Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Several Michigan cities and villages en-
force curfew ordinances which require
that all children vacate the streets at or
before 0 o'clock In the evening. The meas
ure has worked so successfully that bill
was introduced In the House Monday
making this curfew provision apply to all
children between the ages of B and IL
years resident In any Incorporated city
or village. Another bill introduced con-
templates doing away with the criticism
of county jails that they are schools Of
crime by providing that persons convicted
of minor offenses shall be sentenced to
imprisonment therein ut hard labor. I'm
der the present system such prisoners are
kept In idleness. BY a unanimous vote
the House passed resolutions eulogizing
Gen. Alger and asking the President-elect
to appoint him Secretary of War. Reso-
lutions asking Congress to pass the Cor
liss immigration bill and recognize Cuba
were introduced and referred.
The forty farmers in the Legislature
met Tuesday night and organized for uni
ted action on all legislation demanded by
the State Grange and State organization
of farmers clubs Their program. pro-
vides that no new State institutions be
built and that improbable ones now in
existence be abolished; that the appro-
priation for the university be restricted
to the 1-6 mill tax; the adjustment of the
fee system of paying county officers; the
increasing of the specific tax paid by rail-
road and other corporations, and all meas
ures looking to reform and economy In
the conduct of State, county and town
ship affairs. The Senate has set April 70
as the date for the final adjournment OF
the Legislature. but 1t Is not thought prob
able that the House will concur in this
action, which is believed to be part of
the Senate program to defeat certain bills,
the plan being to shorten the session 80
that they cannot be considered.
The railroad corporations now pay
Michigan specific taxes aggregating
some $500, 900 annually. The tax is based
on the gross earnings in Michigan, the
rate being per cent. on gross earnings Of
less than $1,000; 21a per cent. on earnings
of from $1,000 to $4,000; 31a per cent. on
from $4,000 to $4,000. This yields the
State an annual revenue averaging $780,
600. BY bill Wednesday it is proposed
to increase this revenue at least $125,OO
annually, by making general increase of
one-half of per cent. in the above rates
of taxation. The 2-cent passenger fare
bills will shortly make their appearance.
as will bills to repeal the special charters
of the Michigan Central and Lake Shore
roads and bring them under the general
railroad law. 1t is charged that the bill
to increase the specific tax is in reality n
move of the railroad people, whose object
is to use ii as a club to beat the more OBJ
jectionable measures. Another bill seeks
to repeal an act passed several years
Il 60 k4,x
years railroads thereafter constructed
north of the 44th degree of north latitude.
This law was designed to encourage the
development of that section of the State.
The Senate Wednesday excused all men,
hers of committees on State institutions
from the following week. AS these mem
bers constitute majority of the Senate,
that body can transact no business dur
ing that week, the minority merely ad-
| journing from day to day. This is the
result of the deadlock between the two
houses over the proposed ten days ad-
| journment. The House will continue in
session. The Senate and House also dis
agree as to the time for final adjournment,
the House having killed the Senate reso-
luton setting the time for April %.
Notices were given Thursday of several
| matters of legislation recommended by
| the Governor in his inaugural message.
| One of these is designed to prevent the
| fraudulent issue of stock by corporations.
| 1t provides that no corporation shall issue
stock as fully paid unless such payment
| has actually been made in cash or prop
| erty. and, if the latter. an inventory there
of shall be made, and, with the estimate
of it's value, filed with the County Clerk.
l. oh.
| its face whether or not it is fully paid.
and every dollar of stock not fully paid
| shall be liable, as partner, for all debts
| of the corporation until 50 paid. No bonds
are to be issued by any corporation except
| Mt their par value, nor issued before the
subscribed stock has been fully paid, nor
| for an amount greater than the value of
| the paid up stock. The penalty fixed for a
violation is a maximum fine of $1,000 or
| six months imprisonment, or both. Bills
| are in preparation requiring railroad COM
| panies to furnish the railroad commission
| or and his subordnates free transporta-
| ton while on official business. and making
stockholders who lend their names mere
| " to give corporations credit liable for
| debts of such corporations. Senator Rob-
| inson has given notice of a bill to create
| the county of Pingree out of upper PENN
| sula territory. Josiah Il. Just was nomi-
mated and confirmed as State banking
| commissioner, to date from April 1
The Governor sent to the Senate Fri
| day the nomination of Elliott o. Gros-
venor, of Monroe, for State Dairy and
Food Commissioner, and Jabez b. Cas-
well, of Bay City, for State Salt Inspec-
tor. The Senate promptly confirmed the
former, but as promptly referred the lat
| ter to the Committee on Executive Bust
ness. Later in the day Gov. Pingree sent
| in the nomination of Gen. William Hart
| suff of Port Huron, for Inspector Gen.
eral. As the Senate has decided to trans
act no business for a week the commit
| tee cannot report on the nominations OF
| Caswell and Hartsuff until the session is
| resumed.
A New Calendar.
1t Is suggested that on Jan. i. 1900,
| m paxv diyicion of fha wear into thirteen