The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-04-01
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE

Legislature are confined 10 their rooms with
la grippe, consequently business has been
extremely light In the Senate on the 2tth
President Strong announced as "A committee
under the bribery investigation resolution
adopted Senators Park, Crocker, Mugford,
Democrats, and Wheeler and Prindle, Re-
publcans. Senator Bastones uniform
ity of textbooks bill passed the Sem
ate with but two dissenting votes.
Ii was amended 90 exempt districts i'm
cities and villages where the population
was 5000 or In excess thereof from its OPP
erations. IL also authorizes the Secretary
OF State TO contract for the textbooks IL IL
can be done at n less cost than TO print
them on state account. Bills also passed
the Senate abolishing the fee system I'm
Kent County; for compensation OF clerks OF
the courts, Register OF Deeds and County
Treasurer, leaving IL with county boards OF
supervisors who may fix salaries at not less
than 1000 nor In excess of $4,000, and all
interest on county funds To be for the bene-
fit OF the county, instead OF the Treasurer,
as heretofore
ALL OF the bills before the Legislature
authorizing cities to incur bonded in
debtedness to maintain an electric light
plant were reported To the House on
the 25th without recommendation. The
committee suggests that IL Il becoming "a
dangerous and expensive practice and
needs a check. The Committee on State
bill appropriating $4,000 In swamp lands
for the survey of ship canal
route across the State. The inventor OF the
Rhines voting machine Is urging its adop-
tion upon members OF the Legislature. He
expresses confidence in its being adopted
by the Minnesota Legislature. Consider
alton OF the Henze capital punishment bill
has been made a special order In the House
for the 31st. The Committee on State Az
fairs reported favorably on the Richardson
bill, which reduces rates on telegraph mes
sages to 20 cents on the first ten words and
cent "A word for all In excess TO all points
In this State.
On the Goth the House passed the Soldiers
Home appropriation bill, amounting 10
s115.750. for 1912. This amount is TO
cover the entire expenses OF the Home. and
the amount received from the National
Soldiers Home fund will BE- turned into the
State Treasury and credited 10 the general
fund. Not much other business except OF
local Importance was transacted. The bill
providing for stenographer for each
OF the Supreme Court Justices Is find
ing much favor and Is likely 10
pass. The court IL heavily burdened.
Nearly the entire morning session OF tho
House was devoted 10 the discussion az the
proper course to pursue To kill Rouse bill
that had passed both branches by msrepre-
sentation. An attempt was made to stran-
gle IL I'm the Committee OF Eugrossment and
Enrolment. Inc SOfifcrS HDfnc Board
elected Warmer r. Walker. OF Ann Arbor,
adjutant OF the Home at Grand Rapids, TO
succeed Major Long
IN the Senate. the 27th. nearly the whole
session was given up 10 a wrangle. Early
I'm the session Senator Doran introduced
bill placing the upper peninsula mines on
the same basis for taxation as other proper
ty, I'm addition To the specific tax which they
now pay In lieu OF other taxes, also another
bill increasing the specific tax on copper
ore to IS per ton. and on iron ore an in
crease from to 20 cents per ton. Such an
earnest protest went up from the upper
peninsula country that the bill increasing
ported and subsequently indefinitely
postponed. and a substitute reported
for the second bill, which abolishes all spe-
cihc taxes on mining property and places IL
on the same footing for taxation purposes
as other property. The bill was placed on
the general order. Tho Ways and Means
Committee of the House gave hearing to
the State Commissioners, and others inter
ested In the appropriation for the State ex-
hiblt at the Worlds Fair. A representative
of President Palmer was also present The
commission will consist OF six men and three
women, and they will appoint an executive
committee OF three. The committee Is be-
ing strongly urged TO recommend an appro-
priation OF $500. 900. Whatever the amount
may be, $4,000 will be made available dur
ing the year 1891 for the erection OF build
ings.