The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1949-01-27
LEGISLATIVE
NOTES
By GEORGE c. PHILPOT

Assembly met IN JolnC conVen-
ton to listen to Governor
Lausche's address.
The speaker of the house call
ed the House to order and then
turned the gavel over to Lieu
tenant Governor George D. Nye
who called the, joint convention
to order and asked if a quorum
was present. A majority of each
House was reported present.
Gov. Frank J. Lausche was
then escorted to the rostrum of
the House by joint committee
of senators and representatives.
The Governor delivered his mes
sage in which he stressed eigh-
teen important matters and stat
ed that other recommendations
would be made later. He deviat-
ed from the printed speech
which had been placed on our
desks at several places to eX-
plain or emphasize certain rec
concentrations.
The message discussed the
need of a revision of the tax
structure of Ohio. This is per
ennial recommendation which is
good, but which no administra-
ton seems willing to undertake.
Many of the recommendations of
the Governor deal with increased
expenditures for which, accord
ing to the newspapers during the
past few weeks, he has said the
funds were not and would not
be available.
An increase of unemployment
compensation from $2100 to
$500 a week for 26 weeks was
asked; also the maximum to in
jured workers to be increased
from $25.00 to $4,000 week.
Sickness or temporary insurance
for workers was recommended.
Let me quote the recommend
alton for schools: 1T is my hope
that in this biennium as always,
we will be able to provide ade-
quately for the public school
system of Ohio.
Fair employment practice leg
iSlatiOn was recommended. This
is a very controversial matter
and will provoke lengthy debate.
A bill dealing with this subject
died in the Reference Committee
of the 9th General Assembly.
The state was asked to appro-
pirate funds necessary to match
the $500 which has been award
ed by the U. S. government for
AID to the aged.
The Governor recommended
the continuance of the postwar
highway program, the clarifying
of provisions of the present Strip
Mining Control Act and the ap-
preparation of funds for its en-
forcement.
Another recommendation ask
ed that the Governor be granted
authority to remove sheriffs
who tolerate gambling in their
counties. Also recommended was
thcDreduction Of a IS percent ap-
proVal of bond issues to so per
cent.
The galleries Of the House, as
we'll as the space back of the
railing, were crowded with spec
tators to hear the Governors
message. The whole affair is
quite impressive and I wish
more of our citizens, especially
those in the schools, could see
this phase of their government
in action.
Following the retirement Of
the Governor from the rostrum,
the House went into a working
session. After approval of the
Journal, caucuses were called by
the leaders Of both parties which
lasted until near midnight. When
we convened after the caucuses,
1t was necessary to cover the
clocks because House rules do
not permit continuing a session
into a second legislative day.
There then followed very
stormy session brought about by
an attempt by Representative
Albert A. BeneSch, of Cuyahoga
county, to get a reconsideration
of the vote by which the report
Of the Select Committee on Rules
was accepted.
After an hour of debate, the
motion by Mr.. Benesch was
steamrollered through. This mo-
ton called for a reconsideration
of the vote by which the report
of the Select Committee on Rules
was adopted and the report to
be left pending.
The House, then adjourned
until Tuesday, when the roll of
the counties was called for the
purpose of introducing bills.
Upon completion of the Tues
day session, the House adjourned
until Monday, January "a.