The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-03-13

proposition In the abstract Is a good
one. There is no reason why each
| elector should not vote for or against
these proposed amendments as well as
! for or against any candidate on the ball
| olt. No one complains because 1t Is
| provided that IL person makes cross
| above his party ticket and does not des-
| ignate otherwise. it shall be considered
a vote for every candidate on that tick
ct. The fact is that, with very few ex-
| ceptions. there has never been secured
| anything like a fair expression of the
F! opinion of the electors of the state on
any constitutional amendment thus far
| submitted in the history of the state.
| but small proportion of the electors
| voting either for or against the propo-
sitior. 1t is but very short time ago
| tina, a proposition for a general revis-
| ion Of the constitution was submitted
II carried by several thousand major
| ity. but no revision was ever made. fer
the reason that the state officials re-
! fused TO take any action in the premises
| in view of the fact that not to exceed
| one-twentieth of the electors who voted
| for governor at that election voted on
] the question of revision. A reform in
| this regard should be aided rather than
| hindered.
Kimmis Bill Agreed To.
The Kimmis bill providing for the
| payment of salaries to all county Off
| GERS and requiring them to cover all
| fees received into the county treasury
| has been agreed to by the house COM
| mittee and bids fair to become law.
| There is more in the bill than has been
| generally understood. Under the pres
| ent system county officers have hab-
| it of paving the way to denomination
| or other political honors by graciously
| performing the work required by the
| statute in the way of issuing certifi-
! Gates. etc, and remitting the fees, thus
| placing their constituents under obliga-
tons to them. The bill makes it manda-
| tory that these officials shall collect
! each and every fee named in the stat
| ute and pay the full amount into the
| county treasury. Representative KIM
| mis-, who introduced the bill, made the
| statement when the measure was being
| considered in committee meeting that.
Notwithstanding the growing custom of
| renitting fees, there is still large sum
collected annually, and that. If county
| officials are required to collect and pay
over all fees mentioned in the various
laws, the revenue will come very near
|
of the laws demanded by both the State
| Association of Farmers clubs and the
| State Grange at their annual meetings
| here last December. The farmers
| throughout the state have sent in hun
| dreds of petitions for the passage OF
| the bill. The introducer says that it is
| simply an issue between the county Off
Gals and the people, and the Legislators
| will have to decide whose support they
| prefer.
| Clearance Sale of Lands.
One OF the important bills pending
| provides for an annual clearance sale
| of lands returned delinquent for taxes.
| similar bill passed both houses of the
| legislature two years ago, but it was
vetoed by Governor Rich who, without
| doubt. did an excellent job for the state
when he withheld from it his APPROX
| al. a law of this nature was in vogue
| for some years previous to 1899, when
| the present general tax law was en-
acted, and under it the large property
| owners. especially the owners of vast
| tracts Of timber lands. made practice
| OF permitting their property to be re-
| turned for taxes, and would then wait
| patiently for the clearance sale when
| they would bid them in for an average
| of about D per cent. of the amount of
the taxa very good investment for
| them. but a trihe hard on the balance
| Of the taxpayers who paid their taxes
| promptly. How such a bill cam to
| pass is mystery. inasmuch as it { Y
| not possibly benefit the state. bu; IA
| the contrary, a positive menace t. t.
| In his report issued last week eX-Audt-
| tor General Turner. after commencing
| ~,
| der the general tax law of 1898 more
| than Sl65O0O Of back taxes have been
collected during the past year. while
| only $4,000 was realized from seven
| previous annual clearance sales held
| by the state As soon as ii is under
| stood that, after a term of years, lands
| returned to the state delinquent for
| taxes cannot be bid off al a clearance
| sale at from to 5 cents a description,
| land owners will he more prompt about
| paying their taxes, because they will
| know that the Legislature will grant
no such unreasonable relief. Such
| measures are suicidal state policy. and
| unjust to the prompt taxpayers. All
should pay their just proportion of the
| necessary revenue, and no law should
be passed that unduly favors the de-
| linquents. The policy of the law should
be justice to all and special privileges
to none Although the heavy land own
ers are putting up the fight for the
| clearance sale bill. there is, small rea-
son to believe that they will be sue
| cessful."
| Medical Registration Bill.
| The medical registration bill. which
| Governor Rich also vetoed two years
| ago, and over which the doctors of the
state have been quarreling for some
months. having had fierce encounter
over 1t in the senate chamber at a COM
mittee meeting a couple of weeks ago.
| has been considered by the committee.
| The result is that a substitute has been
| reported by the committee. The sub
| stitute provides for the appointment by
| the governor of a board OF examiners
To consist of six members, four To con-
| stitute quorum, and not more than
! three to be members, of the same school
| Of medicine The board is To be nom
sectarian In all other respects the bill
t. rod l,xrf h.