The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-05

ford to abandon his practice entirely
and take up his residence in Lansing
and devote his entire time to the duties
of his ONCE for an annual stipend OF
$500 Furthermore, no one expects him
to do so. The result Is he Is compelled
in order that he may earn in private
practice sufficient to support his family.
to employ assistant counsel In many
cases at the expense Of the state. This
counsel comes high, and the annual
amount thus paid out amounts to sew
eral times more than the proposed in
crease. If the taxpayers of the state
know when they are presented with an
opportunity to do a good piece Of busi-
ness for themselves they will see to 1t
that this proposition Is ratified at the
polls.
In the Interest Of Good Butter.
A bill which has been defeated at
several previous sessions Of the legisla-
ture, although its passage was asked
for by all the farmers of the state, bids
fair to become law this year, ii having
already passed the senate by a decisive
vote, Notwithstanding the fact that the
upper house has been the rock upon
which this class of bills has heretofore
split. The bill in question prohibits the
coloring of butter substitutes so as to
make them resemble genuine butter. 1t
Is, OF course. opposed by the manufact-
urers Of oleomargarine, who were sue
cessful In killing 1t two years ago, al
though there was not a pound Of oleo-
margarine manufactured in Michigan.
The oleomargarine lobby. has, however,
thus far signally failed this year, and
with the great number Of farmers in the
house 1t is altogether probable that the
action OF the senate will be there con-
Cured in. An effort was made in the
senate to amend the bill to prohibit the
coloring of inferior butter so as to re-
semble the better article, but only five
votes were recorded in its favor. The
farmers and creamery proprietors assert
that the passage of this bill will materi-
ally increase the price Of genuine but
ter In Michigan-a contamination the
farmers have long been wishing for.
State Board of Health.
A bill was introduced in the upper
house last week similar to the one de-
feated two years ago, which provides
for the reconstruction Of the board of
health. The board is one of the most
valuable institutions supported by the
state, and 1t would be a calamity If ii
were either abolished or it's functions
curtailed It's members are citizens who
have made special study along lines
with which the board has to deal, and
they give a vast amount of their time
to the duties without charge.
The pending bill provides for the re-
peal of the law Of 1873 establishing the
present board and substitutes therefor
state board of health commissioners,
to be appointed by the governor within
thirty days after the passage Of the act,
and to consist Of seven persons, six of
whom shall be physicians Of at least
five years practice, and one Of whom is
to reside in the upper peninsula. A sec
rotary at $1,000 and four clerks at from
$500 to 81 200 per year are provided. Out
side these salaries the annual appropri-
alton for the support Of the board is
limited to $4,000.
AS an entirely disinterested citizen,
save only so far as the best interests
Of the state are concerned, and as one
who has closely watched the work of
the board and it's results for the past
decade, venture the assertion that if
the legislators consult their constitu-
ents' welfare they will kill this bill. The
entire health board system might bet
ter be abolished and the whole amount
it costs saved for the bill provides a
system which would be able to accom-
plsh nothing of practical nature.
Further than this the legislature should
not modest so important department.
Regulation of Liquor Traffic.
Representative Belknap has some
very radical ideas with reference to the
regulation of the liquor traffic, and he
has embodied these ideas in bill. This
measure provides that in incorporated
villages of less than 1000 inhabitants
the license fee shall be $500; in cities of
more than 1000 inhabitants. $500; and in
places of more than 10000 inhabitants.
$780, The fee for selling liquor at whole
sale is fixed at 81, 900, and for both whole
sailing and retailing. $1,000. 1t takes
away from city and village councils
and township boards the right to per-
NIT saloons to be kept open later than
o'clock at night, and provides that
they shall be closed promptly at that
hour.
A liquor bill which was introduced by
Representative Petrowslsi. who con-
ducts a saloon in Detroit. provides that
al. druggists shall take out a retail liq-
uor license Mr.. Petrowski maintains
that many druggists sell more spirit
ucus liquor as beverage than the sa-
Icon keepers do, and he believes that
they should be required to pay for the
privilege. A third liquor~bill increases
the uniform tax to $3.50, and still anoth-
er permits boards of supervisors, by a
majority vote. to suspend the operation
of the general liquor law In their re-
spective counties so that local option
may prevail, and provides for the hold
ing of an election every two years on
the local option proposition.
Discrimination in Freight Rates.
The committee appointed to make an
investigation into the charges of dis
elimination in the matter Of freight
rates has selected John N. Foster Of
Ludington, clerk, and is already at
work. The investigation will be ex-
haustive and will occupy the full thir-
ty days allotted the committee by the
house. 1t has been discovered that the
special charter of the Michigan Central
road provides that which gives that
company the privilege of fixing it's