The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-02-23
Agricultural Commission Rip.
ped. Fer Hungry Politicians
md Administration Of Work.
DeR's Compensation
Crippled


graft which Governor Harmon drove
out of the sessions of the general as
senbly and which Governor Cox kept
out has again shown itself, it is al
legged, in the deliberations of the Eigh-
ty.first General Assembly, the legisla-
tive wing of the much-heralded econo-
my administration.
1t will be remembered that the first
act of the assembly was to authorize
the purchase of a nice, new, leather
bound set of law books for each men,
ber at neat little price for the pub
Usher. This was just starter. Now
the members of the two houses are
supplied with pocket-knives, note
books and the like, monogramed for
the owner by the authorization of the
majority leaders. Unnecessary and
unexpected supplies are finding their
way into departments, not the least OF
which is highly FURNISHED cuspidor
in the female stenographers' room
Bills for these have not made their ap-
pearance, but when they come it will
be interesting to note the head under
which supplies" will go.
When the senate ordered fumiga-
tion and cleaning up of the senate
chamber it was little dreamed to what
end the aesthetic tastes of the con-
trolling majority would lead. Bye and
bye posies made their appearance in
the buttonholes of the senator's coats.
and this week without the batting of
an eye the bill of Columbus floral
company therefor was ordered paid.
But it has not yet gotten by the eagle
eye of Auditor Vic Donahey. Of course
all this is but nothing compared with
the daily waste of from three to four
thousand dollars for the sessions of
the assembly which have now run
through the seventh week without CIV
ing to the state single thing that it
worth while.
The test of strength between Chas.
Hildebrandt, secretary of state, and
Governor Willis, came in the vote on
the Deaton bill to take the bureau of
vital statistics from the secretary OF
state and merge it with the state board
of health The measure was defeated
by the friends of Hildebrandt, who has
been out of the good graces of the
Willis crowd for reasons that have
been obvious. Representative Dea
ton, author of the bill, was so angered
that he said never again would he
drive up and down the Miami Valley
at the behest of the Republican state
committee. Now if these men would
only get mad enough to bring perma
nent adjournment all would be wei
with the state.
State Highway Commissioner James
Marker will be in charge of the worl
of the Portage County improvement
association after March Is accordin,
to announcement. Another associa
ton of road building material men ha
been after him offering a salary o
$4,000 yearly. 1t would scarce seen
that Marker has been getting too mucl
money for his work in looking afte
all the road building in the state O
Ohio, and yet the probe committee rec
commended that his salary be reduced
Note please that he Is going to Da
Hanna's own county, on merit
After all 1t will be found that whe
the senate and house amendment
have all been made to the approprit
ton measure, whole lot Of this ecor
omy talk will be shown up as pures
bunk, or the efficiency of state depar