The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1899-03-07
FRIENDS SURPRISED
At the Way the Atkinson Bill
Passed the House.
FATE OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE.


for the Measure-Proposition to Levy u
Specific Tax ON Copper-Dr. Howei's
Joint Resolution to Amend the Consti-
tuition in Favor OF Women.
Lansing, Mich. March 7.-Another
eventful week in the history of railroad
taxation legislation has just closed. and
1t sees the administration bill ad-
vanced much farther than even its
most enthusiastic friends hoped for at
this time. Before the session COM
menced some of these friends were
hopeful that the bill would be passed
practically at once. but they had been
In Lansing only few days when they
began to despair of passing it at all at
this session, so that the manner in
which 1T slid through the house was
quite a surprise to them.
There is no doubt that some Of the
some Of the administration leaders,
would feel much more secure as TO the
ultimate fate of the bill had one or two
of the amendments made to it by the
subcommittee. which prepared a sub
stitute bill. been incorporated in it.
There is no question whatever that
there are grave doubts as to the consti-
tutionality of the provision relative to
the manner of fixing the rate of taxa
ton, and the subcommittee sought TO
correct this alleged defect. At the final
session of the special committee Repre-
sentative Cheever, the introducer of the
Atkinson bill, frankly admitted in my
presence and that of a score of others
that the change made by the sub-com-
mittee in this respect was an improve
ment over the provision in the original
bill.
Accepted the Original.
However, the house majority rejected
the substitute and accepted the orig
inal, alleged defects and all. After
their bill had been rejected the mem
bers of the subcommittee rushed the
Atkinson bill through, Chairman Cham
berlain. who voted against the bill,
making all the motions, the idea being
to shut out any amendments and pass
the bill with all the alleged unconsti-
tutional features intact. The opponents
of the bill insist that as the people have
been assured by its advocates that it is
valid, the latter shall bear the respon-
sibiity Of passing a worthless law in
spite of repeated warnings from the So
called antis.
The fate of the bill in the senate is
somewhat problematical. There is no
doubt whatever that there are enough
senators who do not believe in the bill
to defeat it's passage, although this is
no assurance that the bill will not pass
that body. The opponents mustered %
votes against a proposition to put the
bill on it's immediate passage the day
IL reached the senate from the house,
and they followed it up with 20 votes
against a motion instructing the COM
mittee on taxation, to which ii was re-
ferred, to report it out within three
days My judgment is that they can
defeat it II they wish to. but l do also
believe that IT will pass the senate sub
stantially as it came from the house.
The question Will be about amendments,
and the indications are that the ma
jority will retain the important provis-
ions about the constitutionality OF
which there Is question, leaving the ad-
ministration to stand or fall by the final
ruling of the supreme court on these
points. 1t is possible, however. that
more important amendments may be
made, and a deadlock between the two
houses ensue