Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-15
STATE LEGISLATURE.
a BIG MEETING AT LANSING TIC
DISCUSS THE WORLDS FAIR.
priation Bill and There's Little
Chance Of Its Being Revived.

Chance Of Its Being Revived.
The use OF the hall Of representatives
was devoted on Thursday evening To "a dis
cussion OF the proposed appropriation fot
the worlds fair IN Chicago. The memberi
of the legislature were present, reinforced
| by large audience OF citizens of Lansing.
| Representative Lowden. chairman OF the
committee on ways and means, presided.
! Lieut.. Gov. Strong was present. Ex-Sena-
| tor Palmer made strong speech, not as
president OF the worlds fair but as a citi-
zen of Michigan, born here and resident
| here all his life. Pictures and drawings OF
the buildings and site were displayed and
explained, whereby it was shown that the
| collection, grouping and magnitude OF the
| buildings To contain the fair were never be-
fore approached. Senator Palmer read a
statement OF the collective items OF ex-
penditure needed TO make proper showing
Tor the state. IL aggregates $500, 900.
Hon. Ben. Butterworth, the secretary Of
the worlds fair. spoke also at considerable
length upon the importance OF having the
state and the whole country well represent
ed. His remarks were well received. Dur
ing the course OF his speech Gov. Winans
entered the hall Capt. w. A. Gavett also
spoke to the same general subject and was
followed by Alfred Russell OF Detroit. The
meeting closed shortly before | | o'clock. II
apparently had an excellent effect in max
| Ing known TO the legislature the Importance
| of the fair and tho benefits TO be derived
by the people OF Michigan from an inspec-
tion of II, and good exhibit Of the COM
modities of this great state.
The bill to appropriate $50, 900 of the
direct tax fund To aid in entertaining the
national G.. a. II. encampment at Detroit
this summer came up for passage in the
house Wednesday morning. The consttu-
tional argument was strongly worked.
Judge Miner insisted that in its present
form, merely directing the disposition OF a
portion Of fund received from the gen.
cral government, the bill was not only con-
! sttut.onal, but could be passed by "a ma
| jority instead OF "a two-thirds vote. DIR.
Rockwell of Berrien made u very eloquent
speech in favor OF the bill. The vote was
taken under call OF the house, and Acting
Speaker Richardson ruling that two
thirds vote was necessary, IL failed of
passage By ten votes. There were 81 in is
favor whereas 81 were required, and 33
against.
The appropriation for the national
encampment Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic 10 be held at Detroit next
August, continues TO be the subject of
conversation among members. Gov.
Winans. speaking of the subject, said.
that in his opinion. it was devoting public
money to a private purpose, and therefore
improper. He felt that taxation was
| already so heavy that the people justly
complained. Some things had already
passed the legislature involving expense
which he felt TO be u mistake, but he had
not interposed his Official objection; still,
feeling that he ought to gave every
thousand possible, if the appropriation for
the Grand Army encampment passed the
legislature, even by two-thrds vote. he
should veto IT,
Representative Fergusons bill foi the
inspection OF illuminating OILS, which has
been hanging fire in the senate for some
time. passed Thursday upon a scratch vote;
yeas Il; nays II.
The bill of Mr.. Gibbons to establish the
| legal rate of interest at five per cent was
{ iscussed in the house committee OF the
! whole Tuesday afternoon. All after the
| enacting clause was struck out by a vote
| of 80 to 30. When the committee arose
| the house refused TO concur in this action,
| and reinstatcd the bill by vote of 80 &c
81. 1t was placed on the order Of third
| reading.
The substitute for the bills OF Messrs.
Richardson aud Wendell. amending the
law for the relief OF soldiers. failed of
| passage in the house Tuesday, but was
reconsidered and will come up again.
Speaker Wachtel presented to the house
| Monday night an invitation 20 participate
in the centennial celebrat on of the legisla-
ture of South Carolina at Columbia in that
state. May 1915. The members would
like to go, but business will prevent
The senate committee TO investigate the
charges made by Senator Fleishiem, upon
the information furnished by MIR. Conely
Of Menominee county, that information
about intended purchases of public lands
was dvulged by attaches Of the state land
Office to spectators in Lans NJ. have re-
ported that there is no ground for the be-
lief entertained by said Mr.. Conely. The
| invest cation was thorough, and Senator
F'lcshiem expressed his approval Of the
conclusion reached.
Many petitions for and remonstrances
against Mr.. Miners bill amending the law
in reference TO building and loan associa-
tons are being received in the house.
The opponents of the bill mako strong
points against the provision which author
ICES the subscript on and payment for divi-
dend stock as part OF the capital OF the
associations, showing that it is in effect
establishing loan and discount banks TO be
managed and run as everyday regular
banking. without any liability for taxa
ton. This is thought to be entirely con-
trary to the principle Of the peoples build
ing and loan associations.
Tho sentiment is favorable to an nppro-
priat.on for the worlds fair; the amount
only being uncertain. II Michigan build
ing is 10 be constructed, and q majority OF
the members arc in favor of such build