Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1902 — TO FRAME OHIO LAWS. [ARTICLE]

TO FRAME OHIO LAWS.

Special Session of the Legislature Is Called to Order. The Ohio Legislature convened at 3 p. m. Monday in extraordinary session at Columbus, to enact laws for the government of municipalities and to restore lost jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, these matters having been clouded by the action of that court early in the summer. Each branch of the General Assembly was called to order promptly, and after roll call the Governor’s message, accompanied by a municipal code bill prepared under the direction of the chief executive, was received. Following this resolutions were offered on the death of William Bell, Jr., former Secretary of State and at the time of his death a member of the House. Adjournment was then taken. In his message Gov. Nash first called attention to the act passed last May depriving the Supreme Court of nearly all the Appellate jurisdiction formerly possessed by the court. The repeal of the act is recommended. Continuing, the message says: “During the last days of June the Supreme Court of the State handed down several decisions, which practically deprive our municipal governments of all government. It is apparent that this creates an extraordinary situation, which needs a remedy at the earliest possible moment. Constitutional government must be restored to our cities and villages. The labor demanded of us is not so much a work of construction as of readjustment. "The question now is not what we. think would be a model municipal government, but what we can get considering the constitutional limitations and nil the circumstances. The task must be approached with a spirit of ‘give and take,’ and with a determination to accomplish something which will bring order out of chaos. It is time enough to -attempt to have our favorite ideas in regard to municipalities incorporated into law after order has been rcs'jfrcd and when the General Assembly has ample time at its regular session to discuss and consider them.”