USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1906-1907-1908. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio. > Part 47
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Major Chas. Becht, Cincinnati. . 1st Infantry, Roster Clerk
Sergeant John W. Richards, Columbus Quartermaster and Ordnance Clerk
Major John C. Fulton, Cleveland. Ninth Batt., Inf., Commission Clerk Miss Olive Shurtz, Columbus. Stenographer
Miss Anna Whitney, Columbus Stenographer
THE DIVISION, OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.
MAJOR-GENERAL CHAS. DICK.
COMMANDING.
Headquarters .Akron, Ohio
Captain .
PERSONAL STAFF.
Aid
Captain.
Aid
GENERAL STAFF.
Colonel George M. Wright, Akron. Chief of Staff
Colonel Worthington Kautzman, Bellefontaine. Adjutant-General
Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Frease, Canton. Engineer Officer
Lieutenant-Colonel C. Barton Adams, Lancaster Inspector-General
Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver H. Hughes, Hillsboro Chief Quartermaster Lieutenant-Colonel Frank M. Ritezel, Warren. Chief Commissary
Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund C. Brush, Zanesville. . Chief Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel George G. King, Kings Mills Chief Ordnance Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick C. Bryan, Akron. Judge Advocate Major Charles B. Winder, Columbus Inspector Small Arms Practice
FIRST BRIGADE.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL WM. V. McMAKEN,
COMMANDING.
Headquarters Toledo
PERSONAL STAFF.
First Lieutenant
Aid
BRIGADE STAFF.
Major William H. Duffy, Toledo Assistant Adjutant-General Major Frank M. Bell, Lima. Assistant Inspector-General
Major Edward W. Rydman, Toledo . Brigade Quartermaster Major Hugh L. Runkle, Kenton. . Brigade Commissary Major John Proctor, Cincinnati. Brigade Ordnance Officer
588
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF'OHIO.
The Adjutant-General.
ATTACHED.
Major Fred C. Weaver, Dayton. . Surgeon, O. N. G.
TROOPS. The First, Second, Third and Sixth Regiments of Infantry. The Ninth Battalion of Infantry.
SECOND BRIGADE.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. SPEAKS.
COMMANDING.
Headquarters. Columbus
PERSONAL STAFF.
First Lieutenant
Aid
BRIGADE STAFF.
Major Mac Lee Wilson, Columbus. Assistant Adjutant-General
Major Daniel C. Stearns, Cleveland. Assistant Inspector-General
Major Robert D. Palmer, Columbus Brigade Quartermaster
Major Marcus A. Fisher, Canton. . Brigade Commissary
Major Thomas E. Bradbury, Gallipolis. Brigade Ordnance Officer
ATTACHED.
Major Lovett T. Guerin, Columbus. Surgeon, O. N. G.
TROOPS.
The Fourth, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of Infantry. f
STATIONS OF TROOPS.
Ada .Co. G, 2d Infantry.
Akron .Headquarters of Division.
Co. B and F, 8th Infantry.
Alliance.
Co. E, 8th Infantry.
Batavia. .Co. K, 1st Infantry.
Berea. . . .Co. A, 5th Infantry.
Bloomdale. . Headquarters 2d Infantry.
Bowling Green Co. H, 2d Infantry.
Bryan .Co. E, 6th Infantry.
Bucyrus. .Headquarters and Co. A, 8th Infantry.
Canal Dover .Co. L, 4th Infantry.
Canton.
.Co. C, 8th Infantry.
Carey Co. B, 2d Infantry.
Chillicothe
Co. H, 4th Infantry.
Cincinnati Headquarters and Cos. A, B, C, F, G, I and M, 1st Infantry. 1st Hos. Sec.
Cleveland
Headquarters and Cos. C, F, I and K, 5th Infantry. Headquarters and Co. D, 9th Infantry. Headquarters and Cos. A, B, C and D, Batt. Engineers. 1st Bat. F. A.
Troop A and 2d Batt. Naval Brigade.
Ashland Co. K, 8th Infantry.
589
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Adjutant-General.
STATIONS OF TROOPS-Concluded.
Clyde.
.Co. I, 6th Infantry.
Columbus
Headquarters Second Brigade.
Headquarters and Cos. A, B and C, 4th Infantry.
Co. B, 9th Infantry, 2d Co. Signal Corps.
Troop B and 2d Ambulance Co.
