The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-15
NEWS OF THE STATE.
TELEGRAEHic REPORTS OF HAPPEN.
iNGS IN MICHIGAN.

Items Celied Out for the Benefit of Our
Own Readers News of the Past Few
Days Which VIII he of General Interest
To Michigan People.
Lansing, Mich, April 8.-Govsrnor
Pingree and his friends are greatly in
censed at what they call federal inter-
ference in pending legislation. Their
anger is due to the appearance here OF
Ex-Governor Rich, now collector of GUS
toms at Detroit; Collector Avery of
Port Huron, and several postmasters
from various parts of the state, to OPP
pose the passage of his bill for the tax
alton of railroad, express, telegraph
and telephone companies. Governor
Rich made an extended argument
against The bill before the senate COM
mittee. ConGeding that the railroads
were not taxed enough, he argued that
the proper remedy lay in increasing the
specific taxes after repeating all special
charters. He also argued in favor OF
appointing a commission to receive pro-
posals from the Michigan Central road
for the surrender of it's charter and to
report to the next legislature bill for
the taxation Of all corporations includ-
a
and which are not covered by the Pin
gree bill.
The bill will go to the senate with an
unfavorable report from the committee.
Governor Pingree still adheres to his
purpose not to recommend war APP
preparation or the strengthening of the
national guard until the taxation bill
is out of the way. Governor Pingree
ALA fn
President Mckinley:
1.-THE collector of customs of Detroit
is here in charge of the lobby to defeat
a bill on railroad taxation. He is as
sisted by the collector Of customs from
Port Huron. They are reported to be
promising positions to members who
vote against the bill. May 1 ask you
to have these federal officers recalled
and this abuse of federal patronage cor
rected?"
Lansing, Mich, April 9. - The dis
cussion of the Pingree railroad tax bill
in the senate caused excitement. Gov
ernor Pingree, who was on the floor,
was denounced as the prince of dema-
gogues" by Thompson who in turn
was attacked by Moore, the Pingree
increase the membership of the board
Of assessors from three to five, and so
as to bring electric railway companies
within it's provision. The latter amend
.nent will, it is believed, result in the
defeat of the bill, q majority being
against ii.
If the bill is defeated in the senate the
legislature will have no chance to make
fA1n
government is willing to allowits agents
in this state to prevent the just taxa
ton of railroads." said Pingree. then.
of course, the federal government does
not expect the people of this state to
make appropriations for war. 1t must
intend to pay the bills itself. That's
the conclusion / draw from the visit
mere Of Collectors Rich and Avery"
Later.-Pingrees bill was put to C
vote yesterday, and failed to pass the
senate by two votes. The vote, taken
at o'clock last evening, resulted
yeas, Is; nays, 16. One senator was alb
sent. and he is known to have been
against the bill. This measure passed
the house by an almost unanimous
vote.
Lansing, Mich, April 11.-Governor
Pingree Saturday sent a message to the
legislature recommending the authori-
cation of war loan of 100000; also ad-
vising recruiting the National Guard
and volunteer militia companies to a
strength not exceeding $50 men per
company. A scene of enthusiasm fol-
lowed the reading in the house. The
house at once passed bills authorizing
the war loan, which will be secured by
an issue Of per cent. bonds, and in
creasing the per capita tax for the sup
port of the naval militia from u to u
a cent per year. The votes were all
unanimous.
With reference to railway taxation
the house passed the bill providing for
an increase in the taxation Of railroads
under the present specific tax system,
which now annually provides about
$4,000 The senate will probably pass
the Barnum bill providing for a COM
mission to investigate the whole subject
Of state taxation and report to the next
Legislature.
Lansing, Mich, April Ex-Governor
Pingree has Abandoned his purpose to
call another special session of the legis-
lature. He is convinced that nothing is
to be gained by continuing the fight in
the present senate, it having been as
certained that had there been any like
lihood of his railroad tax bill passing
in that body, two, and possibly three,
Of the senators who voted for it on Fri
day would have voted against it. They
fell in line fer the bill only after it had
been figured out to a certainty that it
could not pass, thus pleasing their con-
stitutents.
The several war measures, including
those providing for a loan Of $500 900 and
increasing the per capita tax for the
support of the naval reserve, which
have passed the house. will bcecome
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