Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-05-25

Tee VI tue WuOie. ne SOl0lcfS uOuic up
preparation was agreed to at $2S7 800. In
the bill for Michigan exhibit at the To-
ledo exposition, 1903, the number Of COM
missioners was reduced from IL to 5. The
expense of the commission was limited to
$1,000, and then Representative Mckay
moved to strike out all after the enacting
clause, which was carried. The bill was
tabled for another trial. Whitney's bill
providing for opening highways across
railway tracks was agreed to. 1t provides
that railway companies shall be allowed
$50 for each opening of that kind. Rep
resentative Burch had a bill providing
that electric railway companies might con-
denim and acquire toll bridges in case no
agreement could be reached for such cross
ing, in same manner as railroad COM
panies condemn rights of way. The bill
was killed. Colby's bill to make chattel
mortgage sharks advertise sales of goods
IN foreclosure proceedings was killed. The
Senate killed two bills in the evening on
third reading, one to facilitate the inspec-
ton and to prevent the removal Of town.
ship, city and county records for the pur-
pose of evidence in courts, introduced by
Representative Keep. The other was Sen
ator Sayre's bill for the swearing Of prop
erty owners by assessing officers.
The Railroad Committee of the House
on Tuesday favorably reported bill in
creasing the specific taxes of railroads
,$119,O annually. After killing Speaker
Adams resolution providing for commits
sion to investigate and report to the Leg
islature next January, the House post
poned action on taxation bills until the
following Tuesday. 1t was officially an
pounced that If the Governors taxation
program were not adopted he would con-
vene the Legislature in special session as
soon as it adjourned. Nothing in the
shape of specific taxation that does not
yield an additional 81 100000 year will
meet the Governors approval.
Gov. Pingree sent another special mes
sage on the taxation question to the Leg
slature Wednesday afternoon. 1t was
inspired by the fact that he has been ad-
,vised by Judges Cahll and Speed that, in
their opinion, valid bill taxing railroads
and other property cannot be drawn un-
der the present constitution. He recon-
mends the submission Of an amendment
under which this system of taxation can
be provided; the holding of special cleo
ton to decide on a general revision Of
the constitutions; the creation Of perma-
,nent State board to review assessments
anu duNlSt lut lLtSlSluluIc us W tut value
of railroad property, etc., and the passage
of an emergency bill increasing the spe-
'cific tax rates so that the railroads will
pay an additional tax of 81 100000 annu-
ally, this law to stand until the constitu-
tion is amended. In view of the increas-
ed appropriations the Governor renews his
recommendation that an income tax law
be enacted.
To- tha bnr do tho
of the majority and minority of the COM
mittec which investigated the expenditure
of the war fund were read, leading to Wig
orous debates. The majority report adj
mitted that prices paid for meat, groceries,
blankets, clothing, ETC., were higher than
those paid by other States, and that no
bids were asked for, but it excused this
on the ground of hurry and excitement
incident to equipping the trooLS. The
minority report was much more severe,
finding no excuse for these shortcomings.
and severely critcising the Governor for
| purchasing needless clothing for the Thir-
ty-fifth regiment and selling Pingree &
Smith shoes to the military department.
Both reports recommend the appointment
of a commissary general to look after the
subsistence of troops in camp, and the
minority recommended that State officials
be barred from dealing with any State
department The Pngree men made
| stubborn but unsuccessful effort to pre-
vent the reading and printing Of the mi
nority report and to secure the adoption OF
the majority report. The motion to adopt
was tabled, and the reports will be acted
upon later. Bills to abolish contract labor
in prisons, to employ convicts in making
binder Irvine and to label all goods made
in prisons were recommended in the
House.
The Ways and Means Committee of the
House on Friday recommended the pas
sage of bill providing extra compensa-
ton at the rate of 48 cents day for ev-
cry Michigan soldier below the rank OF
commissioned officer who served during
the Spanish-America war. Each man Is
| TO be paid from the date of his enlistment
until he was mustered out. 1t is estimat-
! ed that the men will receive from $50 to
1925 each and that the bill will require an
appropriation of $4,000.
| The Governor has signed the following
bills
To revise and amend the charter of the
city of Flint.
TO amend an act regulating the catching
| of fish in the waters of this State by the
| use of pond or trap nets, gill nets, seins,
or other apparatuses.
To amend an act to consolidate the laws
| relative to the establishment and improve
ment aud maintenance of highways and
| private roads and the building, repairing
| and preservation of bridges within this
| State.
To amend an act to authorize the use of
| condemned State arms by the organization
| known as the Sons of Veterans.
To regulate the width of bridges.
To amend an act relative to free schools
| in the city of Grand Rapids.
To provide for the levy and sale upon
execution of certain property.
To amend an act to protect the primary
| election and conventions of political par
| ties.
To amend an act relative to the proceed
| ings of Circuit Courts in chancery.
Relative to the practice in courts held
| by justices of the peace in suits brought
| against two or more defendants.
To authorize the county of Gogebic to
purchase and maintain a system of alb
stracts Of title of all lands in the county.
To prevent the adulteration of any
| ground grain by use of oat hulls.
| To provide for the filing Of a copy Of the
| minutes made by surveyors and civil en-
| gineers Of all lands within this State.
To amend an act authorizing the incor-