Covington. .Co. A, 3d Infantry.
Circleville Co. L, 4th Infantry.
Conneaut . Co. L, 5th Infantry.
Dayton .
. Cos. G and K, 3d Infantry.
Defiance
Co. G, 6th Infantry.
Delaware. .Co. K, 4th Infantry.
Eaton . Co. F, 3d Infantry.
Findlay
.Co. A, 2d Infantry.
Fostoria Co. D, 6th Infantry.
Fremont Co. K, 6th Infantry.
Galion. . Co. L, 8th Infantry.
Gallipolis
Co. C, 7th Infantry.
Geneva Co. E, 5th Infantry.
Greenfield.
Co. L, 7th Infantry.
Greenville. . Co. M, 3d Infantry.
Hicksville. .Co. E, 2d Infantry.
Hillsboro Co. D, 1st Infantry.
Ironton.
Headquarters and Co. I, 7th Infantry.
Kenton Co. I, 2d Infantry.
Lebanon Co. H, 1st Infantry.
Lancaster . Co. F, 7th Infantry.
Lima .
.Co. C, 2d Idfantry.
Lorain. .Co. B, 5th Infantry.
Mansfield
Co. M. 8th Infantry.
Manchester.
Co. G, 7th Infantry.
Marietta
.Co. B, 7th Infantry.
Marion Co. D, 4th Infantry.
Marysville. . Co. E, 4th Infantry.
Miamisburg . Headquarters and Co. H, 3d Infantry.
Middletown
Co. L, 1st Infantry.
Napoleon
Co. F, 6th Infantry.
Newark.
Co. G, 4th Infantry.
New Lexington
Co. H, 7th Infantry.
Norwalk .
. Co. G, 5th Infantry.
Ottawa . Co. M, 2d Infantry.
Piqua .. Co. C, 3d Infantry.
Port Clinton. Co. M, 6th Infantry.
Portsmouth .Co. K, 7th Infantry.
Shreve. . Co. H, 8th Infantry.
Sidney. . Co. L, 3d Infantry.
Spencerville . Co. F, 2d Infantry.
Springfield
Cos. B and E, 3d Infantry.
Co. A, 9th Infantry.
Summerfield.
Co. E, 7th Infantry.
Sycamore
Co. L, 2d Infantry.
Tiffin.
. Co. I, 8th Infantry.
Toledo.
.Headquarters First Brigade. Headquarters and Cos. A, C H and L, 6th Infantry. 2d Bat. F. A., 1st Batt. Naval Brigade and 1st Ambulance Co. 1st Co. Signal Corp.
Urbana Co. D, 3d Infantry.
Van Wert. Co. D, 2d Infantry.
Wadsworth. .Co. G, 8th Infantry.
Warren . Co. D, 5th Infantry.
Washington, C. H. . Co. M, 4th Infantry.
Wooster Co. D, 8th Infantry.
Xenia. Co. I, 3d Infantry ; Co. C, 9th Infantry.
Youngstown. . Co. H, 5th Infantry.
Zanesville. Co. A, 7th Infantry and 2d Hospital Section.
590
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Adjutant-General.
THE NAVAL RESERVES.
Headquarters.
FIRST BATTALION. U. S. S. "Essex," Toledo Lieutenant-Commander Anthony F. Nicklett, Commanding.
Headquarters
U. S. S. "Hawk," Cleveland Lieutenant-Commander Frank R. Semon, Commanding.
ROSTER OF ADJUTANTS-GENERAL, 1803-1904.
. Years.
Name.
Politics.
1803. . .
Cornelius R. Sedan
1803-1807
Samuel Finley
1807. . ...
David Zeigler.
1807-1809
Thomas Worthington.
1809-1810
Joseph Kerr.
1810-1819
Isaac Van Horn.
1819-1828
Wm. Daugherty .
1828-1837 1837-1839
. Wm. Daugherty .
1839-1841
Jacob Medary, Jr.
1841-1845
Edw. H. Cummings
1845-1851
Thos. W. H. Mosely
1851-1857
J. W. Wilson
1857-1861
H. B. Carrington.
C. P. Buckingham
1862-1864
Chas. W. Hill.
Benj. R. Cowen.
E. P. Schneider.
1869-1874
Wm. Knapp.
1874-1876
James O. Amos
1876-1877
1877-1878
Chas. W. Carr
Luther M. Meiley.
