Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-05-13

The struggle which independent
telephone companies have been max
ing against the Bell telephone mOnop-
oily in various parts Of the state has
been recognized in the House and a
bill was called from the pirate eOrpOr-
atoms committee establishing a maxi
mum rate for telephone service in cit
les of the state at point equivalent TO
the highest rate now charged by indie
pendent companies but from IS 10 so
per cent below the old rates for service
that the Bell company charged before
the independent companies entered the
field in competition The COMMITTEES
had decided TO pigeOn-hoIe this bill.
The Bell company does not want any
telephone legislation, and the Bel
lobbyists were highly pleased with the
action of the committee, but their graf
ification was shOrt-lived- The bill is
now upon the general order Of the house
for future consideration. The Bell
people claim il is unconstitutional
Rep. Edgar is making a campaign for
the passage of his bill for the emascu-
lation of third-term cOnyicts and in
mates of the home for feeble-minded.
The physicians of the state are stand
ing back of him in the measure. In
the House committee of the whole Rep.
Perry's bill for the regulation of the
printing of state dOeuments-cOndens-
ing department reports and stopping
the publication OF joint documents
was agreed to. IL viii save the state
Sf2,O 900.
Gov. Pingree Is becoming accustomed
to handling his veto power and is using
it quite frequently. The most recent
instance is the veto Of the anti-cigar-
cite bill The governors special veto
message says the present law prohibit
ingthe selling or giving of cigarettes.
cigars or tobacco to any minor under Il
years of age, and providing a penalty
therefor, fully covers the first two
sections of the new bill He Is en-
tirely opposed to the remainder of the
bill in that il makes ii a misdemeanor
for such minor to buy or accept cigar
cites or tobacco and provides penalty
with a possibility of imprisonment.
The governor says he favors furnishing
the seller or giver of cigarettes. etc,
but he objects TO the arrest of boys and
making criminals of them. Both
houses are now agreed upon May IS as
the date to cease acting on bills and
May 81 for final adjournment Sena-
tor Holmes lien bill met strong oppo-
sition in the House, but il passed by
a good majority. 1t protects the prop
erty owner from irresponsible con-
tractors and extends lien rights equally
to building material men and labor. |
An attempt was made to pass the Blu
kirk local option law in the House. but !
it was tabled. Several important bills |
were passed By the House: Providing
for the preference of discharged union !
soldiers, sailors and marines of the |
late rebellion in public work and pre- |
venting their removal. transfer or sCs- |
pension from municipal office without |
n full hearing before the mayor or
common council of the municipality;
apprOpriating So. $50 for Improvements |
at the upper peninsula prison at Mar
quette, S6a, 900 FOR the state public |
schools at Coldwater, s, 900 for im-
at the jackson state prison,
s23. 400 for improvements at the Michi-
gan asylum for the insane at Kalama-
goo, $500 for a physicians residence
at the Fair Oaks colony farm at the
Michigan asylum for the insane at
$1,000 for the Michigan
Pioneer and Historical society; permit
ting insurance companies to insure 4
against theft; restricting the pub
LEGATION of state documents and /
providing for the distribution of /
the Michigan state manual. Dur
ing short session the Senate
passed several bills. the most import
ant being: To appropriate $4,000 for
the school for the deaf; allowing peo-
Pile to vote at school elections who own
property which i assessed: authorizing
townships to issue bonds for
the payment of claims; for the plug
ying of abandoned salt wells in the
of Saginaw and Bay.