The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1899-02-28
MANY new MEASURES
introduced in the Legislature by
Lawmakers.
NO ADJOURNMENT BEFORE JUNE.

NO ADJOURNMENT BEFORE JUNE.
Legislators Now Know just What Has
Been Cut Out for Them to Do-lmp port
ant Development i'm the Line OF Taxation
Legislation Looked dFor-Representative
Wagners Bill Liked by Farmers-Mr.
Packs "Poor Mans BILL"
Lansing, Mich. Feb. 2S.-The first flf-
~ days of the session during which bills
can be introduced having expired, the
legislators know just about what work
has been cut out for them to do. A sur
vey Of the situation by the legislator
who is ambitious to finish the work and
get away to attend to his private busi-
ness must be far from consoling, for
the total number of bills and joint res
olutions introduced exceeds that of any
previous session with the single ex-
ception OF 1897. In the house the num-
ber this year is l.ls3. as compared with
l,2IS two years ago, while the senate re-
ceived 54S in comparison with sci in
1891 1t will be seen, therefore, that the
house was eighty-five. and the senate
thirteen short Of the record of two years
ago. In view of the fact that the ques-
ton of taxation is before this legisla-
ture In a much more comprehensive
form than II assumed in 1897, the bills
now introduced treating OF every possi-
hle phase OF this important question,
the indications are that much other i'm
portant matters are covered by the bills
IA hA Of hn tnnc
For these reasons the opinion is quite
June before final adjournment Is
reached.
Developments Looked For.
Important developments in the line
of taxation legislation are looked for
this week, although the progress Of the
bills to be reported by the joint COM
mttee may be somewhat impeded by
the fact that the Republican state con-
Ventlon TO be held at Jackson Wednes-
day will attract so many OF the repre-
sentatives that no business will be ac-
complished on that Gay. The bills pre-
pared by the joint committees to which
this entire subject was referred a fort
night ago are now In the hands of the
house, and there will be nothing from
ahead with their consideration. Two
copies OF the Atkinson bill will be avail
able any time a majority of the house
may desire TO make use Of them. they
having been introduced during the rush
incident to the last day for the intro
duction OF bills. one being sent to the
friendly committee on revision OF the
laws and the other put on the table. II
| u 10 IN he taL
by the state convention touching this
subject will be potent factor in deter
mining what sort OF a bill shall be
passed. There seems to be a genuine
desire on the part of the large majority
Of the legislators to enact some law or
series of laws that Will approximate
equal taxation. and IL Is not improbable
that an income tax law Will be one OF
the features OF the legislation enacted.
The senate took a whirl at the At
kinson bill "a few evenings ago. IL having
been introduced In that body on the If
tieth day OF the session. An attempt
was made TO make the consideration OF
the bill the special order for today. but
this was deemed too soon by a major
ity. and the special order was fixed for
March o. The vote on the earlier date
was II to ~. an Indication that the
senate is very equally divided on the
main question.
Legal Objections Known.
The railroad attorneys have had their
hearing on the Atkinson bill, and the
exact nature Of their legal objections to
IL are now known. While each OF the
three attorneys who spoke before the
' committee got at the matter at differ
ent standpoints their conclusions were
practically the same. Their claim that
| the bill Is unconstitutional is based on
| the contention that the tax provided
| is an ad valorem and not a specific tax.
| This being the case, they maintain that
| the bill is unconstitutional because IL
| fixes a different basis for determining
| the actual value OF railroad and other
| corporate property from that by which
the vaine OF other classes Of property to
he taxed in the same manner is to be ar
rived at. All the railroad attorneys
were a unit on this proposition. and on
the further claim that IL Is not possible
| 10 draft a bill on the lines OF the At
kinson bill and have the proceeds de-
| rived Hereunder go to the primary
| school fund. 1t Is needless TO say that
1 Representative Cheever and other ad-
vocates OF the Atkinson bill do not con-
cede these claims to be true. As a
matter OF fact they deny them most Wig
orously and are prepared to stand by
4 tho bill to n finish.
| a great deal OF railroad legislation Is
90 be considered this year. bills covering
all departments Of the business having
been introduced. The question OF dis
elimination in freight and passenger
rates will be gone into thoroughly.
Money for beet Sugar Industry.
Two bills have been passed by the
house which are sure TO make an early