The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-07
ANOTHER SETBACK.
Pingree's Pet Railroad Measure
Antagonized.
Adverse Reports ON the Lower Fare
and Taxation DiiIs-They VIII
He Taken Up for Considera-
ton by the House April Is.
Especial Correspondence

Lansing, April 5.-Adverse reports
were made in the lower house of the
Michigan Legislature upon the Pingree
bills which have been making life un-
comfortable for railroad men ever since
the legislature convened. The action of
the committee is quite u setback to the
Pingree plans. One of the bills report
ed adversely. provides for a reduction
of passenger fares TO two cents per
ple in the lower peninsula and three
cents in upper Michigan. Another pro-
vides for the taxation for local purposes
of the right of way and buildings of
railway companies. April - has been
set for the consideration of the meas
ures and the most interesting discussion
of the session is anticipated. 1t is
doubtful if either bill becomes a law,
although both may possibly pass the
house.
The house railroad committee re-
ported favurably on the bicycle bill of
Representative Anderson with an
amendment. 1t provides that each pas
senger shall be entitled 10 one bicycle
to be included in the term personal
baggage and compels the railroads to
provide suitable racks for the wheels
I'm the baggage cars, beyond which they
shall not be liable for any damages to
the wheels that may arise.
The senate committee on the Pontiac
and Newberry insane asylums gave
hearing on the proposed law to force
asylum boards TO employ a woman ply
stefan. The ladies present argued from
the standpoint Of humanity. They said
that lady patients would confide to
woman at times when "A man could not
obtain their confidence. Their argu
nent was sentimental DR.. Christian,
of Pontiac, was against it, as was SUI
perintendent Edwards, of Kalamazoo.
and DR.. Munson, of Traverse City. They
say that it is at present optional with
boards TO appoint such an officer, but
IL is not needed or demanded.
Adjt. Gen. Irish appeared before The
committee on military affairs and placed
his seal of disapproval upon the bill
for providing for separate military
bicycle corps. He said that at present
nearly every man of the state troops
could ride a wheel, and he believed
that it was better for them to first learn
to be thorough militiamen on foot than
militiamen on bicycles. In concluding,
ihe told the committee that if they felt
they could give the military board any
more funds, it should be for the pur-
pose of providing for at least a section
= of artillery, of which there was great
need and had heretofore been neg
1ected
The senate has passed bill repeating
a law providing for the sale of admIs-
sion tickets by prison authorities. The
senators were unanimous in voting that
prisoners should not be regarded as
"A prize lot of curios for exhibition pur-
poses.
a substitute has been reported TO the
house for what is known as the w. G.
Il. U. anti-cigarette bill, about which
there is some doubt as to constitution
atty. 1t provides that it shall be a
,misdemeanor for the minor under II
years purchasing cigarettes or tobacco,
as we'll as the seller. and provides
graded scale of monetary penalties for
the first. second and third offenses,
after which they shall be deemed in
corrigibles and sentenced to Jail or the
Industrial home for boys.
4 substitute has been reported to the
house for the Chamberlain anti-prize
fight bill. which prohibits the repro
,ducton of any prize fight or fistic en-
counter by means of biograph, vita
scope. kaleidoscope or any such device,
and provides penalty for violation of
not less than $500 nor more than $1,000
fine. or imprisonment for not less than
six months nor more than two years,
at the discretion of the court.
Gustin's bill for the appointment of
guardians over habitual drunkards and
persons using narcotics, with power to
have them confined in the proper asy-
iums. passed the house committee of the
whole. as did Representative Graham's
dill providing for the appointment of
n state inspector of nurseries and or
chards to prevent the introduction and
spread of the San Jose scale.
Representative Donovan's curfew bill
passed the house committee of the
whole without opposition. 1t provides
that children between eight and six
teen years of age must not be allowed
OF the streets between o:30 p. m. and
g:30 a. m. from April 10 November and
from eight p. M. to 6:30 n. m. from
November to April. Violations of the
law are punishable by fine of two dol
liars. or the violntors may be treated as
'd.sorderly persons.
The senate is against postal savings
banks and refused to pass Senator Bost-
wick's joint resolution calling upon
Michigan's congressional delegation to
favor a law establishing such a sys-
TEN.
The oleomargarine bill was passed by
the house by a vote of 50 to TO-
EMMETT.
station Robbed.
Adrian, April 2.-Three tramps en-