The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-03-09

solution For the Eastern OHIO
Coal Strike, is Backed by Operators
but Opposed by Miners-BeitIer A.
sessing Plan Adopted by House.
DoIngs Of the Legislature.
Columbus, March 5. - Democrats
and Republicans voted together in
passing the Gallagher bill, amending
the Green anti-coal screen law SO as
tc permit coal operators and miners
to contract as to the method Of min
ing. The vote was 23 for and .
egainst the measure. Friends OF the
bill expect the house to pass it next
week.
The Gallagher bill is intended to
Cffer q solution for the eastern OHIO
coal strike, which has been on since
last April and which affects about
$4,000 miners. Repeated efforts to
cgree upon basis Of operation under
the present Green law. which requires
that all coal be weighed before II 10
PASSED over the screen. have failed,
even though the federal government
took part by conducting an investiga-
tion through conciliators. Operators
backing the Gallagher bill contend
that the strike will be settled imme.
diately IL the bar to contracting with
the miners as to the method of mining
is eliminated. Miners generally are
opposed to any change in the present
law.
AS the Gallagher bill passed the
senate, it carries an emergency clause
which will. make 1t effective immedi-
ately on receiving the governors sig
nature. without the necessity of delay
for q referendum, which would hold
IL up until the November election.
Eight out of the thirteen Democrats
voted for the measure and four Re-
publicans voted against it.
That "there was not q scintilla Of
evidence produced either directly or
indirectly or circumstantially that
would in any way connect the Lucas
county Democratic legislators with
Irregularities in voting at the last
election" is the gist Of the report
which the house probe committee sub
mitted to. the house in dismissing the
Lucas county election contest.
Four Supervisors Dropped.
The Republican majority pushed
through the house the Better meas
ure, decentralizing for this year the
tax assessing system, attaching an
emergency clause to protect 1t from a
referendum, and reconsidered and
passed the Reighard bill, abolishins
as useless the four state supervisors
of teaching of agriculture at an an
nual saving of $4,000.
Preparation to complete the tai
program was made by accepting from
the committee the permanent decen
tralizer, styled substitute for the
! Parrett bill, and orlering it on the
calendar for passage next week
tSThe BETTER bill expressly abolishes
the office of district assessor and BY
implication puts out also all the cfvi
service employees OF these assessors
Lest there be doubt of 1t, an amend
| NlouL may 10 OhCiCu III thO SSh"s'
expressly legislating them of the pay
roll.
New bills appeared In the house
Relief for city finances is sought b,
the Jackson bill. raising the Ions
worth municipal debt limit from T.
per cent OF the tax duplicate, an
exempting from per cent tax limi
food and epidemic bonds, bonds II
sued in anticipation OF collection Q
special assessments, refunder tax al
sessment bonds, and bonds Issue
prior to Jan. /, 1918.
To save heavy cost, q Reighard bi
makes optional the valuation of pull
lie service corporations by the stat
Utility commission. A bill by Clar
limits after three years the annus
expenditures of domestic insuranc
, companies to actual or anticipate
gross income from premiums durin
the previous year. with authority
the state superintendent Of insurane
to allow expenditure Of 10 per cent
the surplus fund. Directors are mad
personally res, onsible for over-e
penditure.