in the event of their
dismissal or suspension. The house
and senate conference committee,
which has under consideration the
civil service bill, has agreed to permit
the appeal in order to satisfy dry" in
terests, who fear that if the bill passes
in its original form some of the lib
eraP mayors will dismiss police chiefs
who have been holding on under the
old statute. The new statute gives an
appeal to the city civil service COM
V1NiCctAno dnnc thu 10 hIIt
at the same time it legiE!Etes the pres
ent commissions out of existence and
places the appointment of successors
up to the mayors.
To Abolish Primary Petitions.
The house of representatives Thurs
day night approved and sent to the
senate a proposal to abolish primary
petitions and to permit all primary
candidates from the governor down to
get their names on the ballot by mere
declaration of candidacy.
New Liquor License Bin.
The second McDermott bill, repre-
senting the administrations solution
of the liquor license problem, appeared
in the senate a few days ago.
1t divides the state into 81 districts
for the issuance of licenses and pro-
vides that for each district two license
dispensers shall be named by the
county clerks, recorders and chairmen
of county commissioners within the
district. The administration will try
to get this bill through, but it is op-
posed by Democrats and Hamilton
county Republicans.
Willis Plans Trip to Expo.
Gov. Willis is planning to go to the
Pacific cNast to attend the Panama
exposition next month. He will be ac-
companied by his staff. 1t is probable
that he will be gone at least three
weeks. Ohio day at the fair will be
celebrated during his presence there.
This will be the governors first out
ing. Since becoming governor he has
been an exceedingly busy person, often