Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-25
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE

The economical streak In the House led
to the introduction Monday Of bill abol-
ishing the State geological survey. Bills
approprinting $4,000 for the relief of the
Ontonngon fire sufferers. permitting the,
sale of quail purchased In another State,
providing for reformatory for women.
and making the education Of the blind
compulsory, were introduced. Under the
present law IL mortgagor is unable TO Did
more for his property ut sheriff's sale than
the claim of the mortgage amounts to.
even though such claim IL but one-6fth OF
the value of the property. the latter ae-
Quires title to the entire property for the
amount of his claim. A radical bill pre-
scented seeks to remedy this matter by pro-
viding that'no real estate shall be sold at
mortgage sale for less than two-thirds or
its valIe,. II being made the duty OF the
court to appoint three disinterested per-
sons TO make the appraisement. The
House passed the bill to amend the law
relative to cooperative and mutual beneht
associations. In the Senate Senator Rob
inson sent up three patches Of petitions
against his bill for the organization OF
Pingree County. Bills introduced: To
amend law relative TO construction anu
preservation of bridges; appropriating
1000 for State prison at Jackson; hiking
salaries of legislators at 5000 for session.
and doing away with free passes.
In the House Tuesday the following
bills were passed: To permit the catching
of fish in Long Lake; to allow members OF
Board of Supervisors of Newaygo County
compensation for time expended In extra
session investigating the books OF said
county; for board of auditors for Kent
County; amending law relative to boards
of supervisors; for the Incorporation OF
labor associations. The Senate passed
the bill for board of auditors for Kent
County. The most notable thing about
the session was the flood OF bills that
poured in, and the number OF House
measures has passed the 400 mark. Pop
ulist members gave notice of bills deciar-
ing null and void all contracts calling for
the payment of money in gold, and requir-
ing registers of deeds to keep a separate
record of all mortgages and discharges OF
mortgages on farm property. A bill was
also introduced which is designed to stop
the practice of assessing property far be-
yond its value so that the amount of
money raised by taxation may be increas-
ed without increasing the rate. joint
resolution was introduced providing for an
amendment to the constitution prohibiting
anyone not taxpayer voting on PROPOSE
tons TO raise money by taxation. Bills
were introduced providing that female pa
tents in asylums for the insane shall be
treated by female physicians, and requir-
ing all hunters to pay an annual license
fee of 81.
Nominations confirmed by the Senate
Wednesday were Fred III. Case. of Three
Rivers, as inspector general and A. =.
Bird. of Oakland, as member of the State
Board of Agriculture. Among the meas
ures passed and given immediate effect
in the House was the joint resolution pro-
viding for submission TO the people of the
proposed constitutional amendment rails
ing the pay of the Attorney General TO
$4,000 year, with the provision that he
shall live AT Lansing. Both houses adopt
ed the resolution to hold no sessions Mon
day and Tuesday. in order to allow the
members TO attend the Michigan Club
banquet and Republican convention. The
most important bills presented were i'm
the line of economy. They contemplate
the reduction of all officials salaries not
fixed by the constitution, the aggregate
annual saving provided for exceeding $50
600. A far greater saving. however, is
proposed in Senator Wagner's bill to sus-
pend all State publications for two years.
except the legislative manual now being
printed and the laws TO be enacted this
winter Bills were introduced providing
for the enactment of the Georgia anti
trust law, the New York civil service law
for cities aud counties and amending the
liquor law so that saloons may be kept
open on all holidays except Thanksgiving
day and Christmas, and empowering
councils of cities to fix the hours during
which saloons may do business anywhere
from O'Clock in the morning until 1910
Mt night.
In the House Thursday. the Widoe res
olution calling for investigation of rail
road freight charges found n favorable
majority. These bills were passed: Pro-
viding for legal action against unincorpo-
rated and voluntary associations. clubs
and societies; relative to authorization of
records and other judicial proceedings in
courts of foreign countries; amending law
with regard TO making the transcripts and
abstracts of record by county treasurers
and fixing the fees: to amend act organ.
izing union school district i'm city of Al
pena. immediate effect. or bills passed in
the Senate only these are of general inter
est: Providing for the holding of primaries
in cities of not less han 1900; to pro-
vide for the printing and distribution of
all laws of public character; to amend
an act TO prevent fraud and deception at
elections