The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-06

BLUNDERS
In The Enactment Of Sever.
al Measures
Shows IneffiCienCy OF Pres.
ent Administration
Civil Service Ripper Is All
BaIled !Up
Bad Bull" Made In State
Highway Law
Calling For Bond Sale 10 Yrs.
Before Issued
Calling For Bond Sale 10 Yrs.
Before Issued

Columbus, o., July 3-lnefficiency on |
the part of the present state admins
tration is now being evidenced in er-
rors discovered in enactments of the
general assembly and signed by the
governor, which probably render those
enactments null and void. Early after
the adjournment of the long drawn out
session, at q time when preparations
should be under way for putting into
effect the new laws, the question is
raised about some of the major rip
pers as to whether or not they are
really valid acts. In the case of the
civil service ripper, which is designed
to make a mock of the merit system
ordered in the constitution by vote of
the people, it is designed that the gov
ernor signed bill different than that
passed in the house, and that the
house considered a different bill than
that passed in the senate. The differ
ence is in a single phrase, but of great
moment; it exhibits carelessness in
lawmaking which threatens the entire
act. Attorney General Turner is try
ing to find authority for holding good
| the act, but a rule of the supreme
court heretofore made in a similar
case would indicate small hope.
Just as serious is an error in the
state highway law which will at least
make it difficult to sell highway bonds.
By crelessness in construction it is
made law that bonds shall be sold
which shall mature "ten years before
the date of ISSUE" Regardless of con-
struction by the attorney general, bond
buyers will hesitate to purchase high
way bonds which might be made
mere scraps of paper" by an attack
on them in the courts.
Doubtless other errors will be
found in the multitudinous proceed
ings of the legislature, to add to the
expense of its worthlessness. No won
| der so many of its members are try
| ing their durndest to get their next
years pay in advance. And worse than
all else, oh! horrid thought, if this
business keeps up, Willis may have a
hard time getting back his job at
Ada, at the close of his first and only
term as governor.
AS a facer for those Sinister" inter
ests that opposed Governor Cox for
reelection because he made compul'
sorry the workmen's compensation law,
comes the report of the state industri-
al commission, just issued. Review
ing the administration of the law it is
shown that since the law has been in
operation it has saved Ohio employ
ers the enormous sum of $8, 2,334.97
These figures are reached by compari
son of reports of actuaries of various
states, and in this comparison it is
made evident that the average rate is
293 per cent of the Ohio rate. Thus
instead of paying $4,S63, ,904.13 Ohio
employers would have paid $12,7S6,
239. 10 under the private liability sys
TEN. OF this amount $5,114,0 900 woult
have gone for salaries, rents, commits
sions, ETC., while the remainder o
more than $3,OOO,OOO would have beer
clear profit. In Wisconsin and Michi
gan where liability companies are al
lowed in the field the rates are yer.
much higher than in Ohio.
Here is paragraph from the Find
lay Courier showing the interest take
in the referendum on the gerrymar
: der of the state which would depriv
the people of fair proportionate poll
ical representation in congress; IRE
erendum petitions will soon be in eli
culation here against the congressiol
! al gerrymander. From the genera
+ sentiment expressed 1t is believed tn
iniquitous ripper will be relegated