Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-01
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE

81
The House Monday passed bill amend
ing the truancy law, which now requires
children between the ages of Z and 10
years to attend school at least four
months each year, so that on the recon-
mendation of the truant officer or super
intendent of schools children may be ex-
empt during the last two years, II their
labor is necessary for the support of the
family. The special committee which Ii
| investigating charges Of alleged discrimi-
nation by railroad companies In the mat
ter OF freight rates expects to commence
examining witnesses Wednesday. Thus
far great mass of information has been
obtained through correspondence.
Two years ago the general government
coded to the State all its interest in Mack
mac Island on condition that 1t be main
tanned as State park. Tuesday the
Senate passed bill re-transferring that
portion known as Fort Mackinac on con-
dition that ii be regarrisoned. The Sen
ate also passed bill making. an appro-
priation of $1,000 for the improvement Of
the park and another bill transferring to
| the general fund of the State the 100000
| remaining in the st. Mary's fall ship canal
fund. The passage of the last named bill
| disposes of the movement to appropriate
the balance mentioned for the erection of
a marine hospital at Sault Ste. Marie. The
| House fought for several hours over q
proposition to refer the bill prohibiting
| the working of convicts on contracts 10 a
special committee, but without definite
result. The House has slaughtered the
bill for the suppression of mob violence,
which makes counties liable TO persons
| injured by assaults committed within their
borders.
| The time Of the Senate Wednesday was
largely occupied by some rather acrimo-
| NOUS discussion of the course of Gov.
Pingree. A bill was introduced requiring
that in cases of vacancies occurring be-
| fore or during the legislative session APP
pointments to fill them must be made dur
ing such session. the object being to give
| the Senate q chance to either confirm or
reject them. This is designed to prevent
delay in the appointment of commissioner
Of labor. The House did nothing of i'm
portance.
| The long fight between the State Fish
| Commission and the commercial fishermen
over pending legislation ended Thursday
when a compromise bill was agreed upon.
This bill provides license fee of $75 per
year for tugs with steam hoists, $40 for
pound or trap nets, So for seines and COB
BILE nets and for sail boats. No white fish
or trout weighing less than two pounds
are to beAtaken, and the close season is
to be from Nov. to Dec. /, except in
Lake Erie, where it is to begin and end
two weeks later. All meshes are to be
four and one-half inches, but this provis-
| ion is not to take effect until 1900 in order
| to give present operators an opportunity
to change their outfits without serious
loss. The bill recently passed by both
houses making it a misdemeanor for per-
son to unlawfully use or wear badge of
the Grand Army or Loyal Legion was
vetoed by Gov. Pingree, this being his
maiden veto. The bill is objected to be-
cause it reaches every member of the or
| ders who may, for the time being, be in
| arrears for dues.
| The bill providing for the payment of a
bounty of 1 cent pound for Michigan
beet sugar was signed Friday by Gov.
Pingree. Land Commissioner French, I'M
der whose supervision the provisions of
| the law will be carried out, has ordered
supply of beet sugar seed for the use of
| farmers who desire to experiment this
summer in the line of raising sugar beets
and free analysis of the beets will be made
at the agricultural college, so that farm
ers may know if their soil will produce
paying article A bill making imprison-
ment for life the penalty for attempting
| to wreck train has been reported in the
Senate.