Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-06-28
THE STATE.
A NEW LIBEL LAW.
Publishers are Given Some Degree
of Protection.
Legislative summary.

the senate the other day. Senators Gid
dings, Colsrove and Milne spoke strongly
argued against ". but the bill passed by a
vote OF 20 TO 2. In its present form the bill
readsg
Section l. In actions for libel il there is no
proof of expressed malice, or the court or
jury shall find there was no such malice,
then no exemplary or punitive damages
shall be awarded; but SUCH malice may be
inferred from the nature or tone of the
statement claimed 10 be libelous.
Section 2. No action for libel shall be
brought or maintained unless the plaintiff
shah, before bringing suit, give notice by
mail or otherwise 10 the defendant 10 pub.
lish retraction of the bel, ana allow the
defendent reasonable time in which 10
publish such retracton and make such
amends as are reasonable and possible
under the circumstances of the case and
proof of the publication of any such retrac-
tion or correction shall be admissible in ev-
idence under the genersl issue on the ques-
ton of the good faith of the defendant, and
in mitigation ana reduction OF damages
Provided that the retraction shall be pub
lished in the same type and the same con
ditlons OF the paper as the original libel,
and, so far AS is practicable, in the same
position.
Section 3. Repeats all acts inconsistent
with the above.
The Trowbridge liquor tax and license
DILL has been modified so aS 10 permit or
but one saloon for every 500 voters instead
of a., as originally intended. This nodh-
cation has stirred up considerable opposi-
ton to the bill from representatives of
small cities and towns who see that il
would materially lessen the revenue in
their municipalities.
The senate has passed the local option
bill just as il came from the house, by
vote of 10 TO TO-
The senate has passed the bill appropriate
Ing s., 40J for the home for discharged con-
victs in Detroit.
The house has killed the bill returning to
the old system requiring each county TO
care for its insane.
All after the enacting clause has been
struck out of the bill To establish the Office
of state marshall at 5000 year and ex-
penses.
The house has agreed To the senate CON
current resolution requesting the attorney
general OF the United States To invest igate
whether there have been fraudulent or lille
gal grants OF public lands to railroads, ca
mails, or corporations n the upper peninsula,
with an amendment extending his
researches to similar grants in the lower
peninsula
The senate took turn at the libel bill
the other afternoon. AS soon as il was
read Senator Mines "for the purpose of
bringing out discussion of the bill, moved
to strike out all after the enactiDg clause.
Senator Giddings briefly stated the position
OF the newspapers In asking for the passage
of the bill. Senator Mines afterwdrd
withdrew his motion and several amend
ments were incorporated in the bill. These
We're the addition OF the words "but such
malice may he inferred from the tone or
the nature of the publication after the
word "lbel' in the first section; the strik
ing out of the words nor shall any general
damages be awarded that are not strictly
actual and real" in sect on ,; the striking
out of all after the word damages" in the
sixth line Of section 3, and the striking out
of all of section I. Senator Berry renewed
the motion 10 strike out all after the enact
ing clause. The vote was nearly equal. but
Chairman Harshaw declared the motion
carried, apd no one asked for a division.
Gen Trowbridges bill for system of
excise commissioners to enforce the liquor
laws has been killed by the senate. A mo-
ton TO indefinitely postpone carried in
spite Of all efforts TO the contrary, nine re
publicans voting with the democrats
against the bill.
The graduated railroad fare bill which
passed the senate "A few days ago, has been
recalled, the evident purpose being to kill
the bill.
The indeterminate sentence bill lacked
one vote of the necessary numbe. to pass ii
in the senate The vote was reconsdered
and passed by majority of 20.
The house in com nittee of the whole has
passed the new election bill, designed TO
secure secret voting. BY united effort
from nearly all the Wayne delegation an
amendment was added allowing the cities
TO keep the polls cUen from a. m 10 >. m,
If the common council so decide. An
amendment by Representative Murtagh,
making legal holidays Of state and national
elections was also adopted
The bill prohibiting life insurance agents
from giving rebates, or dividing their com
mission with the insured has passed the
house.
Senator Holbrook's antitrust bill has
passed the senate.
The governor has approved the bill sub
hitting the question OF a unconstitutional con
veDtion TO popular vote.
The bill of the house committee on cleo
tons, which makes great changes in the
methods OF registration OF electors estab
fishes very particular regulations about the
nomination of the candidates for Office, pre-
scribes that all election tickets shall be
printed and furnished by the state, county,
or other municipal authorities, and that the
ticket shall contain the names of all candi-
dates and the voting shall be by the Aus
tralian system has passed the house-yeas,
Sd; nays, 81
The report of the conference committee
on the liquor tax law was read in the house
the other morning by Mr.. Pealer. 1t in.
.creases the tax on retailers OF liquors 10
$50, being an adv, nee Of SO over the sen
ate bill. 1t also increases the tax on whole
sale liquor dealers from 500 to 800, and
introduces Mr.. Abbott compile ated book
keeping arrangements for druggists who
undertake to sell hquors-and do not come
under the designation OF retailers of liquor.
Mr. Pealer explained the changes made by
the conference committee and urged the
house to adopt the bill as amended by that
committee His advice was most reluc
family taken, but the amendment was con-
Cured in. After its adoption by the house
the bill was promptly transmitted To the
senate After the report had been read
MIR. Quincy s id that important changes
had been made in the bill and that time
should be taken TO consider them. On his
motion the bill WAS laid on the table.