The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-05-06
NEWS CULLED
in THE CAPITAL
WHAT LEGISLATORS ARE DO
ING AND OTHER HAPPENINGS
Special Columbus Correspondent,

SOhl OF CFlSlS IN Ine general as
sembly has resulted from the ac-
ton of the house in defeating the
administration liquor license de
centralizer" as constituted in the
Andrews bill. Responsibility for
the defeat of the measure is be-
ing laid at the door of the al
legged weakness of the bill itself,
and plans are being made to prepare
a substitute or compromise measure.
Following the defeat of the bill Gov.
Willis made the emphatic declaration
that before the legislature adjourns
sine die a statute will be enacted de-
centralizing the licensing authority
and preserving the law enforcement in
the state. It was an amalgamation be-
tween the Cincinnati Republicans and
the Democratic side that caused the
state administration to suffer the most
serious setback Of the present session.
Many observers aver that the defeat
was due in part, at least, to the failure
of the administration leaders to pre-
pare for their battle, and whether this
is true or not the fight on the floor in
dicated, at least specifically, that the
opponents of the bill had laid their
plans more carefully than the friends
The Democrats stood practically as a
unit against the bill. The Democratic
floor leader, John Kramer Of Richland
county, made a speech against it,
charging that by providing for the Sc
lection Of saloon licensers at primary
elections the bill failed to fix any
central responsibility in the event of
looseness in the observance of the law.
Andrews, the author OF the bill, de-
clared that its prime purpose was to
prevent the building up of a state ma
chine through the agency of the sa-
looms and the license employees, and on
this ground he made his main fight.
Asked to Define Prize Fight.
Every now and then the attorney
general is asked to define a prize fight
A prosecuting attorney will write in
advising that fistic contest is sched-
uled to take place in his county and
asking if it should be regarded as a
prize fight and what the prosecutor
should do about it. In answer to an
inquiry from Prosecuting Attorney
Charles P. Adams of Lorain county,
Attorney General Turner replied that
whether or not an exhibition of the
manly art was a prize fight or only a
scientific boxing contest depended
wholly upon the facts. The law pro-
hibits prize fights, but allows boxing
matches. Mr. Turner cited the law
and court decisions on the subject of
prize fighting and told the prosecutor
to apply these to any case which
might come under his observation and
determine himself whether this was
such a setto between eXponents of the
squared circle as is barred by law. So
this puts it up to the prosecutor to de-
eide what constitutes a prize fight.
Prosecutor Adams has been trying for
some time to stop pugilistic encounters
which are staged from time to time at
Lorain.
Get Extension of Tenure.
Chief clerks and clerks of election
boards In all counties get an extern
sion of tenure from next August until
the following May as a result of a
ruling by Attorney General Turner.
The last legislature enacted a law
changing the terms of election board
members so that they would begin on
the first day of May instead of the
first day of August, and the effect of
this is to extend the term of members
whose terms otherwise would have ex-
pired this coming August to May of
next year. In ruling to Secretary of
State Charles Q. Hildebrandt who is
chief election supervisor, the attorney
applies to the chief clerks and the
other clerks of the boards.
Fatal Accident Is Recalled.
Exactly half century ago April 81,
the steamer Sultana sank in the Mis-
sissippi near Memphis, Tenn, carry
ing 1900 Union soldiers, who were be-
ing taken north, down to a watery
grave. Most of these soldiers were
Ohioans. The boat contained $500
soldiers and was badly overcrowded.
A boiler explosion caused the disaster.
The river was at flood stage, and this,
together with the fact that the soldiers
were weakened from confinement in
southern prison camps, made the cas-
ualty list heavy.
Ohio Flag to Be Returned.
Volunteer Infantry by the First Ala
bama regiment at Ringgold, Ca, in
December, 1853, will be returned to
the survivors of the Ohio regiment by
their former foes on the state house
grounds in Columbus early in May, ac-
cording to arrangements which are be-
ing made by representatives of both
regiments. A committee having the
proposed transfer of the banner in
charge conferred with Gov. Willis
about this and submitted a plan for a
ceremony.
Desk Has interesting History.
In the consignment of office equip
ment Of the Ohio state bindery, just
removed to new quarters by State
Printer ]. e. Cross, is an old cherry
desk which has an interesting history.
This desk was used in the old state
house building after Ohio became
state, over 100 years ago. The desk,
in spite of its great age, is still in fine
condition and apparently is good for
many more years of service. 1t is a
solid piece Of furniture. For dura-
bility, workmanship and excellence of
material it surpasses furniture that is
made in this age.
viii Cut Down Expenses.
The house finance committee was
surprised when State Bank Superin-
tendent Harry T. Hall declared that
he could run his department on $780,
900 less during the coming year than
It cost to operate it last year. Last
wear the cost of operation was SSn 000