The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-10
',s-s-e<s-tnD- avs arsssA1t 49, ~
FRIENDS SURPRISED
At the Way the Atkinson Bill
Passed the House.
FATE OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

FATE Of THE BILL IN The SENAIEs
Belief That . Majority OF Republicans
Will Yield Their Convictions and Vote
for the Measurs-Proposition to Levy .
Specific Tax on Copper-Dr. Howeils
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
It 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 a few days when they
began to despair Of passing 1t 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
supporters Of the measure. including
some Of the administration leaders,
would feel much more secure az to the
ultimate fate of the bill had one or two
Of the amendments made to 1t by the
subcommittee, which prepared SUBJ
stitute bill, been incorporated In it.
There is no question whatever that
there are grave doubts as to the const-
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 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 men,
bers of the subcommittee rushed the
Atkinson bill through, Chairman Cham
bsrlain, 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 it's advocates that it Is
valid, the latter shall bear the respon-
sibility of passing a worthless law in
spite Of repeated warnings from the So
called ants.
The fate of the bill In the senate Is
yrohlay,oa tfcaI There ia M
doubt whatever that there are enough
senators who do not believe in the bill
to defeat its 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
1t reached the senate from the house,
and they followed 1t up with 20 votes
against a motion instructing the COM
mittee on taxation, to which II was re-
ferred, to report 1t out within three
days. My judgment Is that they can
defeat 1t II they wish to, but I do also
believe that 1t will pass the senate sub
stantially as 1t came from the house.
The question will be about amendments.
and the indications are that the ma
jority will retain the important provis-
which there is question, leaving the ad-
ministration to stand or fall by the final
ruling of the supreme court on these
points. It Is possible, however, that
more important amendments may be
houses ensue.
viii Yield Their Convictions.
A somewhat careful canvass Of the
ha
ton that majority will yield their con-
victions to what they believe to be the
desire Of the people of the state and
vote for the bill when 1t finally reaches
the floor. The consideration Of the bill
will not be long delayed as Its fate will
cut an important figure In the pending
campaign. .--
The latest constitutional question
raised in connection with the bill II that
the governor IL not eligible to MEM
bership on the board OF assessors pro-
vided. This claim Is based on section 10
Of article s Of the constitution. which IL
a. follows: mo person elected gov
ernor or lieutenant governor shall be
eligible to any office or appointment
from the legislature, or either house
thereof. during the time for which he
WE eieCteO. All VOteS IOT eitHeT Oh
them for any office shall be void" The
bill makes the governor q member Of
the assessing board and this, It Is
claimed, is an appointment from the
legislature. g
The proposition to levy a specific tax
on copper and iron ore has aroused the
people Of the upper peninsula to q
great pitch Of excitement. Many of
the arguments made against the enact
ment Of such a law are, Of course, SUI
perficial, but some are exceedingly po-
tent and convincing. For instance. with
reference to the tax of cent a pound
on copper, 1t IL shown that the great
Calumet and Hecla mine can produce
copper for about cents pound while
Il costs some Of the mines which pro-
duce rock much less rich in copper as
high as II and IL cents per pound.
Unstable and Speculative.
Everybody agrees that the present
price Of copper is unstable and largely
speculative, the normal price being not
to exceed Ia cents. The Calumet and
Hecla would not, therefore. feel the tax
OF cent particularly, but 1t would COM
pletely wipe out the profits OF the small