The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-03-18
WORK AT THE CAPITAL.
LEGISLATIVE DOiNOS FOR THE
PAST WEEK.
A hin IN Inhict tho Punishment or Death
by II ectricity-1he Condemned to be
Kept I'm Solitary Confinement and Gifts
of Flowers, Etc., Refused Him.

LANSlNd, hdICn
Representative Houghton has bill in
the House for the election Of County SUI
perintendents OF Schools, who shall give
bond in the sum of $500. To be eligible
a candidate must be graduate of some
reputable college or normal school, and
hold a State certificate within two years
Of the time of election. In counties OF
no more than fifty schools second-grade
certificate will suffice. His comFensa-
ton is TO be four dollars per day when
actually employed. The bill also pro-
vides for an assistant visitor with CON-
pensation of three dollars per day. The
superintendent may also be allowed the
sum of 5000 for contingent expenses, in
the discretion OF the Board Of Super
visors.
Representative Rockwell has intro
duced bill fixing the salary Of the Clerk
of the Supreme Court at $4,000. The
Ways and Means Committee were in
structed TO ascertain the amount OF the
Clerks fees at present. A sub committee
waited upon Clerk Hopkins and asked
him what he knew about it. He mod
estly admitted that his knowledge was
superior upon that subject, and asked
10 see the authority upon which the de-
mand was mace, and in reply the COM
mittee retired. No report has yet been
made.
There Is conflict between Repre-
sentatives Richardson and Dafoe over
the proprietorship OF the reform idea OF
increasing the tax upon the gross re-
col. % ,t,at .faG 10 IN
accuses Richardson of plagiarism. He
had his bill referred 10 the State Affairs
Committee, of which he is Chairman, and
has reported the same favorably. Dafoe
had his go TO the Committee on Rail-
roads There is little difference in the
construction Of the bill, except that the
penalties for noncompliance are less Sc
we're.
A concurrent resolution has passed
both branches for printing 1000 copies
of the Sherman-Porter memorial eXer-
Cises, the members TO have ten each,
twenty-five to each of the families OF
General Sherman and Admiral Porter,
fifty to Ransom Post, G.. A. r.. st. LOuis,
fifty 10 Lafayette Post, New York City,
one hundred TO the Congressional Libra
ry, and ten IN the Michigan State Library.
Representative W. Il. Jackson has a
bill prohibiting the profit OF corporations
from being applied to an increase Of
the capital without the unanimous con-
sent OF the stockholders, without which,
when the accumulations shall exceed 10
per cent. upon the capital, the excess
shall be divided among the stockholders.
Representative Henze's bill to inflict
the punishment OF death by electricity
upon those convicted of murder in the
first degree is now fully drawn and is
receiving consideration from the Com
mittee on Judiciary. The sentence is 10
he carried out in not less than four nor
more than eight weeks after il is pro-
nounced by the court The week for the
execution is 10 be fixed by the judge,
but not the day; that Is left TO the
warden of the State Prison at Jackson,
i'm which all the execut ons for murder
are to take place. In case of doubt as
to the condition of condemned, il is pro-
vided that inquests by persons men or
women, duly qualified shall be made for
| insanity or pregnancy. The witnesses
TO an execution are limited in number to
twelve official witnesses, two physicians,
a Justice OF the Supreme Court, or the
| Judge who pronounced the sentence. the
prosecuting attorney and the sheriff of
the county where the trial occurred.
The condemned is to be placed i'm soil
tary confinement until the day of eXecu-
ton, the only persons who may see him
! being members Of his family, his spirit
ual adviser, physician or counsel. To
restrain the morbid tendencies some
times exhibited when the perpetrators
of notorious crimes are doomed TO pun
| ishment. it is provided that no gifts Of
any kind, including flowers, shall be
| handed i'm. For the information of the
| Governor, the judge pronouncing sem
| tcnco is TO transmit to the executive
notes Of the testimony taken upon the
| trial. with his charge TO the jury In
case application for pardon is made, the
| Governor may require the opinion OF a
Justice of the Supreme Court, or the
| Attorney General, upon legal points
raised.
After execution post. norton exam
! ination is to be made by the physicians.
and their written report is 10 be placed
on file The body after execution may
be claimed by relatives for burial, but If
not il Is TO be inferred i'm the state
| Prison cemetery at jackson. A restric-
ton is placed upon newspapers, and the
| publication of the details of the execu-
| tiCn and anything but the bare announce
ment of the carrying out Of the sentence
| of the law is made misdemeanor, and
punishable by fine and impr 'sonment.
The law is largely modelled after the
| New York electrocuton law. There is
a noticeable sentiment in favor of its
| passage.
Both the floor and gallery of Repre-
sentative Hall were packed at the me-
mortal exercises i'm honor of Gen. Sher-
man and Admiral Porter. The hall was
deliberately draped with crepe and silk
| flags. and on the Speakers desk was a
handsome floral piece, composed OF
| Eng ish ivy, Gala lilies and hyacinths,
from the Agricultural College green
! house.
Lieut.. Gov. Strong presided over the
| Joint convention of the two branches.
After prayer by Rev C. II. Bcale elo-
quent addresses were delivered by
Samuel j.. kilbourne, of Lansing. and
Rev. Washington Gardner. Of Albion.
A scene at the siege of VicksburS, by
Joseph Greusel, and short addresses by
| Senator Fridender, Benson and With
ington, and by Representatives Miner,
/ Common and Diekcma concluded the eXcr-