The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-01
AT THE CAPITAL.


aud Repairing Charter Bstg
APprOprintiOus-'rh A additional Asy =
lusn Bill-M miscellaneous.
M LANSING, March 20, 1881.
1t has been customary for an eccentric citi.
zcn of Detroit, Mr.. Levi Bishop, TO write occa-
sional articles to the papers of that city at
tempting to prove that the crime of murder is
fearfully on the increase, and that the only
remedy for such increase Is the restoration OF
the death penalty, which was abolished in the
State in 1876 for murder, but is yet in force in
cases Of treason. We fail to see wherein trea-
son is worse crime than murder. however.
and 80 do others. Representative Wyckof. Of
Oakland county, appears to side with Mr.
Bishop in his views, 40 has introduced bill
amending existing laws so they shall read AZ
follows: i4
"All murder which shall be perpetrated by
means of poison, or lying in wait, or any other
kind of willfnl, deliberate and premeditated
killing, or which shall be comm tied In the per-
petration or attempt to perpetrate any arson,
rape, robbery or burglary, shall be deemed
murder of the first degree and shall be pun
ished by being hung by the neck until dead, or
by SOLITARY confinement at hard labor IN the
State prison for life, a. the jury by whom the
conviction was made or the Judge by whom
confession was received shall determine. The
jury before whom any person indicted for MUIR
der shall be tried shall, If they find such per-
son guilty thereof, ascertain in their verdict
whether II be murder of the first or second de-
gree, and shall determine and deliver with their
verdict which Of the punishments provided in
section 1 of this act shall be visited upon such
convicted person; but IL such person shall be
convicted by confession, the court shall pro-
ceed 10y examination Of witnesses to determine
the degree of the crime, and shall render judg-
ment and determine the punishment accord
ingly."
Notwithstanding long and able report was
made in the Senate by ex-Gov. Crosweli, then u
Senator, In 1865, upon petition numerousy
signed, asking for the restoration o. the death
penalty, in which he said; "Tne old idea that
severity Of punishment Is necessary to create r
dread Of CRIME has been fully exploded.
Experience has shown that capital offenses
have not, since the abo ion of this provision,
increased greatly beyond the proportionate
growth of population, nor relatively faster than
in other States where the penalty IL still ell
forced" MIR. WycSuff's bill seems to meet with
favor by part Of the Legislators, yet 1t is not
supposed that it can pass either house.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The House passed " Dl " provide FOR the
formation of electric light companies within
this State, but when the Senate reached 1t on
the report OF the committee 1t was made u
special order for March 20. at o'clock p. III.
The consideration OF the bill for the
REAPPoRTIoNMENT
OF Representative districts Of the State has also
been made o special order OF the Senate for
April IL, at 2p. IN.
MORE CHARTERS REPAIRED.
The past few days has Witnessed q wonder
fully large grst of charters that have been
ground through the Legislative null, some hav-
ing been put into the hopper for toe hrst time,
aud others for their semi-annual repairs, many
NJ cttu md oh halT1 hEa m,
old wagon, needing constant watching and fire.
quent mending. Among few thus legslated
about are Detroit, Lansing, Codwdter, Bay
City, East Saginaw, Charlotte, Eaton Rapids,
Dowagiac aud a host Of lesser ones.
TAXATION OF BANK STOCK
il subject that has Called out quite little
lobby of interested spectators, the House hav-
ing passed bill to tax the stock i'll the village
or city where the bank docs business rather
than in the township, village or city where its
owner lives. The opponents OF the bill hope
they have talked the bill oaad IN the Senate.
NUMEROUS APPROPRIATIONS
have been made durlng the week by
one or both houses, some OF them
large ones, and the whole aggregating
fright smart" little pile of dollars and
cents. Both houses have passed bill appro-
priating $500 for the building OF a new
10 ture hall, barn, etc., at the Reform School
located in TINS city.
L t Etudio HAS pdSScu u Dln
$40, 0C0 for The current expenses OF the State
Public School at Coldwater Tor two years and
Sl1 800 for putting in gas-works, buildings, re-
pairs, ETC., at the Same institution. Ii IL
claimed that as good gas can be made for 81. Is
per thousand feet as the State is now paying
80 for.
The Senate has also passed bill appropriat-
ing S109, $50 to the Reform School for Guls, To-
Gated at Adrian. or this amount $4,000 are
for the current expenses for two years, s44, 500
for building two additional cottages, and the
remainder for building engine, coal and gas
house, gas apparatus, furniture, grading, etc.,
etc.
Both houses have passed bill giving the
Board OF Fish Commissioners Sl5, 800; IS, 0U0
for 1891 and 81, 500 for 1892. The bill passed
the House by good majority after a long and
spirited discussion, but Ill the Senate it lacked
one vote Of enough to pass 1t, when Senator
Strong changed his vote from no 10 yes, and
thus saved the bill by the closest possible
chance.
The bill for the establishment OF
THE ADDITIONAL. ASYLUM
for the insane, spoken OF some weeks ago, il
printed, and, alter being pretty thoroughly
discussed III committee Of the whole In the
Senate on Tuesday, Was referred to the Com
mittee on Appropriations and Finance. 1t first
provides for the appointment OF commission
of three competent persons by the Governor.
who shall select site of not less than 200 acres
Of land, with sufficient supply of living water
and furnishing proper drainage facilities. IL
sppropriates 100000 to be collect
ed-$lO0,0OO in 1881, 100000 in
1882, and $1,000 III 1888. No one
denies that there are, to-day, over 800 OF this
class in Michigan who cannot be accommodated
in either OF the present asyiums, AZ they are
both overcrowded, nor that additional room
must be had, but III, re are two opinions as to
whether 1t Is best TO pass such a bill. many
holding back on account of the large expense.
but others claiming that the work can not be
commenced day too soon, IA three or iour
years must elapse before the institution could
be finished for use If begun now.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Both houses have passed the usual bill al
lowed by the constitution, giving the members
Of the two houses from the Upper Peninsula 50
instead of SO per day.
Speaker MCffett who has been very sick
since Jan. Is, has 80 far recovered AZ to pre-
side for n short time on the 25th, with every
prospect now that he will SOON be- able to at
tend TO the duties of the position.
Both houses passed a concurrent resolution
yesterday for the usual election recess" from
March 81 to the evening of April 6.
We intended to write up the Ontonagon and
Brue River railroad grant case, but when able
LAWYERS, Legis ators and even Congressman