Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-11

Rep. Lees bill providing for capital
punishment by electrocution is attract
ing much attention and joint session
of both houses will be held To hear
Gen. Curtis, of New York the we'll
known opponent of capital punish
ment, and probably some others for
and against the measure. The Senate
rcconsidered the resolution 10 appoint
n committee TO investigate the Detroit
house of correction and the resolution
was then referred and will be pigeon
holed. Senator Westcott noticed
bill TO amend the law so that life in
surance companies organized outside
of the state shall not do business in
Michigan, unless one of the board of
directors is resident of the state.
Senator Youmans noticed bill for the
relief of owners of land delinquent for
non-payment of taxes by providing
that where there is no negligence, the
realty owners shall have chance to
redeem their property. The matter
of executive sessions of the Senate is
not only stirring up Gov. Pingree but
the House is ''agin EN- and only the
ruling of Speaker Gordon, that one
house has no right to interfere in the
business of the other, prevented the
passage of a resolution demanding that
all sessions be open. New bills in
the House: To tax bicycles 80 cents
apiece to create fund for the con-
struction of bicycle paths; to repeal
act which provides that the auditor
general shall have private secretary
at salary of $1,000 IA year;
to compel express companies to deliver
packages in small cities without extra
charge; calling for an appropriation of
from SIS, 900 to $50, 900 for state re-
formatory for women; prohibiting WV
section
The state legislature under the pres
ent law spends 80 days in the intro
duction of bills when it is generally
conceded that half that time would be
sufficient. and Senator Colman has of
fered "A joint resolution reducing the
time to 30 days. senator Blal1eslee
has new state fire warden law, pro-
viding for the appoin tment of fire mar
shals in every county in the state and
for the prevention of incendiarism, the
marshals to be appointed by the boards
of supervisors, to be called upon to set
tie disputes between the company and
the assured and to be paid by the COM
panies. Senator Nudge wants to cut
the rate for legal printing from 20 to
80 cents per folio for the first insertion
and to % cents for each subsequent in
sertion. The House unanimously
passed resolution congratulating
Rep. Chamberlain. of Gogebic, upon
his marriage, and ordered his desk
decorated with the American flag and
a daily bouquet of flowers. During a
two hours session the following bills
were offered in the House: To revolu-
tionize the method of counting cleo
ton returns, by providing double
set of election inspectors for all voting
precincts. After % votes have been
begin to count SO that at the close of
the polls, all but fractional vote will
be counted; providing an elective
county board of review of five mem
bers, which must see that all property
is assessed at its cash value; to provide
free railroad transportation for all
state officers mot deputies, however,
and all members of the legis-
ture. the passes of the latter
to expire 10 days after the final
adjournment of the legislature;
for an interchange of service by tele-
phone companies; TO place building and
loan associations under the supervision
of the state banking commissioner;
giving justices of the peace jurisdiction
in cases of forcible entry and detainer;
providing that in school districts
where there are $50 children they shall
be graded and classified and high
school erected when authorized by vote
of the people of the district; to have
the township dog tax fund in excess of
the 500 reserve turned back to the
school district from which it was raised
according to the per capita of dogs
taxed; providing rules for election
booths where the Abbott voting ma
chimes are used; for commission and
an appropriation to locate the state
line between Ohio and Michigan and
erect permanent monuments.