1881-1884
Samuel B. Smith.
1884-1886
Eben B. Finley
1886-1890
Henry A. Axline
1890-1891
*Morton L. Hawkins
1891-1892
Thos. T. Dill.
1892-1893
*Edgar J. Pocock
1893-1896
James C. Howe
1896-1898 1898. . .
*H. B. Kingsley.
1899-1900
Henry A. Axline
1900-1904
Geo. R. Gyger .
1904-1905
A. B. Critchfield
1906. . ..
*O. H. Hughes.
1906-1908
A. B. Critchfield .
*Resigned.
FORMER SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE STATE HOUSE.
Office abolished and vested in the Adjutant-General.
William A. Platt, 1860; William M. Aw1, 1862; John H. Grove, 1868; Charles M. Ridgway, 1870.
Republican. Republican. Democrat. Republican. Democrat. Democrat. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Democrat. Republican.
1878-1880 1880-1881
Wm. H. Gibson.
Democrat. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Republican. Democrat. Republican. Republican. Democrat.
1864-1868 1868-1869
Samuel C. Andrews.
Republican. Republican. Federalist. Federalist.
Republican. Republican. Republican. Federalist.
Whig. Democrat. Whig. Whig.
1861-1862
Allen T. Wikoff.
*Henry A. Axline
SECOND BATTALION.
ARTHUR I. VORYS.
(591)
THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
T HE State Insurance Department was established by the Act of March 12, 1872. Prior to that time, Insurance companies were regulated by the Department of the State Auditor, under the Act of April 15, 1867. The Bureau of Building and Loan companies was added to the department May I, 1891, and subsequently Bond Invest- ment companies. All Insurance companies, operating in Ohio, are re- quired to annually submit statements, reporting their financial condition on December 31, and other information required by law and the regu- lations of the department. No Insurance company and no agent of non- Ohio companies is permitted to transact business, unless duly licensed by the department. Licenses expire annually, and if compliance with the law is shown, the licenses are usually renewed
As a comparative statement of general interest, the following figures disclose the extent of the business transacted in Ohio and supervised the first year of the department, 1872, and the last year, 1903, viz:
In 1872, sixty-seven Life Insurance companies and associations wrote in Ohio risks aggregating $30,187,044.00, receiving premiums of $4,493,260.70, and paid losses of $1,481,538.87. One hundred and thirty- eight Insurance companies and associations, other than life, wrote risks aggregating $378,690,031.37, receiving premiums of $4,530,743.75, pay- ing in losses, $1,609,295.81.
In 1906, fifty-three regular Life Insurance companies wrote risks in Ohio aggregating $114,636,264.00, receiving premiums therefor aggre- gating $26,781,220.96, and paying losses amounting to $8,174,047.00. Sixty-three fraternal beneficiary associations wrote risks in Ohio aggre- gating $46,082,100.00, and paid losses amounting to $2,969,701.00. Three hundred and sixty-four Insurance companies and assessment as- sociations, other than life, wrote risks in Ohio aggregating $1,284,759,670 (not including amount written by stock miscellaneous associations doing casualty, fidelity, surety, liability and credit business) ; receiving pre- miums and assessments therefor aggregating $17,898,443.20, and pay- ing losses amounting to $7,335,174.39.
In 1873 the receipts of the department were fees aggregating $26,- 246.76, and the expenses, including salaries, were $9,974.71, while in 1906, the fees paid amounted to $89,972.40, taxes $913,571.67, fire marshal tax $60,467.08, surplus line tax $1,124.87; total received by the department $1,065,136.02, and the total expenses of the department were $36,218.43, including printing, binding, stationery, and supplies procured through the Supervisor of Public Printing and the Secretary of State, and not including disbursements in the Bureau of Building and Loan Associations.
(592)
593
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Insurance Department.
The following persons have served as Superintendents of Insurance, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, at and during the terms indicated :
NAMES OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF INSURANCE.
William F. Church
1872-1875
William D. Hill.
1875-1878
Joseph F. Wright
1878-1881
Charles H. Moore.
1881-1884
Henry J. Reinmund
1884-1887
Samuel E. Kemp.
1887-1890
William H. Kinder
1890-1893
William M. Hahn .
1893-1896
William S. Matthews
1896-1900
Arthur_I. Vorys.
+
1900. .
The following are present employes of the department :
ROSTER OF THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, 1907.
