The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-02-05
OLD FACES DISAPPEAR.
Pingree Men Installed at the State
Capital.
GOVERNOR CARING FOR FRIENDS.


Dairy and Food Conimissioner-Biii t.
License Nurseries.
Lansing, Feb. 2.-Governor PingreC
has not spent a great deal of time In
Lansing since the first of January, but
every one was aware of his presence
when he has been here. This does not
mean that he proclalms the fact from
the housetops, nor that he unduly pa
rades himself. He does not have to re-
sort to either expediency. He is the
most sought-after man in the city
There are always scores of men with
axes to grind awaiting his coming and
they hang on his footsteps until he de-
parts. There is no time Of the day
when his Off = is not occupied by at
least score of persons anxiously wait
ing for an opportunity to talk with him.
One of the new sights encountered since
his Inauguration is that of the chief
executive of the state going to and
from his hotel with a bevy Of newspa-
per men at his heels. The correspon-
dents of the Detroit dailies look to his
excellency for much of their copy. and
whenever they get hold of him they are
If any one had an idea that Govern
or Pingree was not going to dictate
matters as far as possible, he has prob
baby changed his mind by this time.
This dictation has not extended to any,
thing further than who should fill the
subordinate positions under the bureau
officers whom he appoints, but he has
not dropped thread In this regard. So
thora hoc
of the subordinate officials in all the
departments over which he has APP
pointed the heads, with the single ex-
ception of commissioner of railroads.
There two of the old employees still re-
main, but there is time to supersede
them yet. In the military offices the
cid faces have already disappeared, the
same being true Of the dairy and food
department. In every case q Pingree
man has been installed, the governor
frankly confessing his purpose to take
care of his friends, his only regret being
the dearth of positions. 1t is under
stood that this policy will be pursued
to the end.
Convict Labor Legislation.
The legislative committee Of the Mich
igan Federation of Labor has finally
declared itself as to what it wants in
the line of convict labor legislation.
Their bill prohibits the contracting of
the labor of prisoners and the employ
ment of any machinery save That which
can be operated either by hand or foot
power. Not more than one-twentieth
Of the inmates of any prison are to be
employed In the same industry, unless
1t be the making Of supplies for other
state institutions. The most interesting
provision of the bill. however is that
which relates to the employing of con-
victs on highways. If provides that,
with the exception Of lifers, the convicts
may, upon the request Of the supervis-
ors, be transferred on the governors
order to the sheriff Of a county, who is
IN turn to deliver them over to the
overseers of highways for work on the
road. Not more than twenty convicts
Are to be sent to county at a time.
The road or highway commissioner
having the convicts in charge are to be
for their safekeeping, and
nay use balls and chains to insure this. |
{ is not believed that the people Of the |
state will take very kindly to this idea, |
hey having always revolted at the |
thought of encountering chain gangs |
llong the highway. The plan Of work. |
ng county prisoners on the streets has |
ately been resorted to at Kalamazoo, |
md the citizens of that place have en-
cred a vigorous protest against their |
,eing paraded through the public places |
o and from their work. They claim |
hat this has a demoralizing effect on |
he community, a contention which |
most enlightened people will indorse.
Bills designed to increase the revenue
f the state are piling up. They in
lude measures to increase the rate of |
pecific taxes paid by railroad, insur-
nee, and other corporations, to estab-
ish stamp tax of so cents a barrel |
n beer, to tax incomes and Inherit
noes, etc. All of them will meet with
nuch opposition, but it Is not improba-
lie that some of them may become laws.
LII the money derived from these
ources would, under the constitution,
o into the primary school fund. In the
Inheritance tax bill an effort has been
made to overcome the objections of the
upreme court to the last law enacted
n this subject, that enactment having
cen declared unconstitutional.
To Repeal Special Charters.
Although bills providing therefor have
ot yet been introduced, 1t is UNDER
TODD that the question Of repeating the
pecial charters Of the Lake Shore and
fichigan Southern, Michigan Central,
nd other special charter roads, and
ringing them all under the provisions
{ the general railroad law will be one
Z the principal matters which the
resent legislature will be called upon
, consider. In 1891 and 1893 Congress-
ian Mines, who was then in the SEN
te, was the champion of bills to re-
cal these charters, and two years ago
gallant, but unsuccessful fight was
,ade by Senator Jewell of Dowagiac.
4 discussing this question State Stat
tician DeLand, who has made an ex-
austive study of the entire problem
, taxation, speaks as follows: There
no doubt that the feeling that these
oecial charters should be done away
18th and the railroad system of the
ate placed under the general laws is
,pidly increasing. Whether 1t Is ad-
sable to press this by direct act of
peal or through constitutional amend
tent is debatable ground. The first
Ill, of course, bring the question Of
Indicating rights affected before the
ate courts and the state legislature.
priori subject to repeal to the federal