Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-01
MICHiCAN'S LEGISLATORS.

| tanned 1900 names petitioning for the
passage of the bill To permit each
| county to employ 90 state convicts in
road making. The bill was under con-
| sideration for some time and was fl
nally made the special order for March
| 81. The anti-lynching bill was laid on
| the table in the House. The Grand
Rapids charter bill, which has con-
sumed so much time in the House, and
| which was the cause of contest be-
tween the city and country districts of
Kent county over their respective rep
| resentation on the board of supervis-
people having conceded half of the
| board to the city. The Eikhoff bill,
preventing the payment of employees
| in anything but money or its ready
| equivalent, was killed in the House.
Rep. Eikhoff made hard fight for it.
| The following bills were passed by the
| House: Is. Il. $500 Authorizing Sand
| Beach to issue waterworks bonds; (H.
Il. 53) amending truancy law so as to
| allow city superintendent of schools
| to excuse children over Ia years of age
from attendance as required by law;
| QH. B. 239) for the suppression of mob
violence; Gil. Ii. s4) providing for treat
ment of INDECENT durable children at
! the e. of NJ. at the expense of the
state; Gil. Il. s3) providing for free an
alysis of water by the u. of NJ. The
Senate passed the following: Is. Il.
1907 prohibiting the adulteration
of vinegar and prescribing what shall
be pure vinegar Is. Il. So for incor-
poration of mutual integrity compa-
mes to insure integrity of employees and
agents: Is. Il. 67) appropriating $1,000
for the Mackinac Island state park;
Is. Il. 1879 providing that unexpended
balances of appropriations shall be
transferred to the general fund; Is. j.
X. 14) to restore Fort Mackinac to the
United States when the government
shows a willingness to regarrison the
same.
Gov. Pingree's enemies in the Senate
took occasion TO again criticise and
abuse him at the first opportunity,
which came when Senator Covells bill
came up, in committee of the whole,
to compel the governor TO make APP
pointments to vacanies in state offices
during the session of the state legisla-
ture that the Senate may act upon
them. Senator Covell termed Gov.
Pingree 1.-The worst demagogue in the
state, while Senator Thompson called
him an anarchist" of the Most or Alt
geld style. Senators Moore and Nudge
protested against such talk. but the
bill finally passed Other bills passed
by the Senate: Is. b. 29s) Preventing
male and female persons over II years
of age from debauching the person and
depraving the morals of boys under Is
years of age; Is. Il. PSI fixing the legal
rate of interest at per cent, contract
rate at per cent, and providing that
banks shall not pay more than per
interest on money; Oh. Il. 1861 provid-
ing for the use Of pencil instead of
Sdbber stamps in voti,5r booths; III. Il.
4S0) amending the law relative to the
repair of buildings owned by the state
and damaged by fire, SO that the state
auditors may promptly repair the
same: Oh. Il. l04) requiring two-thirds
vote for bonding Delta county for
OH. b. 100 providing that town
ship officers shall be citizens of
the United States and electors.
Michigan will not be officially repre-
scented at the Tennessee Centennial eX-
position, as the bill appropriating
81, 500 for Michigan exhibit was killed
in the House. BILLS passed by the
House: (H. b. 7Os) Amending the law
requiring the display of the L. 5. flag
upon school buildings, making it dis
cretionary; (H. Il. 500 requiring an in
ventory annually by all banks of their
assets to be filed with the commissioner
of banking: Gil. j. Il. IL for the relief
of Margaret Heimes, for the death of
her son who was killed while on duty
in the NJ. n. g. during the miners
strike at Ishpeming in 1895.
Gov. Pingree sent his first veto TO
the Senate in connection with the bill
to punish any person, except members
of the g. A. Il. in good standing, who
wears G.. A. X. badge. His message
was very warm and bore particu-
larly upon the argument that many
old soldiers have fallen behind in their
dues through misfortune and stress of
circumstances which they could not
control. The governor said: Il look
upon this bill as an attempt to collect
dues through criminal statute, and
to punish the unfortunate and poor
who have no criminal intentions
will not be party to such ingratitude
on the part of the state" The bill for
the use OF the SOS, 900 in the 500 canal
fund to build a marine hospital at the
500 was defeated in the Senate after
hard fight lasting three hours. Rep
Capt. A. T.. Stewart, of Wayne, APP
peared in the House and was heartily
congratulated upon his nomination for
mayor of Detroit. He was called upon
for speech and was escorted to the
speakers platform amidst the biggest
demonstration of the present session.
The House killed the bill TO constitute
the county clerk, county treasurer and
probate judge board of auditors in
each county and also board to
apportion township taxes. The House