The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-01-27
LEGISLATIVE NEWS.
Bills aud Resolutions introduced and 9TH
er Matters Pertaining to the state Legis-
lsture--News Of General Interest from
All Over Our Great state.

or Matters Pertaining to the state Legis-
lsturs-News of General Interest from
All Over Our Great state.
Lansing. Mich. Jan. Ex-Governor
Pingree Is not often at the state capitol,
his duties as mayor Of Detroit seeming
TO require the greater portion OF his
time. As consequence, the three APP
pointive officers named by him last
week have not received their commits
sions, although they are here for the
purpose OF assuming the duties Of their
offices. Railroad Commissioners Vase
Illus, who Is not permitted TO accept
railroad passes. finds upon investigation
that II he travels as much as his pre-
decessor did last year. at the rate OF
cents a mile. Ii will cost the state about
1000 per annum for his railroad fare
Senator Robinson Tuesday introduced
his anti-pass resolution providing for an
amendment to the constitution prohib-
iting the acceptance OF railroad passes
by a member OF the legislature and
makes 1t a misdemeanor TO offer a pub
lie official a pass or franking privilege
OF any kind The proposed amendment
is copied from the provision now in the
New York state constitution. 1t Is
a very rocky journey.
In the house Tuesday Representative
Kelly introduced his resolution TO re-
duce the mileage TO be paid members
OF committees visiting state institutions
from 10 TO cents and cents In the
upper peninsula. In the senate a con-
current resolution TO fix the date OF
final adjournment on April % was
adopted. This date. however. is sub
ject to many changes before 1t will
be agreed TO by both branches OF the
legislature.
Lansing. Mich. jan 22.-There was
very little business of Importance trans
acted in either branch Of the legislature
Wednesday The relations Of the two
houses being somewhat strained in ref
erence TO the long adjournment ques-
ton, independent action was taken IN
making arrangements for the absence
Of the several visiting committees. The
house took up the senate concurrent
resolution, fixing the date of final ad-
journment for April %, but refused 10
concur and the matter went on the ta-
BILE.
The most important bills introduced
were: For the introduction Of fans and
blowers in shops for the protection OF
workingmen; making an appropriation
OF $4,000 for the soldiers home: Great
ing a board OF commissioners to cstab-
lish uniform text book system; ply
stefan and surgeons registration bill;
establishing permanent quarters for the
Michigan G.. A. X. In the capitol build
ing; reducing the legal rate OF interest
to 8 per cent, and limiting ii TO per
cent. by contract; appropriating $lO.-
600 for establishing a home for adult
blind; placing the railroad companies
Of the upper peninsula on the same
footing as those OF the lower in pas
senger fares; joint resolution increas-
ing the salary OF the attorney general:
amending the law relative to specific
taxation or railroad. The most in-
portant bills noticed were: Providing
death by electrocution for murder I'm the
first degree; a home rule bill for cities;
bringing all railroads operating north
of parallel A of latitude under the gen.
eral law for taxation purposes.
The uniform text book bill introduced
Wednesday is. likely to be one III the
most important OF the session. 1t makes
the state board Of education board OF
commissioners TO procure the compila-
ton and make selection Of books for
use in the primary and common schools,
to be non-partisan and non-sectarian.
and in size and quality equal 70 the
standard books now in use. The board
is authorized to advertise for the pc
riod of three weeks in New York, Phil
adelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati AMI ST
Louis newspapers for sealed proposals
for furnishing the books when selected
The selling price is to be named in the
contract for each text book. and will
include a retail dealers profit of not ex-
ceeding 20 per cent. One thousand dol
lars is appropriated for the purpose of
putting the system in operation, and
1000 copies Of the bill were ordered
printed.
The bill amending the liquor tan law
increased the uniform tax from $500 to
$780, The bill amending the law COR
specific tax on railroads Increases the
tax one-half OF l per cent, increasing
the revenue TO the primary school fund.
about sl25.0Oo.
Lansing, Mich, Jan. '23.-It is agreed
by all the observers of the legislature In
Michigan that the present assembly
takes the palm for inactivity and Ian
guor. Although two weeks have elapsed
since the body convened. the lower
house has been In session less than
twenty-four hours, and the senators
even less than that. Governor Pingree
Is the only leaven in the lump. and he
has been so busy looking after affairs
In his capacity as mayor of Detroit that
he has not had time to stir things up
in the legislature as much as he would
like.
Thursday admrer introduced
a bill In the senate To create the county
OF Pingree from a portion OF territory
now In Ontonagon county A bill. the
passage OF which the governor urged
in his message. providing heavy penal
ties for watering stock corporations.
was also introduced In the senate. The
only measures which have as yet re-
ceived consideration in either branch
of the legislature are local acts The
senators left Friday on the upper pen
insula trip.
Lansing. Mich, Jan. 25.-Bills were
offered Saturday in the legislature TO
cut the salaries Of the justices of the
supreme court from $1,000 to $500 a
year and to cffectually abolish trusts.
lee Gorges Resist Dynamite.