The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-02-03
FIGHT'KEEPs UP.
More Anti-Streot Railway Legis-
lation introduced.
Constructed on Lines Recommended by
Gov. Pingrce-Blow at Palace and
Dining Car Companies-Cap-
itai Gossip
Especial correspondence

embodies the ideas outlined by the
governor in his inaugural message. Il
contemplates law forbidding the eX
tension Of the franchise of any corpora
tiou in Michigan during the constitu
tional period of 30 years for which the
franchise under which ii may be operat'
ing was granted. In other words Z
corporation cannot apply To board OF
aldermen for II new lease of 80 years
life ten or fifteen years before its cor
porate life expires. Another bill re-
quires companies in cities having Il
population of 10000 to give at least a
five-minute service. A bill requiring
that all railroad companies in the low
CT peninsula reduce passenger fares to
two cents per mile is being prepared for
introduction.
The Pullman and Wagner palace and
dining car companies have also fight
on their hands. Among the bills pre-
scented last week in the house was one
providing for tax of ten mills on the
dollar upon the actual value of the cap
ital stock Of all kinds in the hands of
these companies, invested in Michigan
during the year preceding the taxable
year. Provision is made for taxing cars
that run in and out of the state. Those
companies whose business is confined
10 Michigan, and who pay specific and
other taxes, are exempted.
A proposition to amend the constitu-
ton so as to provide for annual sessions
OF the legislature has been noticed, the
plan being to devote 50 days the first
year to the introduction of bills which
shall not be acted upon until the follow
ing year, thus giving the people time to
consider them fully.
Labor measures noticed prohibit the
payment of employees in anything but
cash and make all general election days
legal holidays. The latter bill is de-
signed to make it impossible for en-
ployers to disfranchise their men by re-
quiring them to work or lose their jobs.
Another bill provides for the branding
of all convict made goods, while a fourth
absolutely prohibits the contracting
OF convict labor and provides that the
prisoners be employed at hand work for
state institutions and on the highways.
OF the state will pursue in their efforts
20 obtain revision of the laws governing
the care of convicts iii state PRISONS has
been defined in a bill brought to Lans-
ing by Harry G.. Barter, of Detroit,
president of the Michigan Federation
eo( Labor. The bill would not only do
away with all contract labor in prisons,
but would prevent the use of any ma
chinery except such as is driven by foot
or hand. 1t provides for The use of pris-
oners in improving highways, with a
chain and ball provision TO prevent es-
Sapes.
Several tax bills came up in the house
last week, one provides for uniform
assessment Of one per cent. upon all
individual incomes over $3.50, and the
same tax upon the income of corpora
.tions. Another WILL if it becomes a law,
place one per cent. tax on all in
teritance. Still another would assess
the mining companies by placing
specific tax upon the refined product of
all Michigan mines. In case of copper
IT proposes two per cent. tax upon the
.actual value Of the refined product.
Abillis to be introduced which provides
for the abolition of spring elections.
Arguments in favor Of the measure are
made TO show that yearly expense of
S25O,000 can be saved, since the officers
chosen in the spring can just as well be
elected in the fall. 1t would also, it is
claimed, do away with the expense of
party conventions.
One of the good roads measures
s;hich became law two years ago pro-
eides that farmers whose wagon tires
are OF certain width shall be exempted
from one-fourth of the road tax. Rep
resentatiye Bricker says the result has
been the diminuton of revenue and the
consequent loss of road Improvements
He has a bill to repeal the law of 1895. |
Ii is quite evident that there will be !
Ep opposition in the republican conven-
ton TO the nomination of Justice |
Charles ID. Long to succeed himself on
the supreme bench of the state. Gov.
Pingree announces his friendship for |
Justice Long, whose term will expire
January next.
Notice has been given that a Joint res |
'olution will be presented submitting to |
the people the proposed amendment to |
the constitution for the referendum I'M |
der which all legislation would bc voted J
on.aR the people.
"A house bill recently introduced pro-
rides for the abolition of the office of
salt INSPECTOR.
Van anti-cigarette measure introduced
I'm the house is likely to cause consider
able excitement when it is taken up for
consideration. 1t is decidedly radical
more so than any of its kind heretofore
presented 1t will prevent the sale of
any kind of cigarette or cigarette paper
r. the state of Michigan and will also
prevent a person from bringing them
into the state or having them in his
possession. The bill makes disre-
gard of this law felony and the person
who has the cigarette can be punished
fust the same as the person who sells
them or brings them into the state.
Notice of bill IN the house TO pre-
oant the wearing of hats or any other