The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-03-14
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
LANSING, March 8, 1879.
THE TRAMP BILL.

Inc House Occupleu muCu VI eho
time last Wednesday in discussion OF
Mr.. Sawyer's Tramp bill. A good many
amendments were offered, and any guam
tity of criticism, but the House did not
reach a vote on the body OF the bill.
The bill defines that any person going
about from place to place, and asking or
subsisting on charity, shall be taken and
deemed a tramp. Any person OF this
class who shall ask for assistance of the
poor authorities shall be asked to per-
form labor in return, and if the tramp
refuses or negects to perform such
labor he shall be fined and imprisoned.
The bill provides that tramps who enter
premises against the will of the owner,
or shall kindle fires ia buildings, on
land or in the highways, between May
| and Dec. /, or carry dangerous
weapons, or threaten to injure persons
or property, or procure food, clothing or
other property by threats or force, shall
be punished by fine and imprisonment.
This bill or similar one ought to become
a law ut this session of the Legislature.
Mr.. Mosher, of Hillsdale county, also
has a bill before the House upon this
subject, which is not so severe in tone
and punishment as the bill introduced
by Mr.. Sawyer. These bills are mod
eied after the Tramp laws in other
States. / think the people OF this
State demand the prompt enactment
of stringent Tramp law. The tramp
nuisar ce has become unbearable. Those
who will not work should not eat.
There are two kinds of poor people in
this world-God's kind and the devils
kind. The latter class seriously threat
ems the overthrow of republican insti-
buttons in this country. The danger
must be met and removed.
OPPOSITION TO THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Normal School Appropriation
bill in the House developed much OPP
position to that institution. Some of
the opponents of the school contended
that the original design of its founders
was to make it a training school TOR
common school teachers; whereas, for
some years, many of the higher branches
and four of the dead languages have
been taught at the States expense.
Again, but few, if any, of the Normal
graduates ever teach in the common
schools of the State: the young men
either teach in the Union schools or
enter the professions. The young
ladies are pretty sure to marry
early in life rather than be-
come so-called "old-maid school
ma'ams." The taxpayers are giving two
men at Ypsilanti $500 each per year
to teach dead languages. They also
pay for the same kind of work at Ann
Arbor. Why they should run two
Greek and Latin shops within a few
miles of each other, too,) at public ex-
pense is problem which they cannot
solve. The truth is there is much
rivalry between the Normal School and
the University, the former wishing to
appear rs smart as the latter.
THE GOVERNORS SALARY.
The House, the other day, spent some
time in discussing a proposition to in
crease the salary of the Governor from
$1,000 to $4,000 per annum. OF course,
the proposition, to accomplish anything,
must be submitted to vote of the tax
payers Of the State. With their APP
proval the increase in salary could and
would be made The salaries of other
State officers are also far too small, but
it is thought best to get half a loaf ut a
time. These matters will all be made
right in the course of few years.
NEW LAWS.
The following is list of the more i'm
portant acts which have been passed up
to the present time:
Releasing witnesses from giving bail in
criminal cases.
Relating to estrays, amended.
Antetam National Cemetery, facilitating trans
fer to the United States.
Watercoursee bitches, drains, section ], ~
Compiled Laws repealed
Boards of Health, act amended.
Vaccine furnished by Boards of Health.
Macknaw and Marquette railroad land grant
Judicial proceedings in other States and coun-
tries, act amended.
Foreclosure of mortgages, act amended.
Justices Courts, section | ,S7l Compiled Laws
amended.
State swamp lands in Gratiot county to be re-
stored to market
Churches and religious societies, act amended.
Blanks furnished by Auditor General to Com
missioners of Highways, act amended.
Courts held 10y Justices, section 5,4l4 Com
piled Laws amended.
Incorporated companies, mining smelling,
etc, act amended.
County officers, salaries Of.
Reform School, deficiency appropriation
JOINT RESOLUTIONS
Adulteration of honey prevention OF.
Harbor of refuge at Macknaw island asking
appropriation for.
Lighthouse on Whalesback point
Sugar, tariff on.
Adulteration of sugar, to prevent
Homesteads rights to settlers en- railroad
lands, ~ secure.
Lake st. Clair channel improvement, sppro-
priaton asked.
TOO FREQUENT APPOINTMENTS.
Both houses adjourned from Friday
noon until Mo lday hight. These adj
journments are becoming quite too fire.
quent ana too long. There is no ex-
cuse for them. The members are not
overworked. This Legislature, although
better than some others, will cost the
taxpayers of the State many thousands
of dollars for time wasted. The public
business of the session might DE trans
acted in much less time. Ct. w. III.
Proceedings of the Legislature.
TUESDAY, March 4.-SENATE.-A large mum
Der of petitions were presented upon differen
subjects. "A concurrent resolution was passed
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