The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-15
NEWS CULLED
in THE CAPITAL
WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE DO
ING AND OTHER HAPPENINGS
Special Columbus Correspondent

court procedure whereby virtual
ly any case could be carried to
the supreme court Is one of the
latest things to reach the general as
sembly. Naturally the proposed change
can be made only by the entire electo-
rate, and so the suggestion is for the
submission to the people Of a consti-
tutional amendment. Such an amend
ment is now advocated by Senator
Lynch of Lucas county, who has intro
duced a resolution that would put the
question up to the people next fall.
The suggestion recalls that his point
was one of the most debated in the
constitutional convention of 1912.
Primarily it was proposed that all
cases be stopped in the court of ap-
peals excepting controversies involv-
ing the constitutionality of laws. This
later was changed, but not greatly, so
that the question submitted to the peo-
pae in 1912 and ratified by them was
the question whether the court of ap-
peals should be the court of last re-
sort for about 95 per cent of all litiga-
ton. Now, the suggestion for re-
turn to the old system comes from the
contention Of many lawyers and other
observers that the new plan has done
as much If not more harm than good
by virtue of the numerous disagree
ments that have occurred among the
various courts of appeals. One in
stance in particular is recalled by Sen
ator Lynch of the case of poor liti-
CANT who sued for damages for per-
sonal injuries, but whose case was
thrown ont by the court of appeals in
his part OF the state. But later an
other court of appeals in a similar
case gave a contrary ruling, showing
that if the litigant had lived in the
other part of the state he would have
recovered damages. But now, even if
the supreme court, which steps in
when the courts of appeals disagree,
should uphold the second decision, the
original litigant would be none the
better off since his case has been de-
cided and thus disposed Of But, of
course, the advocates of the return to
the old system do not answer the argu-
ment as to the delay of the courts. In
fact, they admit that the new plan has
expedited the action Of the courts by
preventing most of the cases filed
from being carried clear to the last
tribunal. And probably this factor,
the expedition of cases, will be used
as the strongest argument against the
restoration of the old appellate pro-
gram.
Young Divorce Bill Defeated.
In many of the courts throughout
the state of Ohio it is as easy to get
a divorce as it is to walk across the
state, according to the statement made
In the house of representatives by
Representative Tate Cromley of Knox
county, who argued in behalf of the
Young bill abolishing uncontested di-
vorce cases and giving the courts the
right to appoint Investigators to help
them ferret out marital troubles and
bring about settlements wherever pos
Eible. Mr.. Cromley said that he had
in mind numerous instances wherein
people were able to slip into court
during the noon hour and emerge in
four or five minutes with divorce de-
cree. Such a thing is a stigma on
our civilization" said he. The Young
bill was defeated by narrow margin
and NAV be reconSidered
Must Sign Warrants.
The Columbus board of education is
taken to task by State Examiner c. P.
Godfrey because of it's practice of
using rubber stamp signatures. He
found that the clerk would sign war
rants for the president with rubber
stamp signature of the latter official
The law requires warrants, to be
signed by two officials and counter
signed by a third, but instead of going
to this trouble the board would simply
have rubber stamp signatures used.
The examiner pointed out that the
president could not delegate authority
to any other official or employe of the
board to sign legal documents for him.
Want Passes Restored.
State fair exhibitors are organizing
to aid the movement to reduce the
state fair admission fee from so cents
to 25 cents. They are also demanding
that passes be restored for themselves
and employees. They threaten to with.
draw their exhibits unless these con.
cessions are granted. The Moore bill
to reduce the admission to 25 cents
will soon be up in the senate for
action.
Celebrate Marietta Day.
Marietta day was celebrated at the
Panama exposition Wednesday by the
Ohio Society of California. This
marked the first white settlement in
Ohio at Marietta April 7, 1888. Daniel
j3. Torpy of Marietta, acting directing
commissioner from Ohio, was in
charge of the ceremonies. He is from
Marietta. Gov. Willis sent a telegram
to be read for the occasion.
Calling for Their Money.
The various counties of the state
are daily sending calls to Auditor of
State Donahey for the money due
them from the state for the enumer-
ated school youth. There is in the
neighborhood of $1,25O,OOO due the
counties, but the money cannot be paid
out until the bill authorizing this is
signed by the governor. The bill was
passed March 80, but for some reason
not given it has not been sent to the
governor. Donahey has asked the so,
Ions to hasten action on the measure
so that he can issue warrants for tn
money.
So.o.N-N-~~sN~.N~N-N-N-NI
Denies Endorsennent