The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-29
NEWS CULLED
IN THE CAPITAL
WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE DO
ING AND OTHER HAPPENINGS
Special coIumbu. corr.sp0naent.

law, was passed Dy the senate
several days ago by a strict
party vote. It provides for the
election of assessors to take the place
of those appointed by the tax COM
mission with the approval of the gov
ernor. II there is a referendum on
the measure, this will prevent the Sc
lection of assessors next November
and would continue in office indefinite
ly the present appointive assessors.
Amended so as to satisfy the assem-
bly,, the governor, the tax commission
and the new district assessors, the
PARROT -Whittemore bill now will go
back to the house for concurrence.
This will come speedily, and another
of the administrators biggest meas.
ures will be out of the way.
FaVors Keeping Fence.
If the house of representatives com.
mittee on public buildings and lands
has it's way the time honored fence
that hedges in the state house yard
will continue to interpose itself be-
tween the Capitol squirrels and the
would-be canine invaders. The ques-
ton OF whether the fence shall or
shall not continue to be has been a
troublesome issue for the committee
for some time. And when the COM
mittee finally decided, it turned down
all arguments and permitted senti-
ment to hold sway. Had not the
fence been there for years? Had it
not been a protecting barrier for the
squirrels? Did it not serve to keep
live stock off the lawn? The mem
bers of the committee didn't happen
to think that the fence is no longer a
thing Of beauty. 1t forgot that not
only is the fence open at various
places and thus no protection to the
rodent denizens of the Capitol lawn,
but also that there are no longer any
dogs to speak of in the business sec
tion Of Onio's capital. Moreover the
fact was lost sight Of that live stock
is as rare a sight in Columbus as on
Broadway in New York So it was
sentiment surrounding the iron bar
rier and the squirrels inside of it that
led the committee to turn a deaf ear
to all arguments. The arguments
were that the fence was no good, that
it didn't protect the squirrels, that
the squirrels are dying anyway and
ought to be removed to the country,
and that it is high time that the state
abandon precedent and make the Cap
itol lawn an open parkway for the
people.
Farming at Camp Perry.
Farming will take the place of
mimic warfare this year at Camp
Perry, where the state rife range is
located and where encampments of
the Ohio National Guard are held,
This will be beating the sword into
the plowshare. Instead of using the
grounds for military maneuvers this
year, it will be utilized for the more
peaceful and profitable purpose of
raising corn. Adjutant General B. w.
Hough will go to Camp Perry next
week to arrange for the corn planting.
The corn will be used as subsistence
for the horses and mules which the
state keeps at the camp grounds for
the use of the National Guard. The
maneuYers will be held elsewhere.
Again Loses Fight in Court.
Having lost in his efforts to oust
the Standard Oil Co. from the state
the supreme court having decided
against him, there is more or less
general curiosity as what tactics
George H. Phelps, the Findlay lawyer
who has been fighting this corpora
tion for years, will next use. He has
brought a large variety of suits
againts the Standard, and his latest
which the court has just knocked out
was one in which he sought to have
the secretary of state compelled tt
revoke the right of constituent com
panies of the Standard to do business
in Ohio. He contended these com
panies should be ousted on thu
ground that they are violating thu
antitrust laws of the state
Suitable for Maneuvers.
Logan county was found to be suit
able in every way for brigade ma
neuvers by the National Guard officer
who visited that county this week, re
turning Friday, to make an inspection
to determine the advisability of hav
ing the Guard hold it's encampmenti
there this year.
Bill Hits Alien Divorces.
A bill which is expected to re
duce the total number of divorces
granted aliens in Ohio and which il
supported by Austrian Consul Ernes
Ludwig OF Cleveland and other repre-
sentatives of foreign countries in thu
state, was passed by the senate.
was the bill of Senator Fellinger o
Cleveland, which orders the judge re
ceiving the divorce petition of al
alien to require bond and also or
ders the clerk of courts to notify tn,
nearest consul of the action.
Willis Signs Whittemore Bill.
Many dangerous grade crossings will
no doubt be eliminated Throughout
the state as the result of the passag
by the senate Thursday of the White
more house bill, authorizing count,
commissioners to assist the council
of villages IN cooperating WIN rail-
road companies in the expense of elm
mating such grade crossings. At tn
present time the village must bear 8
per cent of the expense and the rail
road 65 per cent, and because Of th
comparatively high cost to them vii
lagos are unable in many instances tt
do away with dangerous crossings.
Tells Need Of Appropriations.
Members of the state board of ad
ministration told the house financ
committee recently that appropria
tions are needed for additions to a
least a dozen of the state institutions
They submitted figures showing tn
overcrowded condition Of the institu
tions and the pressing need for NOR
room. The population of the 19 stat
institutions has shown q big growtl