Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-01
TO PROTECT FISH.
a Bill For Their Better Protection
introduced.
nel.iatiye Notes.

black, strawberry green or
white bass from March TO June 10 follow
ing; whitensh from November 20 TO March
] following. The bill forbids the purchase
or sale Of fish out of season. The spearing
OF fish, except mulleJ and suckers, is pro-
hibited in the months of March, April, May
and June of each year in any waters except
those OF the great lakes. The section which
makes IT unlawful 10 use any species OF nets
except in the waters OF the great lakes is
amended so as 10 permit the use of dip nets
in catching mullet and suckers. In prose-
cutions for infractions of this section IL is
made sufficient for the people TO show that
nets were used 10 catch fish, and the burden
of proof is on the defendant TO make it
plain that none but suckers and mullet
were caught in the net. IL is unlawful to
catch speckled or brook trout, grayllng or
any species of bass except with hook aud
line. This bill is one of four prepared with
the advice of the state game warden, some
what modifying the laws about fishing. No
changes are made in the regulations regard
ing nets, the size of meshes or other features
OF the existing laws.
The executive committee has already re-
,ceived this year Sl.3.0 for commission
salary in less than one OF the II months.
The bill TO prohibit the sale of liquor
within five miles of the university viii be
miles. and TO include the normal school and
the agricultural college.
Representative Wachtel of Emmett has
bill TO reduce the legal size of cedar posts
used for fencing by railroads from six TO
five inches in diameter. The scarcity OF
cedar is the occasion OF the bill.
The members of the committee on cleo
tions have adjourned the hearing in the
McElroy -Lindow case, in St Clair county,
until Feb. IL, to give the defense time TO
gather testimony.
Bills have been noticed in the house TO
repeal the standard time law; for the adj
justment OF bodnties, giving each soldier
who enlisted prior TO Feb. ., 1863, and
served TO DAYS "A bounty of 500; erecting
Montcalm and Gratiot counties into the
twenty ninth judicial circuit; TO empower
gas companies to furnish electric light; TO
compile statistics of divorces in Michigan.
Notice has been given of a bill intended
TO make the accretiOns OF Warmers island,
in Saginaw bay, public hunting and fish
ing ground. This is large territory, which
Warner claimed belonged TO his island, but
the interior department decided 1t belonged
to the state. IL embraces the finest duck
hunting and fishing grounds in the STATE.
Representative Damon of Tuscola has
in mind bill, of which he has given notice,
10 do away with the present dual liquor tax
of $500 for "a beer license and $500 for
whisky license. What Mr.. Damon will
propose is not yet settled in his mind, but it
is likely that he wifi make the single license
TO cover the sale Of both malt and spiritu-
Gus liquors between five hundred and eight
hundred dollars.
A bill will soon be introduced to provide
hal "A 70 have N
her husbands property except such as Is
acquired after their marriage. The bill is
designed TO stop marriages for money
where the husband Is advanced in years
and wealthy.
bill has been introduced in the house
providing that free text books shall be
printed by convict labor.
The judiciary committee OF the house has
reported favorably "a railroad bill making
certain regulations concerning lost freight;
also a favorable report on the bill for the
incorporation of associations for dealing in
real estate. They report adversely Muir
tagh's bill prohibiting judges from practic
ing at the bar.
A memorial has been filed in the house
from the supervisors of St Clair county
asking an appropriation Of 5000 for the
benefit of the farmers of Brockway, Green
wood and Grant townships, ST. Clair coun-
ty, whose crops were destroyed by hail
storm in July, lSSS.
The joint resolution fixing the governors
salary at 81 900 and calling a special cleo
tion TO vote thereon has been reported back
without amendment and its passage recon-
mended.
Mr.. Tyrrell of Jackson gives notice Of a
bill ia the house for the preservation Of
deer. He proposes that Bots Blanc island
in the straits of Mackinac be made a park
where fawns may be stocked and allowed
to run wild for period of 10 years. There
are %, 900 acres of land on the island, part
~ state and partly government, affOrding
ample room for the deer, and the isolation
of the island is well calculated TO render
protection surer than on the mainland.
Mr. Rogers of Barry has given notice Of
a bill prohibiting the "a . or furnishing OF
tobacco in any form TO any minor under IS
years Of age. except on written order
from parents or guardians The penalty is
fine of from twenty -fve TO one hundred
dollars or Imprisonment from thirty to
ninety days.
There is bill in the hands of the senate
committee on railroads which, If IL becomes
law, will take many thousand dollars
from the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
railroad and convey the money into the
state treasury. Senator Mines will intro
duCe the BILL which is to amend the law
under which the aforesaid railroad COM
pany's charter was granted. The main line
of the Michigan Southern was originally
state railroad. but was sold in 1916 TO
private corporation for $500 zoo, and the
purchasers We're granted a special charter,
making their rate Of taxation one half OF
per cent on their capital stock and bonds.
This rate has obtained ever since. The
Mines bill is TO compel the company 10 pay
2per cent of their gross earnings where
they do not exceed $1,000 per mile of road
operated, and per cent where the earnings
exceed 5000. IL also taxes all
real estate owned by the road that is not
actively used in the exercise of its fran
chises. On the 1l6 miles Of the main line
this increased rate Of taxation would give
the state an additional revenue of from
100000 TO so coo annually The Michigan
Southern company claims that il is still a
special charter road and exempt from gen
eral taxation; but when the Michigan
Southern was consolidated with the Ohio
system Of roads under the name of l. :. q
NJ $. il took advantage Of the general law
of Michigan TO effect that consolidation,
and il is claimed by virtue of the act, the