Name.
Office.
Arthur I. Vorys
Superintendent of Insurance.
J. T. Brasee . .
Deputy Superintendent.
John W. Crooks.
· Examiner.
Geo. W. Steinman
Assistant Examiner.
H. S. Bassett ..
Statistician.
Graham Rudd.
Assistant Statistician.
Herbert Starek
Bookkeeper.
E. Morgan Gorrell.
Correspondence Clerk.
W. D. Heyl.
License Clerk.
N. T. Gant, Jr.
Mailing Clerk.
J. D. Thomas.
Messenger.
S. E. Stilwell
Actuary.
Danforth E. Ball.
Assistant Actuary.
F.IS.[Crooks.
Assistant Actuary.
A. C. Dilger
Extra Clerk.
C. R. Brewer
Extra Clerk.
38-B. A.
1
THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
T HIS bureau was created May 1, 1891, by the enactment of the Corcoran law, making the Superintendent of Insurance ex-officio Inspector of Building and Loan Associations. The deputy in- spectors who have at various times been in charge of the bureau, with their residence at the time of appointment, term of service, and politics are :
Name.
Politics.
Residence.
Term of Service.
H. F. Cellarius.
Democrat.
Dayton
May, 1891, to July, 1893.
K. V. Haymaker.
Republican ...
Defiance ..
July, 1893, to June, 1894.
A. J. Duncan ..
Republican ...
Canton
June, 1894, to August, 1897.
Dwight Harrison.
Republican ..
Georgetown ..
August, 1897, to June, 1900.
Roscoe J. Mauck.
Republican ...
Gallipolis .
June, 1900, to December, 1901.
Geo. S. Marshall
· Columbus.
· December, 1901, to May, 1903.
O. P. Sperra.
Republican ... Republican ...
Ravenna.
. May, 1903-Incumbent.
The present force of this bureau consists of :
Name.
Residence.
Office.
O. P. Sperra. .
Ravenna.
Deputy Inspector. Chief Clerk.
Joseph Everhart
Basil
David A. Jones .
· Columbus.
Correspondence Clerk
Alfred G. McClure.
Orrville.
Statistician.
John W. Hook. P. B. Johnston.
Akron.
Examiner.
R. A. Crawford
· Coshocton
Examiner.
D. H. Foster.
· Corning.
Examiner.
W. M. Richardson.
Cleveland.
Examiner.
A. H. Kenan
Cincinnati
Examiner.
West Union
Examiner.
This Bureau originated with those who were connected with building associations and who most thoroughly appreciated the necessity of state supervision.
The work of the Bureau is largely that of auditing the annual reports of the associations, pointing out to such associations such practices as may
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595
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Building and Loan Associations.
contravene the law and requiring their abandonment; furnishing legal and other advice to such associations ; examining such associations as may seem to need it and as the resources of the office admit.
If any association fails to abandon any illegal practice within thirty days after being so notified by the inspector, or if any association is found to be in an unsound condition and the interests of the public demand its dissolution, such facts are communicated to the Attorney-General, whose duty it is to institute the proper proceedings to revoke the charter of such associations and wind up its business.
The building association interests of Ohio now amount to more than a hundred million dollars.
The Deputy Inspector, by virtue of an act passed in April, 1898, is also supervisor of bond investment companies.
JOHN W. JOHNSON.
(596)
TOHN W. JOHNSON, Supervisor of Public Printing, was born on a farm in Jackson County, Ohio, December 6, 1853. He was educated, for the most part, in the country schools of his native county, working the farm in summer and attending school in winter. At about eighteen years of age he began teaching school, teaching in winter and attending academies and colleges in summer. About a dozen years were thus spent when he was ap- pointed to the position of deputy county treasurer of Jackson County. In 1885, in a partnership with Mr. S. V. Hinkle, a purchase of the Jackson Herald from Mr. W. C. Gould was made and Mr. Johnson became the editor of that paper. In the early part of 1889, the Herald, five or six months in advance of any other paper in the State, announced and strongly urged the candidacy of Hon. James E. Campbell as the most suitable standard-bearer of the Democracy, for Governor. Mr. Campbell was nominated and in the fall of 1889 defeated Mr. Foraker. As a result of Mr. Campbell's victory and the part played in his nomination, the Herald came to be in line for an appointment under the new administration. In 1890, Mr. Hinkle was appointed Supervisor of Public Printing, Mr. Johnson ultimately succeeding to the same appoint- ment, sixteen years later, under Mr. Pattison, the only Democratic Governor since the administration of Mr. Campbell. Late in the fall of 1889, he re- moved, with his family, to Waverly, Pike County, where he established a new paper, The Waverly Courier. In 1896, the old established paper of the county, The Waverly Watchman, was consolidated with the Courier, Mr. Johnson, with the exception of one year, being since the active head of the paper. In 1906, the name of the paper was changed to The Waverly Democrat.
