Crawford avalanche., 1891-06-11
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE

The Worlds Fair Commissioners. Rich
mond and Lane. sent lengthy communi-
cation to the House ON tho I'd. setting forth
the necessity OF much more liberal appro-
| priation for the State exhibit than has yet
been contemplated. and say that the close
proximity TO Chicago renders IL imperative
| that Michigan should take no other than
| first position. They estimate the attendance
from Michigan from 100000 10 500. 900. and
recommend an appropriation OF s23O,00O.
The committee report recommended
Si25.00O. The attempt 10 substi-
tute tho name OF St. Joseph for
that OF Port Michigan given by the
House TO the consolidated villages OF ST.
Joe and Benton Harbor failed by vote OF
10 TO IL. but the vote TO reconsider carried
The consolidation bill is temporarily dead,
however. A resolution was introduced TO
investigate the Official conduct OF Repre-.
sentatlves Doyle and Murthe from the Up
per Peninsula. charged In Detroit paper
with bribery. In their absence, action up
on it was made the special order for the 3D.
The Senate passed bill consolidating the
boards of control OF the State penal insti-
tuti0ns, placing them under one central
board OF control, composed Of four mem
bers. no more than three to be from one
political party; II also provides that the
board shall exercise the powers and fulfill
the duties OF State board of pardons.
The House on the I'd passed a bill appro-
priating 100000 for the State exhibit at the
Worlds Fair. The committee of the whole
agreed To s150,OOO, but the House did not
concur. A committee was appointed to in
vestigate the charges OF bribery against
Representatives Doyle and Munthe OF the
Upper Pepinsula The House passed a
bill providing for an entire change I'm
the system OF control of schools tprovides
for the election OF one County Commissioner
of Schools by the people. and two assist
ants by the Board OF Supervisors In each
county, the three to constitute Board OF
Examiners. The compensation is graded
according to the number OF schools In the
county; that In counties having fifty schools
to be not less than $400, and In counties
having as high as 125 not less than $1,000,
but amounts In excess OF these sums may
be allowed IN the discretion OF the Board OF
Supervisors The Senate passed bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for establishing employ
ment bureaus at Detroit, Grand Rapids.
Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Manistee. Sault Ste.
Marie st. Joseph, and Ishpeming.
SENATOR BAsToNE's bill TO provide uni
form school text books passed the House on
the Attn. The I'LL was amended SO that IL
will not go into operation until the first
Monday In June, 1893 After that day all
school books except In cities OF over 1000
population must be uniform. commits
sion composed of the Secretary OF State and
the State Board of Education will purchase
Il o books on Ave years contracts or order
them printed at State expense IL they can
igan can print them. The branches
| on which uniformity Will be re-
Quired are reading, orthography, writing,
civil government, history, grammar. physi-
ology, hygiene, arithmetic. geography, and
| the theory and art OF teaching. The books
will be- supplied through the Office OF the
Secretarx of Stata tha -districis- -at ar
The House passed as a substitute for the
| Senate redlstrlcting bill measure in which
| Detroit Is divided up among three districts
A
rules. passed bills consolidating Benton
| Harbor and st. Jose phi as Independent cities.
| This ends all attempts To consolidate the
| rival towns. In the House the bal TO in
| crease the specific tax on express companies
to per cent. OF their earnings on Michigan
business was defeated by close vote.
OK the 5th, the committee investigating
| the charges OF bribery made against Rep
resentatlves Doyle and Munthe, of the
Upper Peninsula, called as first witness
Representative Eaton, Commander OF the
| Michigan Department OF the @. A. r.. who
| testified that William c. Graves. a news
paper correspondent, had shown him an
affidavit signed by Senator J. II. ID. Stevens.
OF Ironwood, which contained the charges
of bribery substantially as they have ap-
peared In public press. Mr. Graves was
next summoned but, upon being asked il he
showed Col. Eaton the affidavit referred
to, he refused to answer. and further
more declined 10 give any reason for such
| declinatlon. This brought the investiga-
| tion to standstill, and the committee re-
| ported the matter TO the House, with the
recommendation that Graves be adjudged
| to be In contempt OF the House and ordered
arrested The Senate passed the House
| game bill, but has changed the season for
shooting deer in the Upper Peninsula from
the month OF September to the two weeks
between Oct Is and Nov. 1. The Senate
also passed Jackson's fish bill giving
the public the right 10 fish on nav
igable waters wherever fish have been
or may he planted at the expense of the
State. The bill was designed to prevent
sporting clubs from securing exclusive priv
ileges. but its usefulness In this direction
was sadly impaired by the striking out of
the provision granting the right to shoot
wild fowl on navigable waters. The House
passed the bill providing an annual salary
for county clerks, treasurers, and registers
of deeds, In lieu OF the present fee system.
and killed the bill requiring private bankers
to report to the Commissioners OF Banking
| and submit To examination by that official.
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