The Yale expositor., 1897-05-14

The struggle which independents
telephone companies have been max
ing against the Bell telephone monop-
oily in various parts OF the state has
been recognized i'm the House and
bill was called from the private corpor-
ati@us committee establishing a maxi
mum rate for telephone service in CIT
les of the state at point equivalent to
the highest rate now charged by indie
pendent companies, but from IS to so
per cent below the old rates for service
that the Bell company charged before
the independent companies entered the
field in competition. The committee
had decided to pigeon-hole this bill.
The Bell company does not want any
telephone legislation, aud the Bell
lobbyists were highly pleased with the
action of the committee, but their graf
ifcation was short-lived. The bill is
now upon the general order of the house
for future consideration. The Bell
people claim it is unconstitutional
Rep. Edgar is making campaign for
the passage of his bill for the emascu-
lation of third-term convicts and in
The physicians of the state are stand
ing back of him in the measure. In
the House committee of the whole Rep.
Perry's bill for the regulation of the
printing of state documents-condens-
ing department reports and stopping
the publication of joint documents
was agreed to. 1t will save the state
$4,000.
Gov. Pingree is becoming accustomed
co handling his veto power ann is using
it quite frequently. The most recent
instance is the veto of the anti-cigar
cite bill. The governors special veto
message says the present law prohibit
ingthe selling or giving of cigarettes,
cigars or tobacco to any minor under L.
years of age, and providing penalty
therefor, fully covers the first two
sections of the new bill. He is en-
tirely opposed to the remainder of the
bill in that it makes it a misdemeanor
for such minor TO buy or accept cigar
cites or tobacco and provides penalty
with possibility of imprisonment.
The governor says he favors Furnishing
the seller or giver of cigare ties, ETC.,
but he objects To the arrest of boys and
making criminals of them. Both
houses are now agreed upon May 20 as
the date to cease acting on bills and
May 81 for final adjournment. Sena-
tor Holmes lien bill met strong oppo-
sitiou in the House, but it passed by
good majority. 1t protects the prop
erty owner from irresponsible con-
tractors and extends lien rights equally
to building material men and labor.
An attempt was made to pass the Blu
kirk local option law in the House, but
it was tabled. Several important bills
were passed BY the House: Providing
for the preference of discharged union
soldiers, sailors and marines of the
late rebellion in public work and pre-
venting their removal, transfer or sus-
pension from municipal office without
II full hearing before the mayor or
common council of the municipality:
approprating 50, $50 for improvements
at the upper peninsula prison at Mar
quettc. So, 600 for the state public
schools at Coldwater, 1000 for inn
provements at the jackson state prison.
S23, 400 for improvements at the Michi
gan asylum for the insane at Kalama-
700, g., 500 for physicians residence
ut the Fair Oaks colony farm at the
Michigan asylum for the insane at
Kalamazoo, $4,000 for the Michigan
Pioneer and Historical society; permit
ting insurance companies to insure
against theft; restricting tho pub
LEGATION of state documents and
providing for the Distribution of
the Michigan state manual. Dur
ing short session the Senate
passed several bills, the most import
ant being: To appropriate S146,3oO for
the school for the deaf; allowing PEG.
pie to vote at school elections who own
property which is assessed; authorizing
organized townships to issue bonds for
the payment of claims; for the plug
ging of abandoned salt wells in the
counties of Saginaw and Bay.