The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-01-25
MAY channe Ballot Form.


James NJ. Cox in his message is
being considered favorably by major
ity leaders. 1t is known as the Massa'
chusetts plan. 1t does away with ''vot
| ing 'er straight" Names Of all the
candidates for an Office are listed
under one head, in one column, with
party designation and residence print
ed to the right of the name. Candi.
dates for governor, for instance, in the
last election would have appeared like
| this:
James NJ. Cox, Democrat. Montgom-
cry county.
Frank B. Willis, Republican, Hardin
county.
Candidates for other Offices would
! have been grouped in the same way.
This plan would make it necessary
for the elector to designate each can
didate for whom he wished to vote, for
there would be no party emblem at
the top of the column and no circle
in which to mark ticket straight.
After recommending revision and
! recodiiiCation of the election laws,
Gov. Cox says: AT any rate, the cleo
! ton laws should be recodified with
| care and without unnecessary expense.
| 1t is recommended, therefore, that a
! legislative committee be appointed for
! this purpose, and to examine also into
| the Massachusetts plan of voting. Its
chief recommendation is that it en-
courages independent suffrage action,
and brings a fuller understanding of
the issues. 1t is always wise in con.
| templating an important change in
law and custom to precede legislative
act by careful survey. The executive
recommendation is made pursuant to
that thought"
Professional politicians In Massachu-
setts and in New York, where 1t was
adopted in a modified form, suggested
/ that it would seriously embarrass the
iIliterate voter. This suggests the de-
sirability of educating the illiterate
voter. Doubtless there will be ap-
pointed by the general assembly a
commission of inquiry into this plan
and the reconstruction of the election
| laws will be undertaken.
Accepts cox's Suggestion.
The acceptance, with a pleasure
which was evident, of the minor
tiles in the senate and house of
the suggestion of Governor Cox that
there be created by the general as
sembly non-partisan special joint
committee to act upon the emergency
| caused by the overturning of the tax
assessment law by the recent decision
of the supreme court made probable
the enactment of law on this subject
which will meet constitutional require
ments as seen by Ohios supreme
court.
His message ca the exigencies Of the
taxation situation was read by the gov
ernor to a joint session of the houses.
1t was a fOrCeful, lucid explanation OF
the opinion of the supreme court as
it affects both the t-Whittemore
and the Warnes laws; the situation
now confronting the general assembly,
and the lines which should be followed
| in formulating a new law.
A joint resolution providing for the
naming of four members from each
house by the presiding officer to draft
a bill for the assessment of taxes and
to make recommendations for basic
changes in tax laws, was passed In
the senate Barry and Horn, Democrats,
and Harding and Tremper, Republi-
cans, were named for the committee.
In the house, c. ]. Smith and ], S.
CUTLERY, Democrats, and Frank S. Par
rett and Milton Clark, Republicans,
were named.
Governor Issues Warning.
Warning that unless something
is done, the whole highway sys-
TEN of Ohio is going to the
devil" Governor Cox addressed the
eighth annual meeting of Ohio fair
boys at Chamber of Commerce audi
torium concerning his plans as to i'm
provement Of roads, agricultural ad-
ministration and rural schools during
the next two years.
Says Experts Are Needed.
Expert assessors to fix property val
ues are vitality necessary in the state
tax system, according to Senator H.
H. Timby of Ashtabula, who has
studied taxation questions for many
years.
He would substitute the trained
assessor for the elective guesser, who
now does the work, and does it poor.
ly, as Senator Timby says the results
show. 1t is his belief that the general
property tax will ultimately be cast
into the discard and give way to a
better plan. But he contends that any
plan that may be brought forth that
does not provide for technically
trained assessors to fix values will
fail.
Rortck Resigns.
DR.. F. H. Rorick, Republican, Of
Wauseon, rendered his resignation to
Gov. Cox as member of the stae
board of administration to take effect
Feb. /. Gov. Cox accepted the resig-
nation and appointed DIR. A. F. Shep-
ard, Of Columbus, to fill the vacancy.
Makes New Nomination.
Gov. Cox has withdrawn from the
senate the nomination Of Louis M. Day
Of Ross county as member Of the utili-
ties commission. Day was named by
former Gov. Willis. Gov Cox sent the
name of Oliver H. Hughes Of Highland
county to the senate for the position.
Cities Will Control Taxation.
The great cities of the state will
control the machinery that will pro
duce the taxation laws in the present