The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-03-22
A Combine of Senators Will Work
to Secure Political Death of
Gov. Pingree.
IT ORGANIZES A STRONG OPPOSITION.
VIII Not Permit Adjournment Of the
Legislature III the Governor Under
takes to withhold Nominations =
wesseIius Gets Even for His Dep
ositiOn.
Especial Correspondenee.l


lsrge-sized row on his hands. His fight
with majority of the senate over the
confirmation of his appointees has as
sumed alarming proportions. More
than a score of the total of 32 senators.
all of whom voted to reject the nom
nations of Oakman and Irish for rail
way assessors, have formed, ii is al
legged, a combination to continue the
session of the legislature indefinitely
il the governor maintains his an
Aounced determination that no more
nominations will be made until the
senate adjourns, SO that he may APP
point, without reference to that body
The senators in the combine are con
fdent that republicans can easily be
convinced that the proper thing to do
rs to effectually dispose of Pingrees and
that existing circumstances warrant
tAe employment of any means which
will bring about the result. Among
other contributing causes cited are the
governors connection with the recent
~ published call for a socialist conven-
ton at Buffalo. The plan is to insist
1pon having all nominations made be-
fore the regular business of the legis-
hture is finished, and if they are not
forthcoming to take a recess for few
months after dismissing all but the
principal employees so as to reduce ex-
penses.
Tho senators who are in this deal are
confident that the Atkinson taxation
law, which has been submitted TO the
supreme court. will be declared to be
unconstitutional, and that this legis-
lature will be called upon to enact valid
legislation on this subject. In this
event they will simply increase the
rates provided in the present Merriman
specific tax law, thus increasing the
revenue from the railroads to the de-
sired figure.
The sensation of the week was the
governors removal from office of Rail
road Commissioner Wesselius. and the
atter's caustic open letter in which he
charged Pingree with incompetence,
sowardice and political treachery.
Wesselius, in his letter, declares in
brief that he has been the head and
front of the governors reform admin
istration. conceiving the measures
which have made the governor famous,
writing his messages and fighting his
battles-in fact. that he made the gov
ernor politically. The governor is ac-
cused of eXtravagantly using the funds
Of the state in connection with the rails
ing of troops for the war. and of be-
ing controlled by the military board.
He says the governor promised TO stop
the expenditures but failed 10 do so,
"the dulcet sounds of flattery and the
noise of the brass band being pleasanter
than the work of reform" Commits
sioner Wesselius attributes his dis
charge to the military board. the mem
bers of which were jealous. He had in
CURED their enmity by protesting
against the extravagant use of the peo-
pies money, which has plunged the
state heavily into debt.
Gov. Pingree takes the Wesselius
"roast" quietly. as if it were something
TO be expected. On Thursday reso-
hutton indorsing the Wesselius admin
istration was offered in the house, thus
raising an issue between the admin
istration and anti-Pingree factions.
Only So of the 100 members voted on
the resolution, which was adopted.
Representative Davis, of Kalamazoo.
absolutely refused to vote, and for this
violation of the rules he was ordered
Teprimanded by the speaker. This in
eident is without precedent in the state.
Two of Pingree's nominations for
members of the board to assess rail
road. telephone. express and telegraph
property. were refused confirmation by
the senate Thursday. They were Rob
ert Oakman, of Detroit, and f. NJ. Irish,
of Kalamazoo. the latter colonel of the
Thirty-ffth Michigan infantry. The
third nominee, George b. Horton, of
Fruit Ridge, was confirmed by a nearly
unanimous vote. Oakman and Irish re-
ceived only five favorable votes between
them. the former receiving three.
The house Friday adopted a resolu-
ton in which the senate will concur,
inviting President Mckinley and Sec
rotary of War Alger to visit the Michi-
gan legislature. 1t is understood they
are likely TO soon make tour of the
northwest.
Persons who contemplate stealing
bicycles will do well to make their Sc
lections before bill agreed to by the
house in committee of the whole
becomes law. 1t makes the
stealing of bicycle felony, punish
able by a term of imprisonment of not
less than two nor more than five years
The best the court is permitted to do
by even first offender is to give him
one year in the county Jail and a fine
of from $50 TO $3.50. Bicycle stealing
has grown to be great evil in Michi-
gan.
JASON