The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-04

uOo Long necoss Dechoeu OpOm--h mc
Proposed constitutional Amend
nnent Taxation HE Highway
LaNvs--The Laws tO bc Rc-COmpilcd
Odds and Ends. fr ff1L
- LANSING, Jan 20, 1881.
More business has been done during the past
week than during any previous week OF the
session, yet those who are familiar with
legislation in this state do not expect the Lesis-
lature to get down to anything Ike "boom'
on business until after the
LONG RECESS.
The time for that has now been decided upon
by concurrent resolution OF both houses, and
will DO from Friday, Feb. 4, to tho evening OF
Tuesday, the 18th, aud will afford the commit
tees of tho several State institutions time for
observation and study, while large part Of
the members and all the officers of both houses
will either go home aud attend to home duties
or else spend the time in visiting-not State
institutions, but friends.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Probably no subject has agitated or will agi-
tate, the people Of the state more during the
entire session than that OF the proposed cou-
stitutional amendment relative to tine "prohi-
bition of tho manufacture and sale of spritu-
Gus, malt aud vlnous liquors, and the rights OF
property therein except for mechanical, me
dicinal and sacramental purposes, and provid-
ing punishment for a violation OF the l,w"--
IL 1t ever becomes one. This is the one subject
upon which the more radical temperance peo-
pie and so-called prohibItlonists nave worked
and talked for the past two arr, until the
State was full of petitions for and renonst ances
against the submission OF such an amendment
by the present Legislature to the people for
adoption or rejection at next springs election.
The JOINT resolution proposing the amendment
was first introduced by Senator Farr, Chairman
OF the Senate Committee on Liquor Traffic, and
the leading champion i'll the Senate Of the tenn
perance side OF the question, on the 18th inst,
and, amended bv the committee and re-
ported, provides AZ follows:
SEC. 40. The manufacture, gift or sale Of spiritu-
Gus, malt or yinous liquors III this State except for
mechanical, medicinal or sacramental purpose, is
prohibited, and no property rights in such spirtu-
Gus, malt or ynous liquors exist except he right TO
manufacture or sell for mechanics medicinal or
sacraInenta purposes under such restrictions may
DE provided by law.
The further provisions of the resolution
simply provide for the tune and manner OF its
SUBMISSION TO the people, as above mentioned.
Petitions signed by about 10000 voters and
$4,000 women have thus far come up, asking
for the passage OF the resolution, while remon-
strances against have come, signed by about
5000 voters, largely from Wayne county and
the Saginaw valley. When the joint resolution
was reached on the general order in the Senate
on the 27th, It's further consideration was made
special order for Feb. IL, Immed ately after
the long recess, by IL vote OF IA for TO II
against. The friends and foes OF the measure
are supposed to be here III force ut that time.
TAXATION
Ia also one OF the grave questions before the
people OF the State, and one that has been be-
fore the last two or three Legislatures. 1t is
conceded on all hands that the tax-system OF
the State has many grave and fragrant errors
connected WITH it and that need speedy reme-
dying, but how to do it Is the question no COM
nIttee or joint committees have Yet been able
to find our. The joint committees OF the two
houses are ut work OH the job, and, when
asked as 10 their labors, report progress.
HIGHWAY LAWS.
Those also need very material changes, as
the present system of highway labor i'll the
country Is open to the biggest chance for swim
die of any small affair In the State, the one
plan OF working out road-tax being OF itself
enough to condemn the whole. The Commit
tee on Roads and Bridges will report II bill
that they hope will remedy many evils on this
point.
SWAMI LANDS
The usual number OF bills authorizing the
Board OF Control of State Swamp Lands to APP
proprlate those lands for every conceivable
kind OF road or ditch are coming i'll. Some
will pass. while others will and ought not to
originally referred.
RECONCILIATION OF THE LAWS.
II is very probable that the Governors sug-
gestion regarding the immediate necessity of a
recomplatiOn of the law, that have been
added TO, subtracted from, altered and re-
called at each session since 1871 until now
philadelphia lawyer" himself can hardly tell
which are in force ant which are not. A
compiler Will most likely be appointed at an
early day, and the work done in good shape
within the next year. AS the supply on hand Is
all exhausted, some arrangement of the kind
IL an immediate necessity. As many of the
laws Of former years are repealed or modified
by other and later ones, or their force largely
DESTROYED, senator Epson, OF the Senate Jul
dietary Committee, has given notice of bill TO
repeal nearly 100 SECTIONS OF the compiled laws
of 1871.
ODDS AND ENDS.
Gov. Jerome is evidently dong ali he can to
earn his 81 eco salary, as he Is TO be found in
his Office about fifteen hours per day, attending
to the States wants and needs, yet only one
bill has reached him thus far.
The appropriations to be asked for by the
different institutions are not vet known, but
the new Reform School for Girls has put IN its
plea for only 200! If others ask in the
same proportion tine sum total viii be a stumper
to Taxpayers.
The picture of ex-senator Chandler, by Ives,
of Detroit, is on exhibition in the Governor
room and is very lite-ike and perfect. The
State will be asked to buy it for $4,000, and the
bill will Doubtless psos.
Speaker Moffatt, who has been unable to
preside in the House for two weeks, il able to
be taken home, whittier he went early in the
week. OBSERVER.