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Ohio canal with a view to ascertaining how the money heretofore appropriated for said southern division of the Ohio canal has been expended and whether said appropriations should be continued and report to the general assembly.

FREEMAN T. EAGLESON,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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Relative to printing 17,000 sets of Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio.

WHEREAS, The state of Ohio, owns the copyright, electrotype plates, engravings and all other apparatus and matter necessary and requisite for the publication of Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, centennial edition; and by exhaustive research, study and investigation, much valuable information has been gathered and preserved thereby, of great value to the people of Ohio, and the same should be disseminated in a proper manner among the public schools, libraries and citizens thereof; therefore, Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That the commissioners of public printing be and are hereby directed and authorized to contract for on behalf of the state, for the printing from said plates and engravings, etc., (17,000) seventeen thousand sets and binding thereof, in style and manner similar to and fully equal in quality as to binding, paper and workmanship to that furnished under House Joint Resolution No. 30, adopted March 19th, 1906, in sets of two volumes each, at a cost not to exceed one dollar per set; that said printing and delivery shall be done under the direction of the commissioners of public printing.

Resolved, That when said history is printed and bound, as aforesaid, the same shall be delivered to the secretary of state, and the following disposition and distribution made thereof: To the state library, for exchange (75) seventy-five sets; to the archæological society of Ohio, (75) seventy-five sets for exchange; to each member of the seventyseventh general assembly (100) one hundred sets; and to the clerk and the sergeant-at-arms of the senate and to the clerk and sergeant-at-arms of the house of representatives (100) one hundred sets each, to each officer and clerk of said general assembly, and to each legislative correspondent, (1) one set; and the remaining to be sold by the secretary of state, at two dollars ($2) per set, and the proceeds paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

Adopted January 30, 1908.

FREEMAN T. EAGLESON, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JAMES M. WILLIAMS,

President of the Senate.

[Senate Joint Resolution No. 55.]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To provide for the investigation of charges against members of the board of state school examiners and the state commissioner of common schools.

WHEREAS, It has been charged both on the floor of the senate and elsewhere, that there have been irregularities in the issuance of certificates by the board of state school examiners and in the office of school commissioner, and that cliques and organizations have existed or now exist for the improper influence of the selection of such school officials and other corrupt purposes, and such charges seriously involve the integrity of members of said board and of an important branch of the public school system, therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That a joint select committee be appointed, consisting of three members of the senate, to be named by the president of the senate, and three members of the house of representatives, to be named by the speaker of the house, with full power and authority to investigate any claim or charge that certificates have been improperly or irregularly issued by said board; that members of said board have trafficked in such certificates or issued or promised to issue the same in consideration of receiving employment as lecturers before teachers' institutes, or on other improper grounds or consideration; or that they have used any undue means to secure such employment; that the selection of such school officials or the discharge of their duties is being or has been contributed or attempted by improper political influences or by coteries or cliques among those engaged in educational work, or any other corrupt or improper influence; and to investigate any other charges affecting said board or members thereof, or the said state commissioner of common schools, in their official capacity, which may be brought to the attention of said select committee; and further,

Resolved, That said committee shall have full power and authority to compel the attendance of witnesses, to send for and examine persons, papers and records with all other powers conferred by chapter 3, title 2 of the Revised Statutes of Ohio, upon such committees; and further,

Resolved, That said committee or a majority thereof, be authorized to employ counsel and stenographers and shall make written report of its findings, with a full transcript of the testimony taken by it, to the general assembly at its present session; and therewith shall report any recommendations for additional legislation which may seem desirable, and that the expense incurred by the committee shall be paid upon proper vouchers signed by the chairman of said committee.

FREEMAN T. EAGLESON, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JAMES M. WILLIAMS,

Adopted February 6, 1908.

President of the Senate.

[Senate Joint Resolution No. 58.]

JOINT RESOLUTION

Relative to printing additional copies of Senate Bill No. 394.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That there be printed six (600) hundred extra copies of Senate Bill No. 394, also (600) six hundred copies each of House Bills Nos. 698, 833, and 1001, for the use of the members of the general assembly.

FREEMAN T. EAGLESON, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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Relative to appointing a committee to investigate charges of corruption existing in the government of the city of Cincinnati, and the county of Hamilton.

