Year: 1876




The Cincinnati Police Bill created great
discussion in our Legislature, as did also the
House resolution to appoint committee
for the purpose of investigating the man
agement of the Soldiers Orphans Home at
Xenia. A large number opposed the first
bill because they thought it interfered with
the right of the people in home rule, and
placed the power of an important local gov
eminent in the hands of an outside influence
that could not possibly understand the
wants of the locality. Another large party
favored it because they believed that the To-
cal government was in the hands of clique,
or ring" who, by corrupt maneuvers were
able to control elections and to retain the
reins of the government against the will
of the people. This bill went through the
Senate on very close votc-16 to 19-one
member voting in favor of it (Mr. Burrows,
of Ashtabula), singularly enough, Under
protest. This gentleman said he believed
this bill was an exception to most laws; that
as general law, it was bad one, taking as
it did from the people the right to govern
themselves; yet this bill had come as an ex-
ception to the general rule, and was in
dorsed by honorable gentlemen who declared
its passage desired by the better class Of
citizens of Cincinnati. While in principle
opposed to this measure, he was willing to
vote for this bill, believing it was a case de-
manding something more than ordinary
treatment. Mr.. Burrows, then, in fowery
words and warm colors, painted picture,
descriptive of the glories of popular suffrage
and yet another picture showing the people
of Cincinnati asking the strong arm Of the
law to protect them from themselves. He
closed by saying he should vote for this bill
under protest.


The bill to reorganize the Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans Home called forth fierce
and prolonged debate; and was finally
passed in the House by vote of 81 to 80.
The gist of the bill is, that there has been
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. under the superintend-
ency Of Mr.. Kerr, the present incumbent,
who is Democrat; and reorganization is
desirable, as well as an investigation into
the conduct of the institution. As far as /
can see, the whole matter might just as well
have been settled without being introduced
into the Legislature. Ithas consumed time,
and after all is merely partisan measure.
That is my opinion of it, looking at it in the
light of an independent correspondent


A bill was introduced into the House at
one of the evening sessions, fixing the rate
of State taxation. The bill places the
amount at 10 mills on the dollar for all
purposes.


Corporations seem to have great advan-
tage in the Legislature. Why is this thus?
Has it become a custemY Then it werewell
that it were more honored in the breach
than the observance. Quite number OF
bills have been introduced intended to
remedy the evil of certain corporations
abusing their privileges. But they have
fallen dead. Mr.. Groom, of Franklin intro
duced bill which may interfere with the
profits of gas companies. The bill provides
that the agent of gas companies, whose duty
it is to- take zthe measure of meters, shall
make affidavit that the certificate of the
amount of gas consumed is correct. This is
intended to prevent the outrageous and ir-
regular monthly charges of gas companies.
But-but-that's the end of it! And DR..
Norton, of Seneca, introduced bill to au-
thorize competition in the manufacture of
gas. That is bill that should have gone
through like a streak of lightning.


And Mr.. Bohl introduced a bill proposing
to compel the Marietta and Cincinnati road
to build depot at Marietta. But what do the
people of such one-horse town as Marietta
want with a depot? OF course the bill was
killed. Wonder if any of the members of
the Assembly have got passes on the road
Hope not. s


Perhaps, Mr.. Editor, I find too much fault !;
but, let me ask you, isn't it singular that
our Legislators will carry their personal PRE-
judices into the great halls of the State As
sembly? Alas how few of us are states
men! Kenmore.