In August, 1879, he was married to Serelda A. Mclaughlin, daughter of a prominent farmer and stock raiser in the southern part of his native county. There have been born to them five children, four living, two sons and two daughters.
For twenty-five years, Mr. Johnson has been an active Democrat. The only office of consequence he has ever held is the present one of Supervisor of Public Printing, he being one of three appointees made by the late Governor John M. Pattison. His chief clerk is Mr. Ed. S. Nichols, formerly publisher of the Paulding Democrat and more recently of the Auglaize County Democrat.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF PUBLIC PRINTING.
T HE Department of Public Printing has come to be one of the in- portant state departments. It is composed of a Board of Com- missioners of Public Printing, consisting of the State Auditor, Secretary of State, the Attorney-General and a supervisory department, consisting at this time, respectively, of Hon. Walter D. Guilbert, Hon. Carmi A. Thompson, Hon. Wade H. Ellis and J. W. Johnson, the latter being designated as the Supervisor of Public Printing.
There has been a Supervisor of Public Printing since 1860, Hon. L. L. Rice being the first to occupy that position.
The following department roster supplies present and past informa- tion relative to Supervisors and their tenure of office :
NAMES OF SUPERVISORS WITH TERM OF SERVICE.
Name.
Term of Service.
L. L. Rice.
1860-1864
Wm. O. Blake.
1864
W. H. Foster
1864-1867
L. L. Rice. .
1867-1875
Chas. B. Flood.
1875-1877
Wm. W. Bond.
1877-1879
Wm. J. Elliott.
1879-1881
Joshua K. Brown.
1881-1885
W. C. H. De la Court
1885-1887
Leo. Hirsch.
1887-1891
S. V. Hinkle.
1891-1892
Leo. Hirsch ..
1892-1901
Mark Slater
1901-1906
J. W. Johnson
1906
The state printing is divided into seven classes. These contracts are let by the Commissioners of Public Printing every two years. These contracts are as follows :
First Contract-All bills for the General Assembly and such resolutions and other matters as it may order printed in bill form.
Second Contract-Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Third Contract-All reports, communications, etc., printed in pamphlet form, except bulletins of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.
Fourth Contract-General and' Local laws and Joint Resolutions. ·
Fifth Contract-All blanks, circulars, etc., for the executive departments not printed in pamphlet form.
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·
599
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
Department of the Supervisor of Public Printing.
Sixth Contract-Reports of the Secretary of State, Inspector of Building and Loan Associations and Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
Seventh-Reports of the Auditor of State, Commissioner of Common Schools, Superintendent of Insurance (Life and Fire) and State Board of Agri- culture.
What has now come to be the State Bindery was not originally in- tended as such. Its organization back in 1867 appears to have been prompted by charity on behalf of the unfortunates of the Deaf and Dumb Institution. Gradually, however, it has outgrown the apprentice idea and at present is a recognized state institution, commanding the appropria- tion of thousands of dollars annually for its maintenance.
The Supervisor has direct and almost absolute control of the bindery. He is responsible for the purchase of all supplies and the character and quality of the work turned out for the state. He is, as well, measurably responsible for the promptness of the contracting printers and the char- acter and quality of their work. The following is the present department roster of the State Bindery :
DEPARTMENT ROSTER-1907.
Name.
Office.
Residence.
J. W. Johnson E. S. Nichols T. M. Leilley
Supervisor Clerk Foreman of Bindery ..
Waverly. Wapakoneta. Columbus.
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF OHIO.
