The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-16
STATE NEWS NOTES.
MICHIGAN ITEMS WHICH MILL BE OF
GENERAL INTEREST,".

Short Review of the Work OF the State
solons at lansing Other News of Inter-
est from All Over the Great State Re-
ported by Telegraph.
Lansing, Mich, April 9.-The Edgar
bill, providing that liquor tax money
shall be paid into the treasury 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. This body, in COM
mittee of the whole, passed the bill pro-
viidng for tax of per cent. on all
inheritances or transfer made in con-
temptation of death, whether of real or
personal Property or whether made by
residents or non-residents Inheritancas
of $4,000 or less are exempted, as is
property willed to q father mother,
husband, wife, child, brother, sister,
wife or widow Of son, or husband of
daughter Bills were passed providing
that in trials for bigamy the testimony
of husband or wife may be received
without the consent of the other, and
providing that all fruit packages have
conspicuously stamped on them the
fraction of bushel which they contain
was agreed to. The senate passed a bill
permitting taking of minnows used for
bait with nets in the Les Cheneaux
channels.
Lansing, Mich, April 10.-The So
called Molster convict labor bill was
mercilessly slaughtered by the lower
house of the state legislature Thurs
day. All after the enacting clause has
been stricken out The friends of the
bill could only muster twenty-nine
votes out OF the ninety-nine members
Of the house
The BILL which was pushed by organ
lied labor representatives, prohibited
the contracting of prison labor and as
a substitute provided that the convicts
might be farmed out in lots of twenty
to the several counties of the state, and
employed at road building. The farm
ers were opposed to the bill, as were
the prison wardens and others familiar
with the employment Of convicts. The
argument that the convicts employed
at current labor tended to reduce the
price of free labor was effectually re-
futed by Warden Fuller of the Ionia
prison, who showed that certain kinds
of furniture is being manufactured by
free labor in Grand Rapids and sold at
a
made in the institution with which he
is connected.
Lansing, Mich. April 13-The Wideow
committee of the legislature, which has
been investigating various allegations
made by Governor Pingree and others
against the railways of the state. sub
mitted report yesterday which rec
ommends as follows: First that COM
mittee be appointed by the governor to
arbitrate all differences between ship
pers and railroads; second, all freight
traff1cs should be under the jurisdiction
of the state; third, railroads should be
obliged to furnish freight cars to ship
pers within forty-eight hours after hav-
ing been served with written notice for
the same; fourth, railroads should be
obliged to furnish storage room for per-
ishable freight until they are able to
furnish cars for its transportation;
fifth, railroads should be held liable
for damage resulting from wrong de-
livery or loss of freight shipped for
destinations reached by other connect
ing lines; sixth, all fast freight lines
should be obliged to incorporate under
the laws Of this state, with offices with
in the state.
The committee also recommends laws
to regulate switching and delivery of
cars and fixing charges for same; that
the law forbidding determinations in
freight rates be amended so as to re-
move its apparently broad discretion
airy feature; that uniform forms Of
freight bills be required, which
shall show the weight, rate and
class for which the bill is rem
dered. A state railroad commission is
also recommended. 1t is generally be-
lieved that while the house is favorable
to anti-railway legislation the senate