The true northerner., 1898-12-07
WHOLE NUMBER 2281.

cided that the stamp tax on express
receipts must be paid by the companies
instead of the shippers. The matter will
doubtless go To the United States su-
preme court. The action of the express
companies in forcing the shippers to pay
the tax, is an unreasonable effort on the
part of these wealthy corporations to
evade paying their fair share'of the war
expenses, and the Northerner believes
the decision of the Michigan court is
just.
The boys at Grand Junction celebrated
Halloween in an unusually hilarious
manner. Among other pranks, the school
house was broken into and the bell rope
cut, and pile of ties was placed on the
Michigan Central track, they fortunately
being discovered and removed by the
section boss before the passing of train.
Floyd Merica, Lloyd Merica and Bert
Ferguson, all young fellows, are now in
the county jail awaiting examination
this afternoon in the court of Justice
Rowland on the serious charge of plac
ing obstructions on a railroad track.
Should they prove to be the guilty
parties, the Halloween prank will be no
joke.
A Muskegon dispatch to the Detroit
Free Press, under date of December 5,
says: DR. A. W. Hendrick this after
noon began proceedings by capias against
Adolph Miller, claiming $1,000 damages.
Several days ago DR.. Hendrck made a
professional call at Miller's home and
was forcibly elected by the latter, who
was later arrested for assault and bat
terry. Miller claims he dismissed DIR.
Hendrick and employed another physi-
clan, but that the doctor would not take
a dismissal and insisted on visiting the
house. The doctor claims he did not know
he was dismissed. Miller was arrested
this evening and held to bail by Circuit
Court Commissioner Soper in the sum
of 5000"
The Farmers Institute society of Van
Buren county, organized under the state
law, will hold one days meeting at
Kendall, December 13, forenoon and
afternoon, and at Keeler, December IA,
forenoon and afternoon. j. ID. Tower,
assistant professor of agriculture at the
agricultural college, will be at each meet
ing and talk on Waste and wear on the
farm and keeping up soil fertility" in
the forenoon, and Work of the expert
ment station" in the afternoon. The
president ofthe State Dairymen's associa-
tion will talk on "Dairying," at Kendall,
and Chas. Shriver of Benton Harbor will
give talk on the raising and manufac
ture of the sugar beet, at Keeler. Music
and recitations will be interspersed.
The council held meeting Monday
evening. w. j. Halsted was granted
leave to move a barn along La Grave
street. $4,000 insurance on the electric
light plant was ordered renewed. The
petition of j. ID. Holmes and others to-
allow horse racing on Main street Tues
day afternoon of each week, from to
$3.50 o'clock during the sleighing season,
was granted The Northerner believes
precaution should be taken to have such
racing stopped promptly at the time
specified, because of the school children
crossing and recrossing Main street at
that time, on their way from 5, lool. We
understand it is designed to have some
lively brushes on the snow each Tuesday
during the winter, and it will doubtless
afford some interesting sport. The peti-
tion of G. r. Avery and others, for an all
night service of incandescent lights, was
referred to the electric light committee.
Claims were allowed amounting to
S14S55.
In an interview in the ST. Joseph Press,
Judge Buck is reported as saying: Il
have every reason To believe that some
radical changes in judicial circuits will
be made by the next legislature, or at
least our people will ask that the changes
be made. The separation of Kalamazoo
and Van Buren counties, and Berrien
and Cass counties, and joining of Van
Buren, and Cass counties and the max
ing.of Kalamazoo and Berrien counties
judicial districts separate and distinct to
themselves. 1t is almost necessary that
, the changes should be made, as Kalama-
ZOO and Berrien each have all the busi-
ness a Judge can well handle To have
either of them Joined To some other
county creates too much work and keeps
, the court jumping from one to the other
} in order to keep up with the business.
{ Delays are caused and the expenses are
/, very materially increased. BY joining
/, Van Buren and Cass counties as one
{ judicial district, there will be just about
t even work for a Judge to attend to while
e Kalamazoo and Berrien with a Judge for
, each will keep their respective courts
) busy all the time. | think there will
not be much opposition to the change,
9 but you people here in Berrien county
: should now get to work and circulate
/, your petition asking that the change be
! made, and when the legislature meets
, appoint committee of business men
and prominent citizens to lay it before
n the judiciary committee"
: Circuit Court.