Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-05-16

The special legislative committee which
has for the last four months been making
an investigation of the prison labor ques-
ton submitted report Tuesday, In which
II IL recommended that no change be made
in either the existing contract system of
the manufacture of furniture on State
account Mt the Ionia reformatory until
some better means Of employment of the
conviets Is devised. The report suggests
that the prisoners be employed in raising
flowers for market, manufacturing chill
cren's toys, raising such agricultural pro-
ducts and as far as possible manufacture
ing all such articles as can be consumed
and used In the various State institutions.
1t also recommended that all State print
ing and binding be done In Jackson prison,
and also that text books for the public
schools be printed there. The law passed
two years ago prohibiting the incarcera-
ton of Federal convicts in the Detroit
House of Correction was denounced and
it's repeal advocated. The House has
agreed to the bill cutting passenger rates
on all railroads in the upper peninsula to
3 cents per mile.
The House spent several hours We'd
nesday afternoon discussing the Waldo
joint resolution providing for the sub
mission to the people in November, 1896,
of a proposed constitutional amendment
extending the right of suffrage to women.
The resolution failed of adoption by q
vote of 63 to 30. four less than the nee
essary two-thirds. The vote was recon-
sidered and the resolution tabled its
friends feeling confident of their ability
to eventually pass it. The Senate passed
tfh nr'c do ra
in Lansing, State property in that city to
the value Of $4,000 being authorized to
be sold for this purpose. The Jewell bill
reducing the rates of fare on the Michi-
gan Central Railroad from 3 to cents
mile was discussed Mt length in the SEN
ate. The opponents of the measure urged
that under the terms of the company's
special charter the State must reimburse
the company for all damages resulting
from any alterations of such special char
ter. and said that competent authorities
estimate that this would amount to $780,
600 annually. The bill lacked two votes
of the required two-thirds, the vote stand
ing 20 to IL, and the bill was tabled.
The Michigan legislators are to be given
an opportunity to vote on the restoration
of the death penalty, the Senate Commit
tee on State Affairs having Thursday
recommended the passage of the Smaley
bill making murder in the first degree pun
ishable by hanging The bill prescribes
that all executions shall take place in
the State prison at Jackson. 1t is claim
ed that n majority of all the Senators
favor the passage of the bill. Another
important report was that recommending
tho pascAO., of tho hill outt;py lnup Tho
number of members of the lower branch
of the Legislature from 100 to 90. The
Senate by bare majority passed the
Bially bill abolishing the present State
Board of Health and providing for the
appointment by the Governor of a new
board of six members, of which the Gov
ernor shall be u member eX-ofiicio, and
also that the secretary shall be elected
every two years, and shall not be a mem
Der of the board as at present. The
House passed the Senate bill creating a
board of registration. and to regulate the
practice Of medicine in Michigan. The
new board. which is 70 begin operations
July 1, is 10 be composed of four regular
physicians, two homeopathic, two eclectics
and two physio-medics. All physicians in
practice in the State July 1, and all hav-
ing diplomas from reputable colleges, are
entitled to registration.
In order to facilitate business, the lower
house of the Legislature did not adjourn
over Saturday. The Senate Friday adj
journed until Monday night. Before ad-
journing the latter body passed the bill
appropriating $165,OO0 for the completion
of the new insane asylum at Newberry.
This is the largest appropriation of this
session.