T HE act under which the Railroad Commission of Ohio was created was passed by the General Assembly April 2, 1906, and was en- titled : "An act to regulate railroads and other common carriers in this State, create a board of railroad commissioners, prevent the im- position of unreasonable rates, prevent unjust discriminations and insure an adequate railway service." The members of the Commission were appointed by Governor Harris on July 18, 1906. The board met for or- ganization on August Ist, following, when the following organization was effected : James C. Morris, chairman; Oliver H. Hughes, vice-chairman, with Oliver P. Gothlin as the third member of the Commission. Howard D. Manington was elected secretary, and the following staff of employes was appointed : E. H. Hanna, statistician; W. W. Daniel, tariff clerk; D. S. Archer, stenographer; W. O. Jackson, chief inspector; O. F. Mc- Junkin and J. B. Dugan, inspectors; D. F. Johnson, inspector of auto- matic couplers and air brakes, and Louie E. Carlisle and Lenora Stubbs, clerks.
The statute requires that one of the members shall have a general knowledge of railroad law, and that each of the others shall have a gen- eral understanding of matters relating to railroad transportation, but that at no time shall there be more than two of said commissioners mem- bers of the same political party. In accordance with this statutory re- quirement the Governor appointed Oliver H. Hughes as the Democratic member and lawyer, and Messrs. Morris and Gothlin as the two Repub- lican members "having a general understanding of matters relating to railroad transportation." Mr. Morris had been Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs for five years and had served for many years in the operating department of the railroad business. Mr. Gothlin had wide ex- perience in traffic matters connected with railroads in the general offices of the Wisconsin Central and Northwestern Railroad Companies and as traffic manager of the National Cash Register Company of Dayton.
The Ohio Commission act is regarded as one of the strongest regu- lative acts and as such confers great powers upon the Commission. The Commission nor the State does not make freight rates or classifications, but the Commission has power to change any rate or regulation which may be found to be unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory. The statute provides for complaints being filed with the Commission, hearing thereon, the order of the Commission in respect thereto, and that such order shall take effect of its own force within thirty days after its promulgation. The statute further provides that appeals from the finding of the Com- mission may be taken by any party dissatisfied with any order of the Com-
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601
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
Railroad Commission of Ohio.
mission fixing any rate, fare, charges, classification, regulation, etc., and provides that "no injunction shall issue suspending or setting aside any order of the Commission except upon application to the Court of Com- mon Pleas or judge thereof, notice to the Commission having been given and hearing having been had thereon."
Notwithstanding the Commission has been organized but a few month's, it has decided many important questions affecting transportation within the State of Ohio, some of which decisions have attracted wide- spread attention throughout the country in transportation circles ; notably, its decision in the complaint of certain coal operators against The Wheel- ing & Lake Erie Railroad Company, in which the Commission held that foreign and private cars upon the rails of a common carrier should be treated as its own equipment in the allotment and distribution of equip- ment. The recent promulgation by the Commission of a new set of rules governing car service (demurrage) has received the endorsement of the Ohio Shippers' Association as fair and impartial and it is expected that these rules will mitigate the friction that has heretofore existed between carriers and shippers in the matter of car service.
MICHAEL D. RATCHFORD.
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR STATISTICS MICHAEL D. RATCHFORD is a native of Clare, Ireland, where he was born in 1860. In 1872, he migrated with his parents to Stark County, Ohio, where he attended the public schools for a short time before entering the coal mines, in which he labored consecutively for more than twenty years. His education, however, was prin- cipally acquired by attending evening school in the mining village, and by careful home study during the earlier years of his mining career.
Mr. Ratchford, though mainly conservative in his views upon the labor question, was a strong adherent of active trade union principles. He was prominent in the movement that resulted in the organization of the United Mine Workers of America in 1890, and in 1892 he was appointed as general organizer. During the same year he was elected member of the Executive Council of that association. In 1895 he was elected president of the Ohio district, and re-elected in 1896. In 1897 he was elected president of the United Mine Workers of America, and was re-elected unanimously in 1898.
It was while serving in the chief executive office (April 1, 1898) that he established and put into practice a working day of eight hours for all mine workers; instituted mutual relations and founded a contract system known as the "Joint movement" between miners and operators through which general strikes have since been averted, and the conditions of mining throughout the bituminous coal fields made uniformly fair and satisfactory.
He was appointed by President Mckinley September 7th, 1898, as member of the National Industrial Commission created by Congress, where he served for nearly two years, resigning the same to accept the office of Commissioner of Labor Statistics of Ohio, to which he was appointed by Governor George K. Nash, April 25, 1900, and to which he has since been reappointed for three successive terms of two years each.
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