The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-01-13

for although the special charter of the
last named company has been held to
have been abrogated by the supreme
court of this state, the case has been
appealed by the company to the SUI
preme court of the United States.
Third: That the repeal or amend
ment of thes charters generally, IL I'M
dertaken by the legislature, shall be
taken up after the repeal or amend
ment of the tax clause Of the charter
has been accomplished, in the interest
Of more simple and true way Of hand
ling the question of taxation and in or
der that the law passed may be effect
i've during the current year.
Fourth: That the subject of repeal
ing or amending the tax clauses Of
these charters be provided for by sepa-
rate bills in order to avoid the conflict
In the provisions.
State Revenue Increased.
Commissioner Wesselius makes the
important announcement that by rea-
son of the increased rates Of taxation
fixed by the Merriman law enacted at
the last session of the legislature, the
revenue Of the state from railroad
taxes was last year increased by $127,-
15O49.
The fact that the supreme court has,
during the past few weeks, sustained
the commissioners ruling on every
point at issue between his department
and the railroad companies relative to
the Interpretation Of the various pro-
visions of the Merriman law, renders
unusually important his statement that
several months ago, in accordance with
instructions from the governor, he pre-
pared brief bearing on the validity
Of the present railroad tax law. In this
brief, he came to the conclusion that
the law is invalid for the reason that it
provides for tax upon commerce
among the states. which is one Of the
reserved powers of congress. Since the
last assessment and levy the Wabash
railroad, which is an interstate road,
and the Wisconsin and Michigan, which
was foreign corporation-not author
lied to do business in Michigan at the
time of the levy, have contested the
payment Of the tax on the ground above
stated, and the attorney general has
commenced suits against each company
for the collection of the tax due.
Sharp Eye on Legislation.
The executive committee of the state
3 d
legislation this winter. 1t held a meet
ing here during the past week and ar
ranged to inform the legislature fully
concerning so-called process butter"
which is the latest contrivance by
means of which the manufacturers of
oleomargarine hope to be able to evade
the laws relative to the manufacture
and sale of that prohibited article The
.,.,II
priations for the enforcement of the
pure food laws generally, and will
strenuously oppose all measures tend
ing in any way to decrease the local
usefulness of the common schools as
related to all the people in the rural
districts.
Food Commissioner Grosvenor is en-
deavoring to have the state board of
agriculture rescind a rule which re-
quires that whenever any member of
the Agricultural college faculty does
work outside of his duties in connection
with the college, the money received for
such service shall be turned into the coll
lege fund 1t will readily be seen that
this rule does not have a tendency to
make the professors anxious to do out
side work, and the commissioner is de-
them in making analysis of food prod
ucts, etc.
Dairy Laws Defective.
In addition to asking for the re-enact-
ment of the anti-color oeomargarine
law recently declared invalid by the su-
preme court because ii was minus ~
enacting clause when it was passed ny
the senate, Commissioner Grosvenor
will recommend the enactment of other
important legislation. His experience
during the past two years clearly shows
that the dairy laws especially as they
relate to the milk supply of cities and
villages are defective. In his opinion
these defects should be remedied by
placing all milk dealers and peddlers
in the state under the supervision Of
the food and dairy depa rtment. He will
also recommend the enactment of more
stringent laws prohibiting the use of
preservatives in milk, and governing
the care, feeding and condition of cat
tie from which the milk supply of the
state is obtained. In the commission
er's judgment no food is more in need
Of protection by the state than that
upon which the children of the COM
monwealth are so Largely reared.
The imperative necessity for a law
regulating the manufacture, compost
ton and. sale of baking powders in
Michigan will also be urged upon the
legislators. This recommendation will
precipitate a war on the bill embodying
it by all the alum baking powder man
ufacturers in the country.
Swamped the Measure.
Efforts have been made in previous
years to pass such a bill, but the man
ufacturers of the cheap powders have
swooped down upon the Legislature in
force and succeeded in swapping the
measure.
Insurance Commissioner Campbell is
having a little trouble with the mana
gers Of the stock fire insurance compa-
MES doing business in Michigan 1t
grows out of the fact that In his blanks
for annual reports of last years bust
ness he asks for a schedule of each pol
icy written in Michigan. The commits
sioner's object is doubtless to get at
the rate paid on each risk with a view
to ascertaining If the anti-compact law
has been violated. The managers OBJ
ject to making the detailed report for
the reason that it is a very expensive
undertaking. which will occupy great
A