The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-11-30
Special coIumbu, correspondsnt.
the Ohio state utilities
y commission and the law under

which it operates, President
Frank L. Beam of the Ohio
Independent Telephone association, at
the 25th annual convention of that
body, declared that successful opera
tion OF public utilities commissions
throughout the United States has
made government ownership of tele-
phone companies unnecessary and un-
dsirable. THE Ohio commission" said
Beam, has recognized the fact that
its position is one of a mediator, that
ittmust, on one hand, protect the pub
lie against exhorbitant rates and, on
the other, protect the utility against
Unfair competition and see that it OBJ
tains a reasonable return on its in
vestment." More than $50 managers
and officers from Ohio and adjoining
states are in attendance at the con-
vention. Among the speakers, besides
President Beam, are: c. Y. McVey,
Cleveland, president of the United
States Independent Telephone asso-
citation; ". S. Vivian, Chicago; D. ].
Gable, Lima; Frank G. Odell, Omaha;
S. D. Webb Ohio civil service commits
sioner, and others. Reports offered at
the convention show that the year has
increased the number of independent
telephones in Ohio to the extent of
$4,000, making a total Of 100000 in
operation.
Hack Driver as Examiner.
The state board of administration
was surprised to learn that the state
civil service commission had appoint
ed ]. W. Vance, said to be a hack
driver at the Girls Industrial school
at Delaware, as a member of the
board of examiners to pass upon the
educational qualifications of appli-
cants for positions at the school, DR..
2. B. Campbell, president of the civil
service commission, who answered
the call of the board, denied knowl-
edge of the appointment but reported
later that he had learned that the ap-
pOintment had been made by S. D.
Webb, the other civil service COM
missioner. DR.. Campbell said that he
would rescind the order creating the
appointment.
Will Administer Oath.
Although no announcement has
been officially made yet, it is under
stood that Chief Justice Hugh L. |
Nichols of the Ohio supreme court will !
administer the oath to Gov.,elect
James NJ. Cox when he is inducted
into office for second time on the ,
second Monday in January. The cere-
monies will probably be held in the .
rotunda Of the capitol. The other new
ly elected state officers will be sworn
in by other members of the court.
Shelter to Get Appointment.
Maj. John S. Shelter of Columbus,
of the quartermaster department, is
looked upon as sure winner for the
appointment of assistant Quartermas-
ter general under the new state ad-
ministration The position is now held
by Col. William H. Duffy of Colum-
bus, appointed by Gov. Willis when he
took Office two years ago. Maj. Shell
ter is familiar with the duties of the
office it is believed he will receive,
having been an assistant to Col. Duffy
during all of his term.
Lands Dairy Show.
Ohio has landed the 1917 session of .
the National Dairy Show association,
it is announced. The executive COM
mittee of the national dairy show de-
cided upon the state fair grounds at .
Columbus for the 1917 event at Chi
cago, when it was given assurances !
that if at all possible a coliseum, af- .
fording shelter and warmth to the .
exhibits and visitors to the show next !
October, will be constructed Gov
elect Cox has assured those behind !
the project of his hearty Endorsement !
and cooperation. Plans for such &
coliseum have already been drawn and .
are in the hands of Secretary Stout
fer of the state agricultural board. !
They contemplate a concrete and steel .
structure with seating capacity of |
10000 and display ring 116 by POI .
feet. 1t will be necessary for the COM
ing legislature to authorize the appro-
priation for the coliseum, but this, it .
is anticipated, will meet with little or
no opposition because of the evident .
need of such a building at the fair
grounds for many meetings and gath
erings and annually take place on the
grounds.
Considering Food Quiz.
Gov. Willis is still considering the
question of a special session of the
legislature to probe the high cost of
the United Mine Workers for an in
vestigatiOn, Gov. Willis received a
copy of a similar resolution from the
Retail Merchants association of Ham
ilton, o., urging an investigation of
the high cost of commodities.
May Seek ChaIrmanship.
Senator e. G. Lloyd of Franklin
county, who will be the one third-term
member of the senate-that is, the
cNly member to be elected three times
in succession, has about made up his
mind to seek the Craftsmanship of the
senate finance committee rather than
the position of president pro TEN of
that body The Craftsmanship is really
the most important assignment with
in the gift Of the senate. The incum-
bent also serves as a member of the
state emergency board which meets
whenever occasion demands between
legislative sessions.
Appeal Case to Court.
The Ohio ice cream manufacturers
have carried to the supreme court
their fight to prevent the railroads
from increasing the rates on ice cream
A new schedule of rates |
for such shipments was promulgated
by the railroads last winter, but upon !
appeal to the public utilities commits &