Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-03

exert themselves 20 raise an extra 500, if
they expect to dispense fire water after
Nav l.
senator NcLaughhn's Joint resolution
proposing an educational qualification
amendment 10 the constitution. has been
agreed TO- The qualification prescribed i
that every voter must bee able to read the
constitution Of the state IN the English
language, and 10 write his own name
several representatives. fought hard TO
have the resolution amended 30 that cleo
tors may vote if able to read The constitu.
ton in any language. hut this as well a,
other amendments tending to ameioration
of the conditions were cmphatcaIly voted
down Most of the opposition to the
amendment came from upper peninsula
members, who declared that the adoption
Of such a qualification would raise the mis-
chief with the large foreign vote in the
northern mining and lumber regions.
A favorable report has been made in the
house on the bill making il mandatory on
the part of school boards TO supply free
text books to pupils in the public schools
For a score of wears past measures have
been regularly proposed for supplying
free text books, either by state or local
officers. The present bill has the support
of the majority of Michigan educators,
and while it will entail an addition Of
many hundred thousand dollars in local
taxation, it will DC ultimate economy, ~
all books will be purchased at wholesale
price by the school boards.
The bill to locate the Normal school in
NJ Pleasant was brought up in the house
the other day. and after an exceedingly
long and somewhat acrimonious deb lie
was finally agreed upon. The advocates
of Mt Pleasant were iubilant, but their
10Y was Of short duration, however, for
The next day the bin was brought out for
the third reading and defeated the V '.
being yeas. 10, nays 26
Nh. Brown of Nj. Pleasant made strong
plea for the bill. which contemplates
the Gift 10 the state Of eight acres Of land
in Mt Pleasant with school house on II,
in consideration of which the state will
develop and carry forward normal
school. Mr. Brown was supported by
Messrs Whitney Of Saginaw and Hilton
of Newaygo and met strong opposition
from Messrs Rose of Ogemaw. Campbell
of Ingham, and Redfern Of Clinton.
Senator Barnard's medical bill passed the
senate by vote Of II to .. Senators
Clapp and Fitzpatrick leading the oppos.
ton to it, The bill provides for the ap
pointment Of medical board composed OF
four regulars, two homeopaths, two cleo
tics and one physio mcdicO physician TO
constitute board Of registration, and for
the regulation of the practice Of medicine
in the state Under this bill all physicians
must register, and the fees are : for
those now registered, - when the appli-
cant comes from another state or country,
- for registration and diploma, and S2j
for al examination 10y the board.
\ favorable report has been made in the
senate on a bill introduced by Senator
Thompson, which carries the pension idea
to an extent almost unprecedented in
America. on retiring public school teachers
on a stipend after % years OF service.
To pay these pensions, the bill contem
plates the accumulation Of retirement
fund All sums deducted because of the
absence OF teachers from duty, and also
an assessment not To exceed one per cent
on teachers salaries are to be placed TO the
credit Of this retirement fund. The bill
also contemplates that this retirement fund
will be- increased from time to time by be
quests from generous friends Of the public
school system Only teachers who have
served p years are entitled to the benefit
OF this fund, and the pension is fixed AZ
1OO nor xoar