Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-18
LEoIsLATIvE LETTER
Matters of Interest Concerning the Work
of the State Law Makers


The bankers of the state are actively
interested in some important legislation
and several bills are ready for presen-
tation TO the legislature. Among them
is one To do away with the antiquated
three days of grace handed from
antiquity, and common sense dictates /
its annulment. The man whose obliga-
tion is due is not benefited by this eN-
tension. as interest is computed for the |
extra days in every instance. The |
bankers will also ask for the enactment /
Of law making the Saturday half
holiday more binding. The lack of |
uniformity in the observance Of this day |
materially complicates the banking |
business, and make it very inconvenient |
and unsatisfactory.
An event of absorbing interest To old
soldiers. and particularly to the sur
vivorS of the Seventeenth, Nineteenth,
and Twenty-thrd regiments of Mich
igan Infantry, is being arranged for
the near future. On the day selected
the colors of these regiments, which
were lost during the war, will be re-
stored. To Senator Patton is due the
credit of recovering these flags. They
me now in the War department in
Washington, but after the exercises
concentrating their restoration, they
will remain in the museum of the cap
itOl in Lansing.
A session of the legislature without
the ten days vacation would be like the
play of Hamlet, with the "melancholy
Dane left out. Preparations for THE
annual ''junket' are occupying SEN
ators and representatives TO the neglect
of legitimate legislative functions. The
majority of members will attend the
! Alger club banquet in Detroit on the
2Sth inst, after which they will start on
the biennial tour of inspection of the
state institutions. The upper peninsula
members are anxious that their con-
stituents shall have a glimpse of that
rara avis, democratic member of the
present legislature, and Donovan of
BAY" will be the center of attraction of
the caravansary He is promised i'm
munity from the dangers attending the
uncomfortable impulses of a crowd
actuated by morbid curiosity.
Senator Barnard has given notice of
"A very important joint resolution pre-
pared by the Furniture Manufacturers
association, providing for submission
to the voters of a constitutional amend
ment relating TO confinement and en-
ployment of convicts. The amendment
provides that the legislature shall, by
law, make provision for the occupation
and employment of prisoners sentenced
to penal institutions in the state, iails
and refOrmatOrIes, whether under state.
county or municipal control no pris-
oner in any state institution shall, after
January /, 1897, be allowed TO work at
any trade or occupation, wherein or
whereby his work, or the products or
profits of the same shall be tarmed out
contracted, sold or given to any person,
firm, association or corporation. This
act is not to prevent the legislature from
providing that convicts may work. and
that the products of their labor may be
disposed of to the state, any politica
division thereof, or any state institu !
ton.
The salary question, like Banquo S
ghost, will not down" but hobs up
serenely" when least expected. Rep
resentatiye Fisher Is to blame this time
for the rafting of dry bones, as he is
the author of a bill providing for sub
mission to the people of an amendment
10 the constitution to increase the sal
aries of our state officers. Fisher pro-
poses to give the governor, 81 900 per
year; Secretary of State, 81 800; Treas
urer. 81 900; Auditor General, $4,000
Commissioner of Land Office, 81, 900
Supt. of Public Instruction, 81, 900; At
torney General, 81 800; Judges of Cir
cult Courts, $4,000. these figures being
the same as those in the amendment
voted down by the people in 1898
Fishers bill provides that all of the
officers named, excepting circuit judges
shall reside in Lansing during Their
term of office. Rep Partridge also has
"A bill on the same subject, according t.
the provisions of which the fixing o.
salaries is taken out of the constitution
and left entirely to the discretion of tn,
legislature. If Partridge's idea were t.
be adopted, the salary question would
be like the poor, always with US"
When making up the list of house
committees the question, What TO dc
with Donovan" was something of {
poser to Speaker Gordon. The usua
rule is not To give the minority chair
manship of any committee, but to pu
at least one of their number on the tai
end of every committee. 1t was out o
the question to put lone Donovan on al
the committees, as the man from Ba
|, would have been crushed by the weigh
of his labors. As compromise, am
out of the fullness of his heart. Speake
3 Gordon made Mr.. Donovan chair
} man of the committee on federal rela
tons and scattered him promiscousl
I !