The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-05-26
No EXTRA SESSION.
Gov. Fingree. Reconsiders His De-
termination to Gall One.
VIII Ask Legislature IN Proiong Its
session Until Some steps Are
Taken 10 Equaiize Taxation
-GOssip from Lansing.
Especial Correspondence

lansing, May 24.-lt is stated on au-
thority that Gov. Pingree has recon
sidered his determination TO call an
extra session of the Legislature for the
purpose of equalizing taxation. but will
this week send message 10 the legisla-
ture. which is due 10 finally adjourn
MAY 81. urging that the session be pro-
longed until this matter has been at
tended to as he desires.
The conference committee upon the
Merriam bill, increasing the specific tax
upon railroad earnings, made its report
Thursday night. The report is great
disappointment to the friends of large
" increased taxation. 1t increases the
tax over that under the present law
about $205, 900, and over the bill as it
passed the senate, about $4,000. A new
item of taxation is the union depot COM
panies' earnings. The following is the
rate of taxation agreed to: Earnings
less than So 900 per mile. 2h per cent;
between s., 900 and $4,000. 3A per cent.
between $4,000 and $4,000, 4 per cent;
between $4,000 and $4,000, 4H per cent;
over $4,000, 5 per cent; on gross in
come of union depot companies, with
income in excess of $50, 900 per mile, 10
per cent.
Several railroad bills passed the
house, including those repeating the
special Michigan Central charter and
the one requiring companies to sell in
terchangeable mileage, which have been
hung up by the senate railroad commit
tee pending the report of the conference
committee now struggling with the dis
pute between the houses over the
specific railroad tax rate.
The senators have decided not TO act
upon the bill repeating the Michigan
Central special charter, the Widoe 500
mile ticket bill or the Donovan inter
.changeable mileage book bill until some
agreement is reached on the specific tax
bill.
Gov. Pingree has vetoed the following
bills: Appropriating $4,000 for con-
struction of driveway at the Mackinac
Island State park; appropriating $4,000
for the support of the Michigan Pioneer
and Historical society, giving his rea-
sons as economy and the lack of neces-
sity. He also vetoed a bill increasing
the salaries of police justices of the city
of Detroit.
The Bell Telephone company won
victory Wednesday, when the house de-
feated the maximum rate BILL which
provided that where rates were reduced
TO shut out competition the lowest rate
should govern in all cities of like pop
ulation.
On Friday the senate passed the uni
form textbook bill which the house
passed a fortnight ago. The bill is not
all the friends of the system desired, s
1T eXempts all districts adopting the
free textbook system prior 10 January
l, 1899, and also permits districts
TO vote themselves from under it's
provisions if they see fit to do
so.
A bill agreed to by the house in com
mittee of the whole provides tax OF one
cent per gallon on all beer sold in the
state.
The senate refused to pass the bill
removing the homeopath college from |
the state university at Ann Arbor to
Detroit by vote OF ten yeas to fifteen
nays.
July 10, 1898. the state board of health
of Michigan will have been in existence
% years. and the board want to arrange
"a celebration of the event On behalf
of the board, concurrent resolution
was introduced in the house that when
the national convention of boards of
health occurs ut Nashville, the governor
send an invitation for the next conven
ton to be held in Michigan. Also, that
the various health authorities of the
United States be brought here and that
all the distinguished visitors be shown
the beauties of Michigan as health
resort state.
The governor has signed the bill Civ
ing hotel keepers and boarding house
keepers the right to hold and sell prop
erty of guests for the payment of board
due. He has also approved the Holmes
mechanics lien bill, giving to men who
furnish material for buildings lien
equal with a labor lien.
EMMETT.