The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-06-03
NEWS CULLED
in THE CAPITAL
WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE DO
ING AND OTHER HAPPENINGS
getaway Session Of Ohio Assembly.


days ago signed the Gallagher bill,
over which there has been a bit
ter contest between the coal op-
orators and coal miners. The bill
makes optional the provisions OF the
Green anti-screen law passed l6
months ago. The Green law was at
tackled as unfair by the coal operators
of the eastern Ohio district, and their
mines have remained idle since it went
into effect. With the election OF the
present assembly last fall the coal op-
orators started a movement for the
repeal of the Green law or for the pro-
visions being made optional, and when
the assembly met the Gallagher bill
was one of the first measures consid-
cred. Organized labor and miners
started fight to prevent passage of
the law, but it was finally pushed
through. Miners say they will take
referendum. In a statement explaining
his reasons for giving the Gallagher
bill his approval, Gov. Willis said:
Miners in every mining district Of the
through reductions in wages short hours
or entire lack of employment; their fami
lies have been in want; suffering, like a
grim specter, has stalked through the
mining regions of Ohio; mines have been
idle and the coal business Of Ohio has
preston In our country. Many factories
are idle, production has fallen off and this
has had its effect on the mining industry.
Even in sections of the state where there
- 10
been at a standstill. This no doubt, IN
due in part to the general industrial de-
screen law has been on the statute book
has been no strike thousands of miners
have been out of employment.
To what extent this unfortunate condi-
ton is due to legisla tion Is, of course,
problema tical. Such a condition, If allowed
to continue, would work the perma nent
destruction of the business of mining coal
in Ohio, thus forcing our miners to seek
employment in other lines of industry or
to move to other states which have al
ready absorbed most of Ohio's coal busi-
ness.
This result would be disastrous to our
citizenship, to say nothing of the vast de-
struction of property values. Ohio has
enormous quantities of coal; 1t ought to
be mined by Ohio citizens for the use of
Ohio people; a permanently, peaCeable,
equitable and economical way must be
found to do this.
The patriotic good sense and self-re-
straint manifested by both. miners and op-
orators in the recent strike gives confident
| hope for the future. / had a humble part
in the meeting at Canton at which miners
and operators came together in a spirit OF
| concession and mutual forbearance to ad-
| just their differences This same spirit
permeated the adjourned meeting at Cleve-
| land which brought about a settlement OF
the difficulties that had beset the mining
regions of our state.
Both miners and operators deserve the
thanks of the people of Ohio for their pa
triot!c cooperation for the promotion Oi
their efforts points to the ability and de-
sire of miners and operators to come tc
agreement and make contracts for the set
| tlement of cOntroverted points
| 1t should be noted that amended senate
| bill No 72 does not repeal the coal screeI
law; it only restores to miners and oper
atOrs alike the right to make contracts
with each other. My observation of tht
representatives of both miners and oper.
ators and my interviews with them make
me certain that they are men of large abil
| ity, intelligent alert, resourceful-eact
amply able to look out for the interests o.
those whom they represent and to prepare
| contracts affecting those contracts.
| Whether the interests OF society al
| large require legal restriction on the right
of contract in this instance must be de.
termined by experience. The proposed
amendment of the coal screen law pre-,
serves the salutary provisions now vested
in the industrial commission, the right o.
miners and opera tors to make contract:
between themselves is restored.
Party alignments were not apparent II
the vote on this bill. In the senate 1t re,
ceived the support Of the floor leaders o.
both political parties; Is Republican sen
ators and Democratic ators voted fol
the measure; Republican and 5 Demo
crates voted against it.
In the house AZ Republicans, q Demo
Gratis and / Progressive voted for the bill
in this number were included the fiooi
leaders of both political parties. Twenty
seven Republicans and "a Democrats II
the house opposed the bill. 1t is, there
fore, apparent that action on the bill IL
both branches of the general assembly
was not in any sense on political lines.
To be perfectly frank, l have approached
the question Of signing or vetoing this bill
rather from the viewpoint Of the man wht
works in the mines than from the view
point of investors or operators. l havt
not considered the plan of permitting th'
constitution, without any action by me.
shall not evade any responsibility PLACED
upon me by the law and the constitution
The facts and arguments on both sides o
the question have been carefully weighed
some Of the arguments used in favor o
the passage of this bill l utterly disap
prove; nevertheless, after the most pains
taking consideration, l have decided t.
sign the bill.
o. N. G. Encampmenrs.
Official orders for the Ohio Nationa
Guard encampments for this seasoI
have just been issued by Adjt. Gen. B
w. Hough. The First and SeconC
brigades will hold maneuvers at Vel
low Springs, Greene county, wher'
some $500 acres of territory Is avail
able for the operations of the troops
The First brigade, with the Second
Third and Sixth regiments, with thu
Seventh infantry, Ninth battalion o
infantry and Toledo signal corps at
tached, will be In camp from July q
to Aug. 2.
Senate Passes FelIinger Bill.
With only the dissenting votes o
Senators Myers of Marion and Wick
line of Akron and under suspension o
rules, the senate passed a new bill in
troduced by Senator Fellinger o
Cleveland exempting from limitations
of the Smith 1O-mill levy law interes
and sinking fund levies for municipa
bonds issued for construction of sew
age and waterworks plants ordered b!
the state board of health II the bono
issue has been approved by referen
dunn vote of the people. This applies
however, only to bonds for plants al
ready ordered by the health board.
Willis Gives Langdon Job.
Lawrence K. Langdon of Lebanon
has been appointed member Of thu
Ohio utilities commission by Gov
Frank B. Willis. He took his sea
May 81 when Charles G. Marshal
retired by resignation. His com
miasiOn rms until Feb 1917 Mr.