The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-03-24
EXTRA SESSION.
State Legislature May Meet Again
Next Fall.
Fear That Its Work Cannot He Com-
pieted I'm June-Homc Rule Con-
stitutionaI Amendment Deaten
4 I'm the House.
[special Observation-Disclosures

DC Specldl SeSSlOH Ol INC iSS iSialuiS
some time next fall. The only alterna-
tive is a continuation of the regular ses-
sion into July. Gov. Pingree and his
advisers are convinced that none of
the railroad legislation on which they
have set their hearts can be passed this
session. Their plan now is to get all
railroad measures reported out of the
committees and ready for discussion
before legislative bodies. and then side
track them. The legislature will adj
journ without enacting any of the re-
form laws advocated by Gov. Pingree,
and this will give him an opportunity
and sufficient excuse for calling spe-
cial session to be devoted exclusively to
railroad bills. Owing to the fact that
there are far more than the usual num-
Der of bills on the files and that business
has progressed with unwonted slow
ness, each house has appointed steer
ing committee to bring to the front the
more important bills and retire the un-
important ones.
One of the most important measures
which is before the present legislature
was defeated in the house Thursday by
a vote of AZ TO 3d. 1t was joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the
state constitution which would prac-
tically do away with all municipal and
charter legislation and be as nearly a
home rule bill as could with safety be
framed. The attention of the legisla-
ture is occupied for large portion of
the session in considering and passing
upon municipal charter bills, about
which it has very little information,
and action is based almost entirely upon
the assurances of the local members.
The defeated resolution provides that
cities can govern themselves by vote
of the majority of the electors, except
upon measures of indebtedness, enlarg-
ing the city's limits, taxation or meas
ures that would injure the rights of
counties or townships. The vote by
which the bill was lost was reconsid-
cred and the measure laid upon the
table for a more opportune time to
place it again upon its passage, but it is
not likely to go through, as ii requires
q two-thirds ma jority to submit con-
stitutional amendment.
The fight between the commercial
fishermen and the state fish commits
sion over bills to increase the size of
the meshes Of the various kinds of nets
used by the former and requiring them
10 take out license each year is being
waged vigorously. The fishermen say
that to increase the size of the mesh
would practically ruin their business,
in which they have more than 81 100000
Invested, and that imposition of the
proposed tax would be greater burden
than they can bear. On the other hand,
the commissioners say that unless the
mesh is increased the best of the good
fish in the great lakes will have disap-
Teared within three years. The fisher
men appear to have the whip hand thus
far
The action of the senate in virtually
voting to abolish the office of state tax
siatistican in July and leave no sub
sttute for the office is not meeting with
much favor from the farmers of the
state, judging from the manifold and
lengthy petitions that are daily lumber
ing the senate and house journals pro-
testing against the abolition of the of
flee. The opinion seems to be that some
such office is necessary in order to Sc
cure anything like justice in the equal
ization of taxes in the state. Most of
the petitions and protests are coming
from the oranges Of the state, and rep
resent, of course. the farmer element.
The house as committee Of the
whole agreed to the Dickinson anti
To- oly Sc he al.
colored member of the house. In sup
port of his bill he made several excel
lent arguments and finally succeeded in
getting it through without amend
ments. The bill not only prevents
lynchings, but provides that persons as
sauted by a mob may collect heavy
damages, and if lyuched the heirs may
collect $4,000 from the county.
The special railroad committee, which
was given 30 days in which to make its
investigation of charges of discrimina-
tion in freight rates. has exhausted the
time without completing the work and
been granted an extension until April 7.
Although il was expected that no APP
preparation would be made for the uni
versity outside of the oue-siXth mill
tax, the committee on that institution
hos reported bill appropriating 500,
600 for new library building. The bill
will be earnestly opposed by the farmer
legislators and is not likely TO pass.
The $4,000 appropriation asked for
by the fire sufferers at Ontonagon was
cut by the senate finance and appropri-
atoms committee to $4,000. 1t passed
the senate.
Petitions are coming in against the
passage of the bill to repeal the mort
gage tax law. The measure will be
held up for awhile i'm the hands of the
committee.
The senate has passed a medical reg
istration bill designed to shut out the
graduates of bogus medical colleges
The bill provides for state board
Every physician practicing in Michigan
will have to pass an examination before
this board.
Milo ID. Campbell, of Coldwater, who
was private secretary 10 Gov. Luce,
was unanimously confirmed as insur-
arce commissioner. 10 date from July l.