Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-01-15
LEGISLATURE
SESSION OPENS
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR AND
CIVIL SERVICE PROBE PRIN.
clPAL FEATURES.
COX DEFENDS ADMINISTRATION
Denies Stringency In State Treasury
Or That His Term Has Been
Wasteful.
COX DEFENDS ADMINISTRATION
tBy Denny ponovan.l

(By Denny Donovan.1
Columbus. O.Governor Coxs mes
sage, relating in a measure to the
state, and the side tracking of the
plan of Representative w. S. Hoy, of
Jackson county, for an immediate in
vestigation of the state Civil Service
Commission, were principal features
in the opening of the Eighty-First
session of the Ohio legislature. The
Governors message contained Wig
orors defense of his administration.
He asserted that there has been
neither waste nor extrav agance during
his term of Office and that he leaves
the state on sound financial basis.
He said that the sum in the general
revenue fund is now $S,654.762, while
balances in the highway, sinking,
school, liquor license and special
school funds bring the total up to
S11,224,551. The size of this sum, he
said, is unprecedented" He de-
clared that the statement concerning
a deficit in the treasury is too abb
surd for consideration"
DIR. Hoy resisted efforts of the leg
islative leaders to induce him to post
pone the Introduction of his resolution
for civil service house cleaning un-
til the legislature has received the
message of Governor-elect Willis. 1t
was pointed out that the incoming
governor will make recommendations
in this matter This resolution, DIR.
Hoy said, was aimed at the elimina,
tion of such preposterous things as
noncompetitive examinations. A party
caucus was held on the matter, with
the vote against the Introduction OF
the resolution.
Organization of both branches of the
Assembly was effected without marked
incident. In the House Secretary OF
State, Charles Graves, presided and
former Clerk John P. Cassidy, of Lo-
gan, called the roll, which disclosed
three absentees. The oath was ad-
ministered by Supreme Court Judge
r. IA Wanamaker, the members re-
peating it in unison in body. Several
members failed to bring their election
certificate with them.
The Republican nominee for Speak
er, Charles D. Conover, was presented
by Representative Oliver ]. Thatcher,
of Clinton, and seconded by Represen-
tative Frank Reighard, of Fulton. The
Democratic nominee, John F. Kramer,
Of Richland, was presented by Repre-
sentatives Irwin Snyder, of Picka-
way, and Culbertson p Smith, of But
Ter.
On being escorted to the chair Con
over took the oath from Democratic
member, Representative George D.
Jones, of Franklin. Assuming the
gavel he reminded the body that the
people of the state had asked certain
things to be done, and If failure to
respond was noted. duty would be dis
regarded,
In the senate, when called together
by Lieutenant Governor w. A. Green
lund, every senator save John E.
Holden, Of Warren county. Demo
erat, was present. Associate Justice
R. M. Wanamaker. Of the supreme
court, came from the house to admin
lister the oath, and in due order, with
perfunctory regularity, the body
elected the officers chosen in the Re-
publican caucus; Senator Charles J.
. - - u
dent pro tenn; w. c. HALEY, of Darke,
for clerk, and F. NJ. Ackerman, Of OF
tawa, for sergeant-at-arms.
The solitary Progressive member OF
the lower house and of the assembly
itself. Representative P. o. Shank, OF
Medina county, voted with the Repub-
iicans upon the speakership, and will
be seated in that group He did not
however, attend their caucuses.