The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-24
TAXATION BILLS FATE
Cheever.Atkinso on Measure Con.
signed to Joint Committees.
GOV. PINGREE ABANBONs HOPE.

Growing Feeling Among Those Who Are
Watching the Matter That Taxation
Law Drafted Along the Line of the
Merrimsn Bill Will he Enacted-Unusu-
al Measure Introduced by Representa-
tive Nevins.
Lansing, Mich, Feb. 21.-Unless all
signs fail In dry weather the Cheever-
Atkinson bill for the taxation of prop
erty of railroad, express, telephone and
telegraph companies Is dead. Very few
OF its warmest friends entertain even
the slightest hope that II will ever make
its temperance. now that 1t has been
consigned to the keeping of the joint
house committees along with all the
other general taxation bills that have
been introduced. Governor Pingree has
abandoned all hope of the resurrection
of the bill, and did not attempt to con-
ceal this fact in an interview with me
q day or two ago.
The joint committees have appointed
two subcommittee Of five members
each. One of these is to draft a bill for
the taxation of the property of the cor
porations above mentioned, and also Of
all vessel property which now escapes
taxation to large extent. while the
other Is to prepare general taxation
bill to apply to all other classes Of prop
erty. The committees have decided to
hold open meetings this week on Thurs
day and Friday for the benefit of all
parties who wish to be heard ons this
subject. These committee hearings
Will largely take the place of the regu-
lar sessions Of the legislature on the
days named.
Like the Merriman Bill
There Is a growing conviction among
those who are watching this matter that
the result of the agitation for the in
crease In railroad taxes will be the en-
actment of a law drafted along the lines
Of the Merriman bill passed at the spe-
cial session, but which will so increase
the specific tax rates fixed in the Mer-
riman law as to insure an annual reve-
nue. of not less than 81 100000, and pos
sibly as much as 100000 Last year
the railroads paid the state $946, 900, and
1t Is estimated that the increase In earn
ings will make their taxes for this year,
If computed under the Merriman law,
about 1,200, 900.
There are excellent reasons for be-
lieving that some positive antitrust
islature. Both Senator Sayre and Rep
bills on this subject. and both handle
the matter with an iron hand. Both
measures provide that the franchises of
corporations Identifying themselves
with trusts shall be forfeited, and pro-
vide a heavy penalty for individuals
who do likewise The penalty Is 5000
day is made separate offense. There
is some talk of going even farther than
this. and enacting a law providing for
the confiscation of the property of cor
porations, firms or individuals who vio-
late the Sherman antitrust law In this
state. In this connection 1t may be in
teresting to observe that Representa-
tive Wheeler has improved upon bills
heretofore introduced to work the for
fixture of the beet-sugar bounty by
companies which become attached to a
trust by providing that these compan-
les shall also be proceeded against for
the recovery Of all sums paid them by
the state previous to their joining the
trust.
The good government league of De-
troit is behind bill which provides for
the application of the federal system of
civil service to all cities of $4,000 popu-
lation. The bill gives preference to vet
Grams of the civil and Spanish Ameri-
can wars, but provides that all other
applicants for municipal offices shall
pass an examination.
Nevins' Unusual Bill.
Representative Nevins has intro
duced a most unusual bill. This legis-
lator halls from a county which has
adopted prohibition, and he is a firm
supporter of the local option law. He
has not only introduced bill providing
that druggists may sell intoxicating
liquors only upon the written order Of a
parent, guardian and physician, but has
that up with one providing for
the licensing Of every person who de-
sires to use intoxicating liquor as a
beverage. The latter bill fixes the IL
cense fee at S., and provides that the
license shall be issued by the township,
village or city clerk as the case may be.
On the LIST of January in each year the
name Of every person licensed, togeth-
err with the number of his license, Is to
be published in a newspaper at the
seat 1t is made misdemean-
or for any saloonkeeper to sell to per-
son who does not produce his license
and for a person to loan. give or sell
his license to another.
This Is the fiftieth day of the session,
and, under the constitution, the last day
for the introduction Of bills. 1t looks as
Il the house will closely approximate the
record Of two years ago. when 1,27S
bills and forty resolutions were intro
iuced, but the senate will probably fall
short.
1t looks very much as II the electors
Of the state will be given an early OPP
portunity to vote on the question Of
the constitution so as to ex-
tend the right Of suffrage to women.
The house committee on state affairs
has recommended the passage Of DR..
Howell's joint resolution providing for
the submission of this resolution. and
The house sentiment favors It,
The sparrow Bounty Law.
A law which seems to be surely
doomed is the sparrow bounty statute.
II Is estimated that this law has cost
the various counties 100000 since its
and no one claims that IL
has accom- Dlighed n particle of pond