Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-08
STATE LEGISLATURE.
THE SESSION DRAGGING ALONG
WITH NO END YET IN SIGHT.
Michigan's Share OF the Direct Tax
Refund Received and Turned into
the General Fund.

The amended hotel bill which passed the
house Monday was recommended by the
committee on fisheries. IL provides that
any person who shall put up at a hotel or
inn and is given credit food. entertain
ment or accommodation by reason OF a
false show OF baggage or effects, may be
complained OF before justice Of the peace
and If adiudged guilty shall be fined not to
exceed 500, or imprisoned not TO exceed
thirty days or by both fine and imprison-
ment. The surreptitous removal or at
tempt TO remove baggage. By any person
who vacates hotel or inn without settling
his bill is also punishable as above. Board
ers who neglect 10 pay their bills for thirty
days are liable to forfeit their baggage TO
the hotel or inn keeper, who is authorized
10 sell the same at public auction. retain
ing sufficient TO pay his bill and the
charges. which must include cost OF adver-
ising the sale, and refund TO the default
ing boarder the ovcr-plus. If any.
Rep. Chisholm's bill prohibiting the use
OF oleomargerne aud butterine in all state
institutions passed its third reading Tues
day.
A large number of petitions have been
! received in the house asking that the
! lie or tax be fixed uniformly at $500 for
bo,h beer and whisky.
The house committee OF the whole has
agreed TO Mr. Richardson's bill for the
taxation Of railroads under tho provisions
of the general law as set forth in chapter
81 OF Howell and the amendments thereto.
circumstances against the abolition OF
! the state board OF charities and corrections
are being received in the house. The
! state board of health is in No danger OF
being abolished, though it is likely that
the amount allowed for printing useless
pamphlets and paying the expenses of the
secretary upon journeys to remote places
on this continent viii bc reduced.
The following nominations made by Gov.
Wiz ans were confirmed in executive ses-
sion Tuesday morning: As members Of the
board Of control of the NJ chigan mining
school-Hon. Peter White, Marquette;
James K. Cooper. Hancock, for six years
from June Q, 1891; and Hon. Jay A. Hub.
bell of Houghton TO fill vacancy. AS in
spectors of the Michigan military academy
for the year lS9l-Hon. Wellington X.
Burt, Saginaw; NJ. A Aldrich, Grand
Rapids; DIR. II. +. Lyster Detroit; Dan
iel H. Ball, Marquette, and Hon. j. w.
Giddings, Cadillac.
The house committee on agricultural col
lege has reported favorably the bill OF Mr..
+. II. Smith, appropriating $52, go to the
agricultural college for various improve
ments and repairs to buildings, and for the
4 81.
special and general departments OF that in
st.tuton.
Chairman Wendell of the committee on
education has reported fayorably the bill Of
Mr.. Virgins for uniform text hooks in the
public schools. II provides that the books
shall not be changed except at five-year
periods. The state board of education
IS TO agree upon the list of books and invite
proposals from publishers TO supply them
to the schools Those who receive the
contract will have the privilege OF furnish
ing all the schools for period of fvo
years, or until new contract is let.
The i. Of l. congressional apportonment
bill, as arranged by Senator Bastonc. di-
viding the state into twelve congressional
was passed unanimously without debate.
The two house appropriation bills for
the state normal schools, allowing IS, 600
for sanitary improvements, s45. 260. OIL for
running expenses in 1891, and SAG, 260. 90
for 1892, have been favorably reported 10
the senate. The house bill approprating
SAC 900 for the school for the blind met
with like favorable attention
Representative Henzes pet bill restor-
Ing the death penalty for murder has been
given its quietus in the house. MIR. Hence
with unusual discretion, spoke very briefly
when the bill came up for final passage.
Representative Clapp of Calhoun was
loaded with an elaborate argument against
the bill and consumed nearly an hour.
while Representative Chisholm, the pat
rons Of industry leader. ended tue debate
with a biblical argument in favor Of capital
punishment. The bill fell only seven votes
short Of the required 81, the vote stand
ing IL ayes to 81 noes.
The bill 20 punish fraudulent entries and
practices in speed contests has passed
without opposition. It provides that any
ans horse under an assumed name, out Of
its class, shall be imprisoned for term OF
three years or fined Il, 00o. The bill is
indorsed by the National trottins associa-
ton.
Auditor General Stone has received
from l.. II. Nebeker, treasurer of the
United States, draft for 1920, sos. &C,
being the amount of the direct tax refund
ed TO the state of Michigan. BY rcsolu-
ton OF tho two houses this money has
been paid into the general fund oil the
state and will reduce the taxes to that
amount. The purpose OF placing il in
the general fund is TO prevent the diver
sion Of it to other purposes, some Of which
might be made the foundation for schemes
for new public institutions like school Of
chronological science, involving perpetual
expense for an institution whose course
OF instruction is fully covered by the uni
versity, the mining school and the agricul-
tural college.