The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-04-28
ATKINSON TAX LAW.
Adjournment Depends Upon Its
Constitutionality.
sOLONs WAIT on SUPREME COURT.

II That Tribunal Should Declare the Law
Invalid Further Legislation on the SUBJ
Ject VIII BE Necessary-Triumph for
the Upper Peninsula Delegation-step
Toward Abolishing Nominating Conven-
tions-Other Legislative News.
Lansing, Mich, April 25.-There has
been a good deal Of curiosity on the
part of the people of the state as to
the probable date of final adjournment
of the Legislature. Careful investiga-
tion discloses the fact that this all de-
ponds upon the supreme court. The
resolution calling for joint caucus for
the purpose of fixing date, appointing
steering committee, etc., have been la
bled to await the action of that trib-
unal in the case involving the consti-
tutionality OF the Atkinson railroad tax
law. 1t was deemed unwise by the ma
jorlty to decide upon final adjournment
until it is definitely known whether the
law mentioned is constitutional. II the
court should declare it invalid further
legislation on the subject will be neces-
sary, and adjournment before the de-
cision is made would simply mean
special session in case the law goes
down. 1t is expected that the court
will hand down an opinion in the case
within a fortnight at the latest and
when this is done the legislature will
act accordingly.
1t is the court, too, that indirectly
caused the row in the house last week
over the proposition to take the bill
repeating the special charter Of the
Michigan Central Railway company
away from the railroad committee. 1t
was taken away one day and returned
the next, each action being taken after
heated discussion during which
charges of classifying, lobby dictation
and other shortcomings were freely
made.
Awaits the Courts Decision.
AS a matter Of fact the committee is
holding on to this and other important
railroad bills until the court decides the
fate of the assessing law. While 1t
would be unbecoming to suggest haste
on the part Of the court, yet that trib-
unal will confer a boon on a patient
and long suffering public, and possibly
save the house from witnessing per-
sonal encounters between the repre-
sentatives, If 1t can find it convenient
to decide the case very soon.
The upper peninsula delegation beat
out the farmers in the house on the
oleomargarine bill after the matter had
been permitted to sizZle for few days.
The former succeeded In having their
section Of the state exempted from the
provisions Of the bill, and while fight
against concurrence Is being made in
the senate, the same action will prob
ably be taken in that body. The amend
ment was the result of the statement
that the miners and woodsmen Of the
upper peninsula cannot procure good
butter even at the high prices which 1t
commands in that section, and further
more that they should not be forced to
pay or 10 cents a pound more for but
ter than oleomargarine would cost
them.
The first step toward abolishing nomi-
mating conventions in Michigan was
taken last week when the house passed
the Colby bill which aboishes all such
conventions in Wayne county, leaving
the whole body of the people to make
all nominations for office direct. 1t Is
believed that the bill will pass the sem
ate and one of the main reasons for
the opposition it has met with is the
fear that the plan will prove so sue
cessful in Wayne county that the bal
ance OF the state will before long in
sist on adopting 1t.
Generous To the University.
The present Legislature appears to be
very generously disposed toward the
university, a fact that was Demon
strated by the very feeble opposition
encountered by the bill increasing the
standing appropriation for that insti-
tuition. There is now levied for the
support of that institution tax of one
sixth of mill on the equalized valua-
ton Of the state, the revenue from this
being $4,000 annually. This has proved
Inadequate for the rapidly growing
needs Of the university, and the sem
ate has, by an almost unanimous vote,
increased the rate to one-fourth of
mill. There will be greater opposition
to the bill in the house, but there is
little doubt of its passage.
An important amendment to the law
governing the operation Of traction en-
gines is made by Representative Gill
lette's bill which passed the house Fri
day. The amendment seeks to make
the running of these engines along the
highways fraught with less danger to
the public. 1t provides that person
shall be sent ahead to warn the public
Of the approach Of the engine whether
it be traversing the roads Of cities, viii
lagos or townships; that upon the ap-
proach Of horses steam be shut off, and
in a general way requires the operators
to take every precaution and render
all possible assistance to prevent runa-
ways, etc.
The house committee on state affairs
has made a favorable report on the
Gustin bill, vouminous document,
which seeks to apply the principles of
the interstate commerce law to Michi-
gan. The provisions of this law are
embodied in the bill as far as they can
be made to apply to a single state.
Like all other measures of this nature,
the bill entails considerable expense
upon the taxpayers. 1t provides for thu
appointment Of three commissioners
who are to receive a salary Of $4,000,
and empowers the commission Co elect