Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-05-20
MIcHioAN's LEGISLATORS.

DtAi0NGu llldl AilG RONGlnOl Ndo inahlhB
bluff when he threatened TO keep
them in session all summer if they did
not take some action To increase rail-
road taxation it is certain that they
Immediately tumbled into his band
wagon and kept time To Col. Atzinson's
music. The railroad people when they
saw everything going against them
decided il would be better TO swallow
the dose of increased specific taxes
rather than have local taxation forced
down their Threats and To that
end the committee, as soon as the
House session opened. reported the
Merriam bill favorably and had it
taken up at once. The Pingreeites
had evidently come To the conclusion
that il would be easier TO get this bill
through than the local taxation meas
ure SO they surprised the railroad peo-
pie by turning in and working for it
like Trojans Col. Atkinson, the gov
errors first lieutenant in the House,
carried the day with his vigorous
speeches and when the committee of
the whole had completed the bill it in
creased the specific taxes as follows:
Railroads with gross earnings of S., 900
or less per mile, increased from per
cent to "a per cent; between $1,000
and "a 200, from "a to per cent; be-
tween 81 900 and $4,000, from to
per cent; over S6,O from 31a to 10 per
cent The bill was then amended to
apply to all railroads notwithstanding
special charters When the committee
of the whole arose Col. Atkinson Sc
bill passed. 66 to "a. The Pingree
strength had increased on every vote
from the first amendment TO the final
vote. 1t is estimated that the bill as
passed will increase the taxes of the
railroads from $780, to over 81, 5O0,-
600. During the day the House also
passed the bill to repeal the special
charter of the Michigan Central rail
road. The fiat two-cent passenger
fare bill failed to pass, however. Col.
Atkinson had the local taxation dill re-
ferred to the Judiciary committee TO be
perfected in details. Rep. Edgar's bill
providing for the emasculation of third
term convicts and inmates of the home
for feeble minded was agreed to in the
House committee of the whole. The
House passed the following bills:
Appropriating S., 900 for the improve
ment of the Mackinac island state park:
appropriating SIS. 900 for the Ontona-
gon fire sufferers: permitting railroad
directors 10 hold their annual meetings
anywhere within the state: appropri-
ating Sll. 900 to enable the state board
of agriculture to hold farmers insti-
tutes: raising the limit of taxation for
school purposes in fourth-class cities
from i Il to . per cent of assessed val
uation. The Senate passed the Mason
tax lien bill which provides that tax
purchasers must give notice by regis
tered letter to all persons having an
interest in the lands on which they
have purchased tax titles. and gives
the owner six months in which to re-
ihia veg his RereBsrty In caf fh, the ,s owner
was purchased, he must be given per-
sonal notice by the tax buyer Other
bills passed by the Senate: For the
payment of accounts OF state lnstitu-
lions through the state treasury: for
the formation of corporations for the
purpose of improving and owning lands
for summer resorts; abolishing DAYS of
grace; reducing the number of legisla-
tive employees; for the punishment of
persons fraudulently using water.
electric or gas service.
The bill increasing the specific taxes
on Michigan railroads was promptly
tabled in the Senate when il came over
from the House. and the general inn
preston was that when it is taken up
the House amendments will not be
concurred in and the Senate will de-
mand big concessions from the House
conference. The Pingree people saw
this possibility and in the House had
the fiat two-cent passenger fare bill
reconsidered and tabled to be passed
in case the schedule of the specific tax
bill is materially cut down. The local
taxation bill is also being held as a
club to keep the Senate in check.
As the time for final adjournment
draws near there is capitalization of
sentiment and effort on bills that are
of most important. The bill to repeal
the mortgage tax law win be allowed
to die in the House committee. Bus
kinks local option bill is now dee med
rather faulty and will not be pushed,
but an effort will be made to restrict
the sale of liquor by druggists. In the
of the House defeated Bost-
wick's anti-prize fight bill, but the
House refused to concur and tabled il
for future action. The House has
agreed to the Senate amendment To the
Graham game bill permitting the use
of dogs in hunting quail. Clerk Lew
NJ. Miller is relieved of great deal OF
labor in his compilation of the stat
utes of the state by the passing of
bill to repeal "A large number of OBJ
solete and imperative statutes. Clute's |
bill making only four road districts in
each township and for the election of |
was killed. The fight be-
tween DIR. Edgar and the State Medical
league has resulted in the abandon |
nent of all medical legislatio !. !
DIR. Edgars emasculatiou bill, VII Il
was supposed to be sure of pas. = IN
he House, was knocked out, but wa.
-econsidered and will get another t,.a..
The House has passed bills: Providin-