The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-04-14
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Way for Their Consideration at
Lansing Is Paved.
BILL THAT WILL PLEASE FARMERS.

Oleomargarine Law of Two Years Ago
Re-Enacted-Senate Against the Repeal
OF the Law Establishing a Closed Season
for Certain Fish In the Great Lakes
The Kimmis County Salary Bill-Other
Matters.
Lansing, Mich, April 11.-Several UNI
usually important bills have been dis
posed of during the past week, and the
way paved for considering the numer-
Gus appropriation bills and thus MAX
Ing 1t possible to estimate, within the
next fortnight, the probable date OF
final adjournment with some degree OF
accuracy.
The farmers OF the state will be
pleased to know that each house has
passed bill re-enacting the law OF
two years ago prohibiting the manu-
sacture and sale OF colored oleomargar-
me, butterine, etc., in the state. which
was declared defective by the supreme
court because Of an error in the enact
ing clause. This error has been avoid
I'd this year, so that the opponents of
the law will have to attack II on the
ground of unconstitutionality because
OF its being class legislation. Just why
the house did not pass the senate bill
and thus close the matter out entirely
is not clear. Each house passed u sep
arate bill, thus making 1t necessary for
one of the measures to go through the
other house before EITHER can be pre-
sented to the governor for his signature.
The substantial majority given these
bills In each house leaves no doubt that
law will result, although the situation
gives the upper peninsula delegation an
opportunity to make another fight for
an amendment exempting their section
Of the state from the operation of the
law.
No Further Amendment Possible.
This move will probably be unsuccess-
full, but from the vote on the proposition
In the house no one need be surprised
IL 1t should happen to succeed. No fur
Their amendment is possible, however,
and process butter will be taken care
Of in a separate bill, this being neces-
sary as the law, in order to be effec-
tive, must define what constitutes proc
ess butter and include other provisions
which could not be embodied in the
oleomargarine law.
Another matter disposed Of was the
matter Of repeating the law Of 1897 es-
tablishing a closed season for white
fish and trout in the great lakes. This
bin has created more excitement and
inspired more oratory during the sesA
sion than any other that was intro
duced, not excepting even the Atkinson
railroad tax bill. A special committee
spent several weeks investigating the
charge that the fish trust were the sole
advocates Of repeal, and that the closed
season not only Disseminated against
the commercial fishermen of Michigan
in the interest of the trust, but also
had greatly increased the price of fish.
A majority Of the committee reported
that the charges had been amply sus-
tanned, and the fact that the trust kept
paid agents here constantly gave color
to this version Of the controversy. The
house passed the repeal bill by a large
vote, but the senate has taken q stand
which insures the continuance of the
closed season for two years longer at
least. The only change made in the
existing law by the senate was to ex-
tend for twenty-five days the open sea-
son for so-called rough fish. such as
perch, pickerel, and herring.
The Closed Season.
The season will commence Sept. 1
and close Dec. Is, instead of Nov. 20.
as provided in the present law 1t is
possible that the house will not concur
in this amendment, but that will not
change the closed season for white fish
and trout any, as the senate will GER
tainly not recede from its position on
this phase Of the question. The closed
season for these two varieties will be
continued from Oct. Is to Dec. Is.
The disposition manifested by an ap-
parent majority of the house during the
few moments the Kimmis county SAL
airy bill was UP for discussion a few
days ago demonstrated quite conclu-
sively that this bill, which has the in
dorsement Of the state grange and state
association Of farmers clubs, stands no
show whatever Of becoming a law
This is a matter on which the farmers
of the state have been working for sew
eral years, and which is the main plank
in the platform adopted at their last
annual meeting. The bill provides for
the substituting of salaries for fees as
a means Of compensating all county off,
Gals, and there is little doubt that its
enactment would result in a great saw
ing to the taxpayers, inasmuch as 1t
provides that all fees collected shall be
turned into the respective county treas
uries. The bill came up in committee
of the whole on the day referred to,
and the legislators started out at once
to play horse" with It.
Motions to Exempt.
Motions to exempt this, that and the
other county came thick and fast, and
when finally II was proposed to amend
the bill so as to make 1t apply only to
the county of Oakland, the home of tho
introducer the latter had the bill passed
in order to save 1t from immediate de-
feat. 1t was simply putting off tho
day of judgment, however, as defeat is
sure to be its fate.
Tomorrow afternoon he's been set
apart by the house for the considera-
ton Of the bill appropriating $500, 900
for beet sugar bounties for the ensuing
two years. The bill Is framed on the
theory that the present bounty of l
cent per pound will be maintained, and
its passage has been recommended by
both the committees on state affairs
and ways and means. There is no doubt
L. minds nf anu opa thaf 10 tIo