The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-28
LAST WEEK OF SESSION.
Michigan Lawmakers Winding
Up Their Work.
BILL INCREASING RAILWAY TAXES.


Governor Pingree- Mileage Book Bills
Advanced-Uniform Text Book Bill
Passes Both Houses-Prizes for Essays.
Lansing, Mich, May 25.-The last week
or the legislative session opens with a
vast amount of work on the calendar
Of each house. and with every prospect
Of disagreement between the two
houses over the bill to increase railroad
taxes. The conference committees ap-
pointed, as mentioned last week, to con-
slider the differences ON this subject as
they then existed finally reached an
agreement which proved to be satisfac-
tory to the senate, but the indications
are that the house will refuse to adopt
them. This important matter is to be
considered today. The taxes paid last
year by the railroads operating in this
state aggregated $471, 40S. AS passed by
the senate the bill provided for an annual
revenue of $914,750, while the house made
the aggregate $1,246,193. BY the terms
agreed upon by the conference commit
tee the annual revenue would be S947,-
4l4. In other words the senate provided
for an increase of $173,342, the house for
an increase Of $504,7S5, while the confer
ence report makes the increase $2OG, OO6
The rates of taxation as reported by the
conference committee are as follows: On
earnings Of $4,000 or under per mile, 2k
per cent; from $1,000 to $4,000, 3A- per
cent; from $4,000 to $4,000, 4 per. cent:
from $4,000 to $4,000, Az per cent; over
$4,000, per cent; on gross earnings Of
union depot companies with incomes In
excess Of $4,000 per mile, 10 per cent.
Merriman Commended IT.
AS son as the conference report was
submitted the senate proceeded to con-
slider it, Chairman Merriman COM
mended 1t as just between the people
and the railroad companies, and urged
that it be adopted. Senator Thompson
made carefully prepared speech In re-
ply to the special message Of Governor
Pingree on this subject. He referred to
the threat made by the latter that I'M
less the legislature passed such railroad
taxation bills as he desired he would
refuse to approve appropriation bills and
would also keep the legislators here all
summer. The senator created quite a
sensation by denouncing the governors
threat as bluff. He expressed the hope
that the legislators would not be influ-
creed by either the governors bluff or
his Establishments in the wayof promises
of state patronage, but urged them to
vote their convictions, leaving the gov
ernor to carry out his threats IL he
wished to do so, and declaring that, in
that event. impeachment would stare
him In the face. The special message
was denounced as a tissue of DELHI
crate fabrications intended to de-
ceive the people, and the senator went
into long dissertation in support of this
proposition. AT the conclusion of the
speech vote was taken and the confer
ence report was adopted without a dis
senting vote. However, Senators Hughes
Bostawick, Moore and Nudge refrained
from voting on the question.
1t was expected that the house would
dispose Of this matter before adjourning
last week, but the attendance was so
small on Friday that both sides con-
sented to let it go over until today. The
contest bids fair to be long and acri-
monious, and 1t will certainly interfere
sadly with other important matters, in
Guiding numerous appropriation bills,
which must be attended to before adj
journment next Friday.
A Little ProblematicaI.
Just what Governor Pingree will do
should the two houses happen to agree
on the rates recommended by the COM
ference committee Is little probemati-
cal. AS stated last week he has emphat-
ically declared that nothing short
of an increase of $1,000,900 will
meet his approval The element
Of uncertainty as to his action
which now prevails is due to the fact
that upon being asked If he would ap-
prove bill based on the conference COM
mittee's report he said it would be time
enough to declare himself after some sort
Of bill has been passed. Those who are
near to him, however, are all inclined to
the opinion that such a bill as the report
will be promptly vetoed.
Many legislators who think the rail-
roads should be required to pay great
er sum than the report provides are,
however, free to say that they consider
half a loaf better than no bread, and
they will vote for the compromise for
this reason. At the present writing 1t
looks as IL 1t will be this increase or
none for the next two years. Should
the bill be passed and vetoed, there Is
no reason for believing that the governor
could get anything better by calling an
extra session, while the cost of such a
session would be very large.
Other important railroad legislation
has been considered during the past
week. An attempt was made In the
house to pass a bill permitting steam
and electric railroad companies to lease
each others lines The Pingree men ar
rayed themselves against the bill on the
ground that it would permit a road to
get possession of a competing line. and
eventually lead to the organization Of a
gigantic combine which would wipe out
all competition. They succeeded In kill
ing the bill.
The latest railroad measure to be re-
ported out by the house railroad COM
mittee Is one which permits the main
line of the Grand Trunk road to go back
to Scent fares, the rate having been re-
duced to 2 cents four years ago. The
reason given for such bill is that there
is no prospect of passing a bill for the
general reduction of railroad fares and
that II would simply be just to place the
Grand Trunk on the same footing with
other roads in this regard. 1t is safe to
say that Notwithstanding this plea the
bill will not become a law.
Two mileage book bills have been ad-