The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-02-23
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURES.

The Legislature, after a recess of ten days,
re-assembled on Tuesday. Feb. IS. The Senate
was I'm session but a short time and did very
little. few petitions of no importance were
received. The Senate struck out all after the
enacting clause In the bill 10 pension Judges ON
years Of service, having reached the
age OF 10. The House went to work
In business-like manner. Petitions were
offered For submission OF lrobiDitory amcnd-
ment: for prevention OF employment OF children
and for compulsory education; the formation OF
cooperative associations and trade and labor
societies.: for the abolition OF the convict-con-
tract system; for the submission OF prohibito-
ry amendment; for the Incorporation of divers
new villages and towns; for the creation of
new county (Arenac) out OF the northern pOr-
ton OF Bay county. number OF new bills were
introduced in the House, most of them
local in their character. Those of general
corporation OF trade and labor societies; to give
certain school Trustees special authority To ex-
anime and license teachers; TO amend Real
Property act, section 1909 OF compiled laws of
1877 to amend the Contagious Cattle Diseases
act; 20 regulate trials of actions for damages
arising fypm negligence; to amend and add
new section to the Drain law; to amend
Act $50 of 1881 relating TO Sheriffs fees; TO regu
late hours OF labor and employment of children;
to prohibit fishing with nets on Lake 81. Clair:
to provide for selecting petit jurors In the Up
per Peninsula; 10 amend the law relating to
the selection of jurors to lay ont highways. A
number OF bills OF loca nature We're passed.
adopted concentrating Capt Woodruff, MEM
Der from Clare, on the completion this day of
his 10th year. Capt Woodruff responded briefly
and happily, was applauded loudly by his fell
low-members, and was presented by the Speaker
with an elaborate bouquet. One ballot
was taken for Senator with the following result:
Ferry, Al; Stout, %; Cutcheon, 3; Burrows, 4;
Willis, o; Palmer, 4; Chamberlain, IA; b. J.
Hoyt, /; Hannah, l f; Lothrop, 1: w. =. Wells, Q;
Charles ;. May, l; Newberry, 3; Lacey, O. The
joint committee in the Legislature appointed to
investigate the EuenitQ Nelcs charges of
bribery in the Senatorial contest, examined
Michael j. Dee, editor OF the Ners, as to the pa
pcrs authority for the specific allegations
OF corrupt advances on the part of Senator Fer
rvs friends. Mr.. Dee testified that the article
was written at the request and instigation of j.
A. Hubbell, who was his sole authority; that Mr.
Hubbell sent for him to come to the Russell
House, and requested the publication of the
charges In the shape of an editorial, and not rs
an interview, and particularly requesting no
mention OF his name in the matter. Ey Senator
j. ii. Chandler was examined and testified
that S. s. Bailey, ex-Internal Revenue Collector
of Grand Rapids, offered Federal patronage to
the friends OF JAY A. Hubbell. Representative
Hopkins detailed the particulars of n CONVERSE
ton he had with Senator Ferry at the opening
oil the Legislature, iii the course OF which he
Fcrry) mildly intimated to him "A desle on his
part that he Hopkins) would go into the Rcpub-
lican caucus
No LEGISLATION worthy of mention was &C
complished in the Capitol on the 18th, the Sena-
torial question absorbing all the attention, even
to the extent of taking an adjournment at noon.
in order to settle the contest. The ballot stood
as follows: Ferry, AZ; Newton, 30; Cutcheon, 7;
Burrows, II; Stout, 5; Hanchett, L; Willis, 9;
Begole, 2: Hannah, .; Palmer, 2; Barnes, 5;
Lacey, 3; Lothrop, L; VIII, l: Van Buren,, 1;
Whitney, l; Stockbridge, /. on this ballot, though
Ferry had material aid from Greenbackers and
Democrats, some of his stanchest Republican
supporters deserted him-viz.: Senators White,
Fast and Duncan, and Representatives Rose,
Shepard and Snyder. caucus of the Ferry
men in the afternoon adopted resolution abb
solving themselves from all caucus obligations,
and invited the remainder of the original fifty
nine Ferry men to conference in the
evening The evening caucus OF the fifty
nine original Ferry men resulted in simply
releasing all hands from all caucus agreement.
Hon. w. g. Thompson, Of Detroit, testified be-
fore the investigating committee. He said that
all the Detroit candidates for the Legislature
were selected Sunday by Senator Ferry,
Collector Bell and himself. The one candidate
not pledged to Ferry opposed by the latter
and Bell, but through Thompsons efforts was
nominated and elected. For his services in this
matter Ferry subsequently promised him
the Detroit Collectorship, but broke the prom
Use. He said the whole State election was run
absolutely. in Ferry's interest; Republican
candidates for the Legislature not pledged to
Ferry We're slaughtered by his influence all over
the State, and that Ferry exerted himself TO his
utmost to compass the defeat of Gov. Jerome
and CONGRESSMAN Burrows Thompson was
very straightforward and explicit.
No LEGISLATIVE work worthy of record
was accomplished by the General Assembly on
Feb. 16. Two ballots were taken for United
States Senator. the last one resulting as follows
Ferry, 10: Newton DEM. 46; Burrows 10;
Palmer, ls; Cutcheon, 4; Withry, 2; Blair, Il
Rich, A: Edgar NJ. Marble, 2: HanChett, IL;
Willis, 10: Lacey, 6; Hannah, 4; Crosby, l: j.
Byrons Judkins, 1: Mcmillan, .; II. +. Shepard,
L; Moffatt. l. At the bribery investigation Ed
p Ferry testified to the Strengthened circumstan-
ces of himself and brother when they
came to Lansing. He knew of no cor
ruption. He thought packing the Capitol
with lobbyists was approved by the
people at large. Marsden c. Burch and
T.. C. Watkins, members of the Ferry Commit
tee, knew OF no offers or use of money or office
to secure votes Rice A. Beal, Chairman OF the
committee, was not 80 innocent. He had read
the charges in the Detroit paper on which the
investigation had been started, and ideutiiied
an item in it. He had consulted Senator Ferry,
and asked for permission TO promise a Territorial
Secretaryship to a friend, whom he did not
name TO the Senator. That friend was Repre-
sentative French lof Monrocl. and
he tBeaD offered and promised
the Office to him. He only did
it out of friendship but expected to get his vote
for Ferry, but didn't get it. He also promised
the postoffice of Monroe to Representative
Parker, and 81 200 clerkship for Parkcrs son.
French was called and substantiated Beal's
story. Col Henry NJ. Dutiield who was present
when Mr.. Dee, of the NetrS, obtained material
for the charges of corruption, repealed the in
situation that Dee had been paid by Hubbell for
writing the article. The Investigation adjourned