The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-26
THE STATE CAPITAL.

AAhs
Lester from Our Regular oorrespondentl
LANSING, JAN ~. 1877.
The lawmakers have now been in session
for over two weeks, and the unseeming srior
OF some Of the new and ambitious members
having cooled down" by an occasional snub,
there is somewhat less of pretentious speech
making and more OF sensible work.
Some sparring has occasionally been melted
by the introduction OF q resolution grating
upon the sense Of economy and reform which
seems 10 be possessed in large degree by
certain members. aueea taf
The election of United States Senator to
succeed Mr.. Ferry was accomplished without
any special excitement all the Republican
members in attendance voting for Mr.. Ferry,
and the Democrats for their nominee, Hon.
G. &. May. This has been the only question
since the organization was perfected upon
which there has been strict party vnte |;
though upon the introduction OF a resolution
asking for an investigation of the afairs OF
the State Trespass Agent, the lines were more
closely drawn than on the consideration OF any
other public measure.
Thursday there was ordered Gin response to
petition OF the Supervisors OF Ionia county,
an investigation in relation to the purchase OF
clothing and other supplies for the Asylum for
the Insane, at Kalamazoo. AS will be geNer-
ally conceded, this institution has been ably
and carefully managed in most respects, ana
there is good reason to hope the investigation
may result in complete generation OF the
Board OF Control 70 far regards the pur-
chase OF supplies, although we all know how
much more difficult IA the management or 'ond
lie expenditure than or merel nuivldusl pur-
cnsses. have seldom seen more apt Illus
tration of this than i'll the purchase OF clothing
for the State Prison. The contract for plain
coarse cashmere was let 10 the lowest
bidder, at $1.00 per yard, and, venture TO
say, an equally good article could have been
procured by private contract at from GO to 70
cents per yard at the highest. In mauy cases
purchases by tho State authorities are made at
a disadvantage for lack of competition or
bids, and the authorities having the purchases
in charge being confined to the one system
are obliged to take up with the best bids offered
them.
A bill creating the Office OF Commissioner OF
Mines and Mining has passed the Senate. 1t
asks for an annual appropriation OF u. 5OO Tor
the salary Of such official and to defray in
cidental expenses in connection with the
office.
The Joint committee on State University
have already entered upon their labors, ana
will proceed to investigate that institution,
with view to make it's crooked ways straight,
and shed light upon the dark spots which have
clOuQeu the nlstOry OF tne lhoOrdtotN uopatC
ment. They will cit during the sessions OF
tue Legislature, and are empowered 70 call
for persons and papers, also To employ clerk
and stenographic reporter.
Numerous are the municipal corporations
which seek to be Inended or made over. 1t is
said that Kalamazoo which has acquired
wide reputation as the ''Big Village being
the largest village in the United Ststes-is
ambitious for city honors, and will make APP
plication for articles Of Incorporation in ac-
cordsnce with that ambition.
Some OF the old ''stagers have commenced
their annual programme of speech making,
and, as each half hours speech costs the State
about 800, il is reasonable to presume that
a good deal OF this light wind work is a
very dear kind Of "gas." II the staple article
furnished to the citizens Of Lansing ls manu-
featured and charged for on the same plan we
don't wonder that they complain Of the quality
and price of their lighting material.
The Richings-Bernard Opera Company pre-
scented the bohemian Girl" at the Lansing
Opera House, Tuesday evening, to a moderate
audience. The leading parts we're well execu-
ted, but the support was rather inferior.
member from the rural" districts was
present and says "if that's what they call
opera he prefers TO go TO the Methodist class
meetings for his singing, as the tunes are
more familiar, and he can appreciate the sub
jects far better"
The House of Representatives has been
styled the +" Board of Supervisors by the up
per thirty-two (Senate) who look upon tho
bows below about the same that Seniors in
our college classes do upon the Freshmen.
large portion of the farmer members OF the
House have acted in the capacity of Supervisors
in their various counties, one OF them having
~ be informs me- served for twelve successive
wears in that capacity. These men may not be
quite 80 pretentious, but, from what L see and
hear OF them they are quite efficient law
makers as any Of tho honorable gentlemen who
l. A.. &lAfN
dicial lore.
bill has been introduced in the House and
reported favorably by the committee lowering
the standard OF inspection on kerosene
oils. II the bill passes the State
papers can again set aside depart
ment devoted to kerosene explosions" Prof.
Kedzie claims that the highest oil is not only
safer, but cheaper, and that. unless adulter-
ated, will give fully az brilliant light as the
more explosive article. He is very much OPP
posed to the reduction OF the test
A few days since, Mr.. Moore, OF st. Clair, intro
duced bill to prohibit marriage between per-
sons as nearly related first cousins. This
wouldn't look at all suspicious were it not for
the fact that Mr.. Moore who is young man,
states that he knows a particular case where
lady wishes to marry her cousin, and he
Moore. doesn't want her to. Isn't that a new
way of cutting out another fellow, Mr..
Moore?
During his last term Of Office Gov. Bagley
pardoned forty-two oonvicts from the State
prison and sixteen from the House Of Cor &C.
ton. The reasons for these pardons was made
tho subject of special message to the Legis-
lature one day this week. The message was
not read, but merely spread upon the journal
for future reference.
The House proceeds slowly in its work,
only one bill having yet been passed-but this
is better than hasty legislation-a thing
which we have reason to hope the present
Legislature will not perpetrate to any great
extent.
Legislative Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17.-SENATE.--Th Senate
passed the concurrent resolution Of the House au
thorizing and directing the Committee on Uni