The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-07-03
Commissioners Will
Get More Power In
Welfare Department

NOAAAiOuo, July O-NOrJ-1H an
insurgent revolt, led by Represen-
tative George c. Philpot (R-Sum-
merfield), the Ohio legislature
Monday overrode Gov. Thomas ].
Herbert's veto of a bill which
would permit county commission
ers to abolish county welfare de-
partments
Rep. Philpot, author of the bill
he introduced February 10 when
the state welfare department was
running the Noble county depart
ment after seizing it on January
q, loudly objected when the Re
publican leadership attempted to
indefinitely postpone the issue.
His objection was sustained by
81 members of the House of Rep
resentatives when Speaker G. viii
liam O'Nein called for a standing
vote on the motion of Majority
Leader Paul L. Mccormick to kill
the bill.
Let the state stay out of
the affairs of the county cosn-
missioners," Rep. PhilpOt urged
when the question of whether
the House should override the
veto required.
Here's a bill that cost no
money" Rep. PhiIpot said, @and
1T returns to the county COM
misSiOners a power that be-
longs to them"
Rep. Philpot said that the power
to abolish was much needed In the
smaller counties, like Noble where
the welfare department has become
over-staffed and overly expensive.
Rep. George c. Braden (R-War-
REM gained the floor and asked
that Gov. Herbert's veto be sus-
tanned because the bill would make
it possible for county commission
erS to abolish the whole welfare
setup for political reasons.
Let the welfare department
be responsive to the wishes of
the people through the county
commissioners" Rep. Philpot
replied upon re-gaining the
floor.
The roll call vote was 81 to 35,
just three more votes than the "a
necessary to override the COVER
nor's veto. The Senate went along
with the House by vote of 20 to 6.
Gov. Herbert's veto Saturday
was the second time he has taken
a public stand on this issue. In
1943, when he was attorney gen.
eral, he declared in an official
opinion that the county commits
sioners are without authority to
dissolve a county welfare depart
ment
The states seizure early this
year of the Noble county welfare
department was the result of a
wrangle between the Noble county
commissioners and the state well
fare department. Late last year
the county commissioners had
passed resolution abolishing the
county welfare department in the
interest of economy.
The unprecedented dispute came
to a head when County Auditor
I Ray McVay refused to honor
vouchers drawn up for needy blind
persons and mothers of dependent
children. The issue was settled
when the state turned the depart
ment back into local hands and the
newly elected auditor, Harley
Wheeler, signed the vouchers.
In espousing his bill on the floor
of the House of Representatives,
Rep. Philpot told his fellow mem
bers that allowing the county COM
missioners to have fall control of
the county welfare department was
"only the democratic way.
Rep. Philpot was able to line up
other rural legislators, who also
disliked the states ever-encroach-
ing bureaucracy and got his biz
through the organization of state
government committee.
This committee recommended its
passage on April % and on May 20
it was passed by the House by a
vote of 108 to z. On being received
from the House, the Senate sent it
to the judiciary committee which
recommended passage. 1t was
passed in the Senate by a vote of
"a to and was enrolled and
signed by the speaker of the House
and the president of the Senate on
June 18.