The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-04-06
NEWS CULLED
IN THE CAPITAL
ACTIVITIES OF STATE DEPART
MENTS--OTHER HAPPENINGS
Special Columbus Correspondent.

as result OF Lne feuuCOOn IN
fire insurance rates, which are
now in full force and effect as a
result of an investigation started some
three years ago, Under the direction
of former Gov. Cox, probe was con-
Quoted by the legislature to find out if
property owners were paying too much
for their insurance. After the investi-
cation was started the insurance COM
Panies announced that they would cut
the rates. Announcement just made
of new rates shows that an average
reduction of IL per cent in rates has
been made. The companies have lived
UP to the promise made the former
chief executive that they would revise
and lower rates. T. B. Sellers, head
Of the Ohio inspection bureau, of Co:
lumbus, estimates that the reduction
of rates on dwellings for the entire
state is Is per cent, while in fire-pro-
tected cities it is 25 per cent. Exclu-
sive of dwellings. the average reduc-
tion is placed at 1912 per cent.
Replies to Nepotism Charge.
Supervisor J. E. Cross of the state
printing department gave out a state
ment in reply to. the charge of nepo-
tism in his department and excessive
expenditures, made by former Super
visor f. A. Crawford, in which he said
that while it was true that he had
employed two of his nieces in the de-
partment for a short time, and while
no other help could be found Mrs.
Cross had served there, Crawford him.
self had two nieces and two nephews
employed in the department when he
was at the head of it, and therefore
did not come with clean hands him
self to make the charges. AS to the
high cost of the department under his
direction of it, Mr.. Cross said it was
due to the operation of new machinery
and apparatus, the purchase of which
was directed by his predecessor, Mr..
Harper.
Instructions to Taxpayers.
Throughout the state the new elect
i've tax assessors will begin their work
April TO- The state tax commission
benefit to taxpayers in making out
their tax returns. Each individual Is |
entitled to 500 exemption in personal |
property Only one exemption may
be allowed in the same family unless
different members thereof own and
list property separately. Each person .
making a return must make oath that
it is correct. If a person refuses to
list or after listing, refuses to be
sworn, the assessor fixes the value of
the property and the county auditor
adds so per cent penalty to the value.
All property, excepting that of banks
and public utilities, is to be listed as
Of the day preceding the second Mon.
day in April.
Confessed to Firing Hay Stack.
Ellsworth Emley, a farmer near
Lancaster, has confessed to Assistant
State Fire Marshal Matthews that he
fired hay stack on the farm of Adam
Thrush, his neighbor who has been
subjected to numerous annoyanceS and
attacks made upon him in various
ways during the past few months by
someone who evidently lives in his
neighborhood Emley and Thrush have
had several line fence quarrels. Thrush |
reported to the state fire marshal that
attempts have been made at different
times to burn his property, and sew,
eral assistant marshals were detailed
to work on the case. Suspicion was
directed at Emley and he was pre-
vailed upon to confess. He will be
held for the grand jury.
Only One Shut Down.
The industrial department of the Co
lumbus Chamber of Commerce states
that but one industrial plant here was
compelled to shut down it's operations
as result of the flood here this week,
as compared with 63 in the great food
of 1913, and this single plant-that OF
the Union Fork e Hoe Co.-was idle
but one day and part of another.
Offer Prize for Appropriate Song.
Ten dollars in gold will be given by
the state board of agriculture for the
most appropriate song for this years !
boys corn contest and the domestic .
science contests. Any Ohio resident |
can enter the song writing contest. /
The song must be written to some pop
ular air and not contain more than "a
lines.
Report Shows Prosperity.
The combined report of the seven
state free employment bureaus reflect
hn bA ~ of
the state are enjoying. 1t shows that
while there were requests made upon
the agencies for the labor of 4,165
persons, they were able to send to the
applicants only 1887 laborers.
Postpone Hearings.
Further hearings in the eastern
Ohio coal rate controversy have been
postponed by the public utilities COM
mission from April II to May %.
Will Hear Case.
The suit to test the constitutionality
of the Parrett-Whittemor law which
repealed the Warnes tax law, started
in Cleveland, will be heard by the SUI
preme court next Wednesday. An
nouncement of the time of the hearing
has just been made by Frank E. Nc
kean, clerk of the court. The case
was brought by Willis R. Godfrey, a
Cleveland taxpayer, against P. C.
O'Brien, treasurer of Cuyahoga coun-
ty. and other county officials. The
common pleas court and court of ap- /,
peals of that county held the Parrett-
WhiffamOrp law tn no SOuOd /
Violate the Law.
Notwithstanding that there is a Sc
we're penalty for the offense, public off
cials persist in violating the law for
bidding them from being financially !
in public contracts. Such
are frequently shown
up in reports of state examiners. A 4;