WHEREAS, On February 7th, 1906, a committee of the senate was appointed to investigate charges of corruption existing in the government of the city of Cincinnati and the county of Hamilton, and on March 26th, 1906, the senate took further action) directing said committee to sit after the adjournment of the session of the general assembly, and make its report to the senate not later than January 15th, 1908, and the general assembly, on March 1st, 1906, and on April 2d, 1906, made adequate appropriations for the use of said investigating committee and shortly after the adjournment of the last session of the general assembly, the sessions of the committee so appointed were brought to a close by a decision of the supreme court of Ohio which held that said committee was improperly constituted because it was appointed by but one branch of the general assembly;

WHEREAS, The members of the senate who conducted the investigation, during the short time in which they exercised their supposed powers disclosed many abuses existing in said city and county subversive of government by the people and the mandatory depositary law, passed at the last session of the general assembly, was the direct result of some of these disclosures and has saved the taxpayers of Ohio hundreds of thousands of dollars and said members of the senate have filed with the senate a report, which embodies recommendations designed to correct certain of the abuses that have been ascertained to exist and which recommends that a committee be appointed by both branches of the general assembly in accordance with the decision of the supreme court, to the end that such investigation may proceed and the intention of the general assembly be accomplished.

WHEREAS, It is charged that a limited circle, not invested with such power by the people now control, and for many years have to a great extent controlled the affairs of the city of Cincinnati and the county of

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Hamilton, dominate nomination and appointment to public office and official conduct after election and appointment, not excepting the nomination and official conduct of judges, dominate public contracts, exact from persons in the public service a percentage of their salaries as consideration for nomination and retention in office and receive from persons and corporations money and other valuable considerations in return for favors bestowed, whereby the members of said limited circle have accumulated large fortunes at the expense of the taxpayers, and, to retain their power, have brought about wholesale false registration, colonization, repeating and other election frauds;

WHEREAS, It is charged that the board of trustees, commissioners of water works, of the city of Cincinnati has been dominated by the same influences and that the building of the water works has consumed more than twice as much time as was originally contemplated and has cost nearly twice as much money;

WHEREAS, It has been charged that certain persons and corporations have obtained from officials and official bodies valuable privileges, franchises and other advantages without adequate return to the public and that there have been other forms of misgovernment in said city and county;

WHEREAS, It is of the first importance that the general assembly should be fully informed as to the extent of these and other abuses, that, with the fullest possible information in its possession, it may be able so to repeal and amend existing laws, and enact such new laws, that the people. of Cincinnati and Hamilton county and other cities and counties may be protected from like abuses and impositions in the future.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That a select committee of three on the part of the senate, and three on the part of the house of representatives, be appointed, and such committee shall be appointed within ten days after the adoption of this resolution with full power to investigate all and singular the said matters and charges and all matters and things in any way pertaining thereto, and with full power to prosecute its inquiry in any and every direction in its judgment necessary and proper to enable it to obtain and report the facts in reference to said charges; and,

Be it further Resolved, That said committee or a majority thereof be and it is hereby authorized to employ one or more stenographers, and one or more counsel, and such other assistants as it may deem necessary for the proper conduct of the investigation herein directed; and shall have the power to compel the production before it of any books and records, letters or documentary evidence of any character, which in the judgment of the committee or a majority thereof pertains to any matter or thing under investigation, and wherever found; and also to compel the attendance of any witnesses. Said committee may hold its meetings in any place designated by it in the state of Ohio. Any member or members of the committee, and its counsel and other assistants, shall have access at all times during the life of the committee to all books, records, papers and other documents on file in the offices of the various departments of the said city and county. Said committee or a majority thereof shall exercise and enjoy all the powers, privileges and authority of a legislative committee, with full power to enforce its directions and mandates as provided for by the laws of Ohio governing such matters; and,

Be it further Resolved, That said committee make report to the

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general assembly at its present session, or if the general assembly shall have adjourned, then to the governor to be by him transmitted to the general assembly at the next session thereof, of its proceedings with full transcript of the testimony taken by it, together with its findings in writing with such recommendations for further legislation and amendment to existing legislation as the disclosures of said committee may warrant; and that the expense incurred by the committee shall be paid upon proper vouchers signed by the chairman of said committee.

JOSEPH D. CHAMBERLAIN,

Speaker pro tem. of the House of Representatives.
JAMES M. WILLIAMS,

Adopted February 14, 1908.

President of the Senate.

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[Senate Joint Resolution No. 63.]

JOINT RESOLUTION

Providing for the appointment of a joint committee to consider reports from the codifying commission.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That a joint committee consisting of three members on the part of the senate and three members on the part of the house, be appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house, respectively, to which shall be referred all reports and bills presented by the state codifying commission.

JOSEPH D. CHAMBERLAIN, Speaker pro tem. of the House of Representatives.

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Relating to printing additional copies of Senate Bill 419.

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

That five hundred additional copies of Senate Bill 419 be printed for the use of members and committees.

JOSEPH D. CHAMBERLAIN,

Speaker pro tem. of the House of Representatives.

JAMES M. WILLIAMS,

Adopted February 14, 1908,

President of the Senate.

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