Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-15
HECALLS THE TURN
Speaker Tateum Calls Atten.
ton to Absent Members.
THE STATE VS.. JUSTICE SHOPS
Alderman Anderson of Grand Rapids
Gives Notice Of a Bill Which In
tsrests That City.

LANSING, Mlcn-, Jan. l4.-When the
legislature adjourned yesterday after
noon until 10 o'clock this morning II
WAS the general belief that not
quorum would be on hand st roll call
today. Considerable surprise was
manifested in consequences when on
the fall Of the gavel II was found tha.
= large majority of the members were
in their seats. Speaker Tateum made
q few remarks in which he thanked
and congratulated those present on
their allegiance TO the short session
cause and the roll was called showing
over three-four,hs of the members
present.
Sullivan of Chippewa arose imme-
diately after the reading of the delin-
auent list aud moved that all absentees
be excused for the day. Mr.. Tateum
took occasion to address the house be-
fore the motion Was put, and said he
hoped the motion would not prevail.
He thought il q bad precedent TO es-
tablish, and the absent ones, unless
they had good excuses, had no more
selves than the large majority who had
remained to do business for the state.
The announcement WAS received with
applause, and Mr.. SuIllvan's motion
was lost by long odds. Several men,
bers then took the floor in turn TO
plead for absent colleagues. Bishop of
Mason was excused for cause, and
Crippen, Mills, Startling and Moore
were all excused on account OF sick
ness in their families. Wagner was ex-
cused because there WAS q local elec-
ton In his town and Busch was
let off on account of the elec-
ton contest for his seat, which
is under investigation in Detroit.
About fifteen minutes was consumed
in listening to excuses and the house
then got down to bueiness.
Alderman Anderson's Bill.
Senator Doran's bill to regulate the
duties and salaries of Kent county
officials, which passed the senate yes
terday, was placed on its second read
ing and referred to the judiciary com-
mlttee. Representative Anderson has
assurance that the bill will be referred
to the house next Tuesday, and it will
undoubtedly become law at that
time. Anderson of Grand Rapids gave
notice of bill to. prescribe the manner
of holding justice courts in that city.
Mr.. Anderson says he has not as yet
got his bill into shape, but will have 1t
drafted at once and intends to present
it to the Grand Rapids public, so that
all interested parties may examine and
otter suggestions on it before 1t Is IN
troduced to the house.
Wagner of Marquette offered con-
current resolution to have an architect
appointed to examine the Marquette
PRISON with view to flrnlohing an estl-
mate of the expense of altering and
enlarging the institution for the pur-
pose of making 1t an asylum for the
insane.
A resolution was also offered to have
the Joint committee of the house and
senate On the Jackson prison examine
that institution to ascertain whether it
was sufficiently large to accommodate
the present occupants of the Marquette
prison. The concurrent resolution
offered Yesterday by Bishop. of Mason,
TO appoint JOINT committee Of two
members each from the house and
senate to promote the interests of
Michigan at the worlds fair, without
compensation, was amended to read
six members from each body, and
adopted IN that form. A few other
matters of minor importance were
taken up, and the house then ad-
journed, after forty minute session,
till o'clock Monday evening.
Anen.s Hard Luck.
Yesterday afternoon Representative
Barkworth of Jackson called the Atten-
ton of the house to o petition which he
wanted to present. Under the new
rule the petition was ordered printed
In the house journal without previous
reading. The story contained IN the
journal this morning is an interesting
and unusual one. 1t appears that
August 90, 1890, man named Thomas
Allen, resident of Detroit, was ar
rested in Grand Rapids on charge of
assault with intent to murder. The
assault was alleged to have been con-
mitted in Big Rapids two years prior to
the date OF the arrest. Three months
later Allen was tried before Judge
Palmer IN Mecosia county, con-
victed and sentenced to five
years imprisonment at hard labor
IN Jackson. In his testimony during
the trial he persistentiy maintained
his innocence and claimed that at the
time alleged he was resident of Cali
fornla. lie vas too poor to send for
witnesses. however. and circumstances
were strongly against him. Allen pre-.
sented petition to the state board of
pardons asking for an investigation
with the result that one and a half
years later he was released on par
don signed by the governor, the board
having thoroughly satisfied itself and
established beyond doubt that on the
date of the assault Allen actually
shipped on beard Pacific steamer IN
California. The unfortunate man was
out of prison agalu December 81, 1892,
but bis troubles dId not end here. The
very day the present legislature went
into session, January 4. he slipped on
stone sidewalk IN Detroit and injured
MS leg so badly that amputstion was
found necessary. His right leg was
taken off below the knee. He now asks
the legislature 10 make repsrstlon for
the great wrong done him.