The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-28
WAS OFFERED MONEY.
Legislator Claims to Have Been
rendered $40 for His Vote.
Thorough Investigation tn He Made
Of the Charge Anti-Cigarettc
Measure Passed-Other Interest,"
ing Legislative Proceedings.
Especial Correspondence

lSlalure mas Deen III StSSlOn nearly lOui
months, there has been no hint of cor
ruption until now, when charge has
been made by member that he has
been offered bride of $25 to secure his
aid in passing a bill which is now be-
fore the public health committee. The
member has made an affidavit 10 this eff
feet, and steps will be taken at once to
investigate the matter. In his affidavit
he afiirms that lie was approached by
a lobbyist, whose name is withheld from
the public, and was offered the sum
named above if he would promise to
support and vote for the bill in ques-
ton. He refused 10 consider the prop
osition and proceeded at once 10 inform
the public health committee of the fact.
1t is said that when the name of the al
legged bride giver is made known it will
cause a sensation.
The house agreed to the bill prescrib-
ing a severe penalty for the sale of CT
garettes to persons under 21 years OF
age, or of tobacco in any form to per-
sons less than II years of age, and also
providing for the punishment of per-
sons of these classes who purchase the
prohibited articles.
The long fight over bills permitting
townships on the east shore TO grant
franchises for a railroad and permit
ting suburban electric lines to trans
port farm produce and other light
freight ended Thursday with the pas
sage of all the bills, which have been
held up in the senate for the past week.
all having already passed the house.
The bills were amended so as to give
the railroad commissioner supervision
over these roads, but the proposition to
substitute specific for local taxation
was abandoned.
A movement on the part of surety
companies to engage at wholesale in the
business of furnishing bonds for liquor
dealers who will be required to fur
nish new bonds May 1 was nipped in
the bud by the passage by both houses
OF a bill rendering such bonds illegal
for this purpose.
If bill which the house agrees to
Friday becomes law the practice of
paying employees in store orders, checks,
etc, which has obtained to a great ex-
tent, will cease in Michigan. The bill
makes it unlawful to pay employees in
this manner unless they so request.
The house received a remonstrance
extensively signed by railroad employees
against the passage of the bill provid-
ing a fiat two-cent railroad fare. The
petitioners said that the passage of the
bill would mean reduced wages for
them.
The house has been considering APP
preparation bills for several days. and
action thus far taken indicates that all
bills appropriating money for whatever
purpose will be cut to the quick.
The indications are now that before
the legislature adjourns it will have
made arrangements to furnish the cap
itol, also all the state institutions in
Lansing, with heat, light and power
without patronizing the city or any
private corporation. Early in the ses-
sion bills were introduced for appro-
priations for the construction of cleo
trio light plants at the various insti-
tutions and the capitol. Now there is
talk of one large plant.
In the future the house will have a
session every morning, commencing at
ten o'clock, instead of two o'clock in
the afternoon. There will also be a ses-
sion in the afternoon, and committee
meetings must be held during the even
ing. This was a necessary move. if the
members expect to get half through
before time comes to adjourn.
The house liquor traffic committee
has reported a bill providing a stamp
tax of GA cents upon barrels of beer,
81 cents upon half barrels, 16 cents upon
quarters and 8 cents upon eighths, l
cent upon quarts and one-half cent
upon pints of ale or porter manufac-
tured or sold in the state. 1t is estimat-
ed that the bill will yield an additional
revenue in excess of $1,000,000.
The Buskirk bill has been finally
agreed to by the committee and re-
ported out. 1t provides that the local
option feature shall be submitted AZ
every state election when petitioned by
25 per cent. of the electors. This is the
only liquor measure that has received
any consideration during the session,
and the amendment to compel petitions
is considered as a victory by the saloon
men.
The house passed several appropria-
ton bills Thursday. The state soldiers
home was given $176,000; the home for
the Predetermined at Lapeer, S76.7ss.
The bill appropriating $1,000 for park
at Mackinaw island was killed. The
next bill to come up was one appropriate
ing $4,000 TO allow the state board of
health to do the work of educating
school children as to dangerous dis
eases. The amount was allowed with
but little discussion. There was no APP
preparation for this purpose two years
ago. For the state industrial school for
girls there was allowed sol ,9GS.sO, which
is $S,251.40 less than two years ago.
Gov. Pingree has signed the osteo-
patty bill and il is now a law. He had
spoken favorably of such bill before
the legislature convened.
senate caucus has decided that
there shall be no increase in the present
uniform liquor tax of $500.
In senate committee of the whole the
apple blossom state flower resolution