The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-05-31

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tic following.
Classification Of Freight Rates.
Shippers throughout the state will
be interested in the Hardy bill, which
provides for the classification Of
freight rates. etc, and which stands
just fair show Of becoming law.
having been agreed to by the house,
This bill establishes q freight bureau
as an adjunct to the railroad commits
sloner's department, and provides for
commission to consist of the rail
road commissioner and two persons to
be appointed by the governor for
Germs .of six years each ut an annual
salary of $1,000. This commission is
to classify rates, fix minimum rates
and investigate all cases of alleged
discrimination in rates on the part of
railroad companies. An important
provision bearing upon this feature Of
the proposed law Is as follows:
Upon the hearing the commissioners
shall take into consideration the low
est schedule of rates in effect by any
railroad company for substantially the
same service in this or any other
state. Also if the company COM
planned of is operating beyond this
state, or has traffic arrangements with
other lines beyond this state, their
several freight schedules shall he
taken into consideration in determin-
ing what is a reasonable rate or classi-
fication for substantially similar
service. After such hearing the COM
mlssioners shall fix reasonable maxi
mum charges and classificatiOns for
all kinds of property and notify the
several roads thereof. The cl-lssifca-
ton and charges shall govern all roads
liz this state. and in 10 event exceed
the charges now in effect or hereafter
fixed by the decisions Of any court
or by any of the provisions Of this
act"
Helme's Anti trust Bill.
Senator Helme has succeeded in get
ting his antitrust bill away from
what he conceived to he hostile COM
mittee and having it placed on the
general order. This bill is simply IL
copy of the Missouri antitrust law,
which is Il very brief document lack
ing complications. Among other
things this law requires every firm
and corporation doing business in the
state to file annually with the secre-
tary of state an affidavit to the effect
combination or trust and provides that
failure to file such affidavit shall be
punishable by forfeiture of license to
do business and fine of 81 900. In this
connection it may be interesting to
note that within very few days
Judge Spencer, of the circuit court of
st. Louis. has held that failure to
make affidavit does not merit the pun
ishment provided, but that such fail
ure makes it obligatory upon the coun-
ty attorney to prove that the accused
firm or corporation was instrumental
in forming trust or that it belonged
to trust and in the event of proof
that the firm was in trust, then the
fine and other penalty should be i'm
posed.
Apportionment Out of the Way.
The arportiOnment bills are all out
Of the way now, having passed the
senate after being fought by several
senators whose territory is disastrous
ly affected thereby. The provisions
Of these bills, showing how present
congressional. senatorial and repre-
sentative districts are affected, were
set forth in my last letter.
License for Embalmers.
A rather important law enacted last
week is that which provides for the
Licensing by the state board OF health
Of emhalmers who prepare bodies OF
persons dead from contagious and in
fectious diseases for transportation
before interment. The bill provides
that such embalmers shall have certi-
ficates issued by the state board of
health after examination. The object
is to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases by the improper preparation
of bodies for transportation in the
states. The examination fee Is So. and
all expenses of the examination are to
be paid from the fees collected. The
annual renewal of licenses is not con-
templated
Law for the State Census.
The new law providing for the TAX
ing of the regular state census of 1904
is radical departure from previous
census statutes. While heretofore
the secretary of state has had charge
Of this work the selection of the CEN
sus enumeratOrs has been made by the
respective township boards and city
councils. The bill now in the hands
of the governor provides for the estab-
lishment in the office of the secretary
of state of census bureau. thechief OF
which shall receive an annual salary
of S1.S00 a year during the continu-
ance of the work. 1t also provides that
all the census enumerators are to be
selected and appointed by the secretary
of STATE and that they shall receive SIS
per day for ten hours work, instead OF
$3.50 as heretofore.
Houae Reaches for m Scala
Several days ago the lower house
reached for the scalp of the chief
deputy game warden, passing a bill
abolishing the Office on the ground that
it was altogether too costly luxury.
The chances are that the senate will
take different view of the matter.
General Game Law.
For number Of days the two
houses have been in deadlock over
the Handy general game law. Confer
ence committees were appointed and
the result is victory for the house.
The committees agreed upon Il bill
which restores the spring shooting of
ducks, making the spring season from
March to April TO- and which makes
the open season for birds from Oct 10
10 Nov. so.
"straw" Liquor Bonds.
The indications are that the efforts
IF the Ant-Saloon League to secure