The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-03-13
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
interesting Letter from Our Ian.
sing Correspondent.
LITTLE PROGRESS IN LAWMAKIYG.

the INSTRUMENTATION of the Par
don of Convict characterization of Tel
ephone OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to the
State Constitution.
Lansing March 9.-.It looks as If moth
ing of any particular account is &c es-
cape investigation at the hands of the
present legislature. Already special
committees have been appointed to in
vestigate the railroads. the management
of the soldiers home. the manner in
which David Wixom, the soap-eatinG
convict, obtained his pardon, the merits
of numerous voting machines. and plans
for improving the acoustic properties
and lighting of Representative hail.
None of these committees have thus
far done any considerable work. and
as Investigations always take much
time, aside from delaying business be-
cause of the absence of the members
composing them. it makes a taxpayer
shudder when he contemplates the prob
able length of the session. 1t is an open
secret that in spite of the constant ef-
forts on the part of the presiding off,
GERS to push business, very little prog
ress has thus far been made, although
the legislature has been in session sixty
days. In conversation with Speaker
Gordon the other day he deplored the
fact that there is invariably but bare
quorum present at Friday sessions. He
said that the only way TO remedy this
evil is for the house to refuse requests
for leave of absence, and it is not i'm
probable that this may be resorted to.
He admitted that the situation toward
the latter part of the week under ex-
listing circumstances is that forty men
neglect the public business that they
may look after their private business.
while sixty men neglect their private
business in order that they may perform
the duties for which they were elected.
Thorough Investigation.
There are those who believe that the
investigation of the pardoning of Con-
Wet W:xom will develope some sensa-
tional details which will not be particu-
lary to the credit of some persons who
have bean much in the public eye in this
state of late. The fact Governor Pin
gree was given to understand that the
pardon was urged by the prison phys-
clan on the ground that Whom had but
few days to live, whereas that official.
as we'll as Warden Chamberlain. knew
nothing of the application until after
the pardon was received at the prison
is pretty conclusive proof that the gov
ernor was sorely deceived by whoever
laid the alleged facts before him.
The committee proposes to go to the
bottom of the matter and place the
blame where 1t belongs. Although there
was actually no money in the DEAL the
fact remains that WiXom made Guard
Wiersma. with whom he negotiated. be-
lieve that there was s., 900 in it for him.
The committee propose to learn if pos
>sible. If Wiersma secured services Of
others by promising to divide with them.
At a recent meeting of the Farmers
club of the legislature, an organization
which numbers nearly fifty legislators
who are farmers in its membership, the
object of the taxation of telephone COM
panies was briefly discussed. Represen-
tative Atkinson stated that the supreme
court of the United States had just sus-
tanned the Ohio law providing for the
taxation If thesA companies. and that
he would procu@ a copy of the opinion
of the court and see what could be done
in this regard in Michigan. The inn
preston has obtained from this circum
stance. and has become general, that
the property of telephone companies is
not taxed in Michigan. The fact u.s.
however. that Act No. 16S. of the public
acts of 1881. covers this matter most
effectually. 1t provides that the officers
of telephone companies shall annually
make sworn statement covering all
their property Of every name and ma
ture, and constitutes the auditor gen.
eral land comm :ssioner and state treas
urer a special board to assess such
property. The rate of taxation is the
average rate OF state and county taxa
tion in the state. so that those compan
les pay as much as any individual prop
erty owner. Last year the Michigan
Telephone company paid the state taxes
aggregating $25,57366. This will prob
ably be news to many legislators who
evidently are not posted on the subject
as well as to a greater portion of the
citizens of the state.
Poor Comfort for Keer.
Representative James Kerr of the
Second Saginaw district. whose seat was
last week declared vacant by a strict
party vote probably can now fully APP
precate the feelings of the dead man
whose erstwhle friends meet together
and pass resolutions of coincidence Aft
err having fired him out on his head, the
majority of the house very graciously
gave him a certificate of character by
adopting resolutions declaring him a
good fellow and that he was. not re-
sponsible for any of the frauds and ir-
Irregularities alleged TO have been COM
mitted at the election. Some people
hereabouts believe that ii would have
been much more manly for the major
ity to have come out boldly and de-
clared that either Kerr or Baird was
elected. instead of splitting the diff
erence and holding that neither re-
ceived a majority of the vote cast thus
depriving the district of representation
until after the special election TO be
held April 5. Many believe. too, that
the giving Of 1926 to Baird, the contest
ant. may prove to be an incentive for
defeated candidates to hereafter make
contests simply for the purpose of secur-
ing srake-off from the legislature.