Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-09
THE STATE.
THE DEATH PENALTY BILL
Passes the House-Watson's Local
Option Bill Fails.
Legislative Notes.


Mr. Abbott's bill providing for the death
penalty in certain cases OF murder occupied
the attention of the house on the End inst.
Mr.. Waite tried TO have the bill amended
so that death could be inflicted by either
hanging, electricity or decapitation, but IT
was lost. MIR. Aleshire had seen two exc
cutious, and would never consent to have
others die the same way. Mr.. Abbott, in
PRODUCER of the bill, spoke at length in
favor OF his measure arguing that the
death penalty would deter in many cases
where Imprisonment does not.
Mr. Judd ridiculed the idea that death
penalty would prove a deterrent. The
trouble to-day was not for lack of sufficient
penalty, but on account OF our jury system,
so arranged that case was never allowed
20 go TO trial unless twelve imbeclles had
been secured to weigh the evidence. Mr..
Judd did not believe that middleaged or
old men were afraid of death, anyway, and
if the orthodox belief THAT men went
straight to glory If they repented their
sins) was correct, death was far preferable
to Imprisonment. Mr.. j. l.. Preston also
spoke briefly against tho bill.
Mr. Murtagh asserted that the large num-
her of murders in Wayne county was due
more TO the inefilciency ofthe police depart
ment than any other cause.
All dueuuulcnJ OutTtu ny MT. DcS W
make the bill apply to men only was lost
Mr.. Watson spoke for the bill
Mr.. Goodrich made a long and eloquent
speech in favor of the bill, based on hi s
belief that imprisonment was not severe
enough a penalty to deter, and that the
severer penalty Of death was called for.
The bill was then passed by vote of SO
ayes TO 80 nays.
The bill ITO revise and consolidate the
laws relative TO the state prison, the state
house Of correction and branch of the state
prison in the upper peninsula, and TO the
state house of correction and refOrmatory
at lOnia, and the government and discipline
thereof, and to repeal all acts inconsistent
herewith" was defeated in the senate.
The house has passed bill offering a re-
ward of 10 cents each for each wolf scalp.
Wolves are very numerous in the upper
peninsula and kill deer in great numbers.
Chairman Eaton of the committee on
military affairs has reported 10 the house
favorable on the bill providing for the es-
tablishment of a soldiers relief commits
siou in oh county. II will afford relief TO
Union soldiers sailors and marines who by
reason of their families do not wish TO
enter the home. The commission shall
consist Of three men appointed by the
Judge of probate in each county, two of
which shall be honorably discharged Union
soldiers. Money shall be raised by tax
each year, to be known as the soldiers re
lief fund. The bill was prepared by the
Legislative committee of the G.. A. Il.
Watsons local option bill was discussed
in the house the other day, but when the
vote was taken the bill failed TO go through.
The Detroit boulevard and park consoli-
dation bills have passed tho senate.
The two houses of the legislature tender
ed a reception TO Il. w. Palmer, United
States minister to Spain, on the occasion of
his recent visit to the capital
A concurrent resolution for final adjourn
uent June 4 has been introduced