The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-14
FAILED TO PASS.
The House Kills the holster Con-
vict Labor Measure.
favorable Action Taken ON the Biii
fo Place a Tax on Inheritance
Speaker Gordon Predicts Adj
iOurnment About May 81.
Ispecial correspondence

lansing, April 12-The house, after
N lengthy debate, killed the holster
bill referring 10 the employment of con-
Vict labor by striking out all after the
.enacting clause. The vote was 40 to
-. The measure provided for an en-
tire revolution in the system of man
agement of the state penal institu-
lions. Its most conspicuous provisions
were for the employment of convicts in
squads of 20 in the several counties of
the state upon the highways, and pro-
hibited contract labor in prisons and
the use of machinery, except such as
could be operated by hand and foot
power. The labor members will now
try TO draft a satisfactory measure by
eliminating the chain-gang feature of
the bill.
The house committee of the whole
passed the bill providing for tax of
five per cent. on all inheritances or
transfers made in contemplation Of
death, whether of real or personal prop
erty or whether made by residents or
nonresidents. Inheritances of $4,000 o.
less are exempted. as is property willed
10 father. mother, husband, wife,
child, brother, sister, wife or widow of n
son, or husband of a daughter. 1t is
understood this bill overcomes the OBJ
jections to a previous law which the
supreme court declared unconstitu-
tional.
The Bates-Sawyer bill relative to fra
ternaI societies was discussed by joint
meeting of the house judiciary and in
SuTance committees, but no action was
taken. The bill allows an appeal from
the tribunal of a fraternal organization
TO the courts in case of n disputed claim.
whereas now the decision of the SUI
preme officers of the lodge must be
sbided by. 1t has been once reported
&avorably, but recommitted.
among the house measures to receive
favorable action in the senate recently
were five to permit township boards in
Sanilac. Huron, Tuscola and Bay coun-
ties TO grant franchises for trolley roads
along their highways. This is in fur
therance of the trolley road project
which has to do with the linking of
Saginaw and Port Huron. The electric
-oad people want to build from Lexing-
from Lexington to Port Huron and
Munger TO Saginaw being future
hope.
Speaker Gordon gives it as his opinion
that Gnal adjournment will be reached
by May 81. This would make the pres
'cnt session a few hours shorter than
that of 1893. as it beran four days later
than did the Legislature of that year.
The Edgar bill, providing that liquor
tax money shall be paid into the treas
'ury of the township or municipality in
which the saloon is located. instead of
being divided with the county as now,
was Killed in the house
Attorney-General Maynard has given
up hope that the people voted in favor of
the constitutional amendment permit
sing his pay to be raised from $500 to
$500 a year "The returns show that
In the cities the amendment was carried
10y about $4,000 majority" said Mr. May
nard. "but in the country the result
was the other way, and I should think
the amendment was defeated by over
10000"
Senator Savidge's committee on la
Dor has recommended the passage of the
bill Of Senator COvell providing for the
election of a labor commissioner by the
people. The bill has in view the lop-
ping off of Pingree perquisites.
The bill prohibiting the coloring of
eoieomargarine so as to resemble butter.
which recently passed both houses after
an effort extending over six years. has
been hung up in the senate, and the in
dications are that the farmers will lose
this battle after all.
The senate passed n bill fixing the
tuition of students at the Michigan
mining school at ten dollars per year
for Michigan students and S25 per year
for nonresidents. 1t also changed the
name of the Michigan mining school to
che Michigan college of mines.
EMMETT.
Veteran Dead.