The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-03

\ HtuN'cSl the taxpayers are called upon
to pay. the fact that the bill would in
crease the revenue available for the
support of the schools, would, in a
measure, at least, overcome the first OBJ
lection cited.
The question is a great one, and the
| people OF the state appear to be devot-
ing considerable time to its consider
alton. The governor proposes to have
! something to say about the Dudley bill,
and the people will doubtless hear from
him before the legislature reconvenes
Several somewhat unusual matters
were presented to the legislature on the
! day Of adjournment, and all are still
to be acted upon. One of them is, per-
haps. the most unique bill that will be
presented to the legislature this ses-
sion. II was prepared by Representa-
tive Taziman of Livingston, and seeks
to make men discharge the highest duty
pertaining to citizenship. The bill pro-
vides a penalty for neglect or refusal
on the part of a qualified elector to vote
at any township, city, county or state
I election The penalty provided Is fine
Of 500 and Imprisonment in the coun-
ty jail for ten days, and the only per-
sons who can escape 1t are electors
] who are either sick or absent from
home on election day, or who have
passed 20 years of age. 1t Is not a
pleasing commentary on our institu-
lions that any one has seen the neces-
sity for such law, but there are few
who will seriously contend that II cleo
tors will not willingly go to the polls
they should not be made to do so.
Anti-Polygamy Bill.
The other measures referred to have
to do with the anti-polygamy agitation
that Is sweeping over tn ecountry just
at present. One Of them Is a concur
rent resolution, which was offered by
Representative Chamberlain Of Kala-
mazoo, and which expresses the judy
ment that the seating of Congressman
Elect Roberts of Utah would be sin
conflict with all those standards Of high
civilization for which our nation stands
and an offense to the good citizenship of
the nation and contrary to sound pub
lie policy" The representatives in
congress from Michigan are, therefore,
requested to vote against the seating
of the congressman-elect.
The farmers of the state will be inter-
ested in a bill which Is being prepared
for introduction by Representative
amend the law governing the county
commissioner Of schools in an impor-
tant particular. At present all the
electors Of the county participate in the
nomination and election of the commits
sioner, although the latter has juris-
diction over rural schools only. He
has nothing whatever to do with either
city schools or those of incorporated
districts, yet the electors of these cit es
and incorporated districts are oftimes
in a majority in the county and, there
fore, absolutely control the selection of
the commissioner in whose work they
have no interest whatever. The pro-
posed amendment will restrict the vot-
ing for this official to residents of those
sections of the county over the schools
Of which he has Jurisdiction. There is
some question as to the legality of the
law inasmuch as the people of the whole
county contribute to the payment of the
salary and expenses of the commits
sioner.
Beet Sugar Bounty Law.
The anticipated attack on the beet
sugar bounty law is at hand. The fact
that numerous sugar factories are in
sight in various parts Of the state has
jected factories materialize the bounty
will reach enormous figures in the
course of year. The present bounty
is 1 cent a pound, and Representative
Mccall of Eaton has given notice of
bill to reduce this to " cent The bill
also contemplates taking the duty Of
administering the law from the COM
missioner of the state land Office and
placing 1t upon the secretary of state.
The reason for the latter amendment is
not apparent and in all probability no
good reason exists.
Considerable excitement has been ere
ated among the legislators from the
rural districts by a bill providing for
the condemnation Of rights of way for
telephone lines across private property.
At present these lines are required to
be built along the highways, but parties
who are interested in an exchange pro-
jected in the Upper Peninsula have had
introduced this bill. They insist that
their sole desire is to fix things so
that they can extend their lines across
territory along which there is no high
way often for a distance of thirty miles
or more. In order to reach desired
points it is absolutely necessary that
land, and the bill provides that in case
the parties cannot agree upon pric.
for this right of way. the way may be
condemned just as is done In cases of
railroads The farmers see in the bill,
however. an opening to force right of
way six feet wide across their lands
whether adjacent to highways or not, IL
the companies conclude to cross for the
law does not apply to any particular
part of the state and will affect south
ern Michigan, with it's numerous high
ways, as wen as the sections of the Up
per Peninsula where no highways ex-
list. A fight is promised when the bill
Is rachel on the general order.
To Bring Tax Dodgers to Time.
Two bills designed to bring to time
dodgers of taxes on bank stock are on
the senate calendar. One of them re-
qures all bank officials to be resident
of the city where banks are located,
and the other provides for the assess
ment of the stock in the place where
the bank is located instead of where the