Fayette County Herald

Ohio Legislature.

Feb. 5.—Senate—Bills introduced: To amend justice code to allow judgment to be taken on the affidavit of plaintiff that the claim is just, in case the defendant makes default. Joint resolution for printing 16,000 extra copies of the Secretary of State's report, and relating to the distribution of volume 5 of the final report of the geological survey, were passed. Petition for the reduction of county officers' salaries was presented.

House—Bills passed: Providing for publishing sheriff's sales in the German language; Senate bill to give the Chief Engineer of the Board of Public Works a vote in the appointment of employes. A large number of petitions from various counties, mostly on temperance questions, were presented.

Feb. 6.—Senate—Senate bill to allow infirmary directors to institute proceedings for constructing ditches was passed. Senate bill for increasing supreme judges' salaries to $4,000 was defeated. House amendments to the Senate bill enlarging the privileges of the engineer of the public works were concurred in. A resolution to investigate the cause of the impure atmosphere of the Capitol was adopted.

House—Bills passed: House bill to punish undue familiarity with female pupils and teachers was passed; requiring annual reports of funds in the hands of treasurers of school boards; to prevent the killing of quail and prairie chickens until 1880, also the bill making it unlawful to kill deer until November.

Feb. 7.—Senate—A resolution was adopted directing the committee on Public Buildings to investigate charges of larceny published against the Clerk of the Senate; also a resolution granting the use of the Senate Chamber to the Mexican veterans February 22. Bills introduced: Revising the statutes regarding county officers; prescribing rate of State taxation; for the protection of candidates. Senate bill to prevent partners of prosecuting attorneys from defending prisoners was passed; also various bills of a local nature.

House—A very large number of petitions for legislation on the temperance question were presented. Bills introduced: To prevent lawyers from charging fees for procuring pardons; decreasing the penalty on delinquent land sold the first year to 8 per cent., and 10 per cent. the second year; making Federal officers ineligible to hold office in Ohio; amending the probate code so that wages not exceeding $300 shall be a preferred claim against an estate.

Feb. 8.—Senate—Senate bill discontinuing sub-district schools when there are less than eight pupils, was passed. Bills introduced: Making unlawful entry of a cellar burglary; providing for lands sold at judicial sales; allowing mortgaged premises to be subdivided and sold.

House—Bills introduced: Defining life insurance in Ohio; to take from the trustees the power to run the Cincinnati Southern railroad. A joint resolution for a constitutional amendment to license the sale of intoxicating liquors, the money arising from the same to be used for the relief of the poor, was tabled and ordered printed.

Feb. 10.—Senate—A resolution was adopted to ascertain the cost of gas for the State House uses for the rest of the session. Joint resolution asking Congress to pass the bill allowing $36 a month to each soldier who had lost an arm or leg in the service was properly referred.

House—Petitions for additional temperance legislation were introduced. The codified laws in reference to the Executive departments were considered in committee of the Whole. Resolution adopted: Calling on the Adjutant General for a report of the House furniture ordered sold last winter; requiring the clerks of the two houses to keep calendars of consolidated laws passed.