The Owosso times., 1901-04-19
VERY BELLIGERENT
Senate Gets Into a Scrap Over the
Ionia Asylum Addition
DETROIT MEMBERS SUSPICIOUS
Bill Passed After An Explanation of
Its Purpose-Gov. Bliss Writes to
Both Houses Advising Against Civ
ing Bills Immediate Effect.

Lansing, Mich, April 16.-There was
mittee of the whole over Senator
Nichols bill to make an appropriation
for a new building at the Ionia asylum
on the side of the river where the
main buildings are now located. Sen
ators Holmes and Murfin fought hard
for postponement. The bill, IL passed.
would create room for $50 additional
patients, and the practical effect, they
say, would be to leave vacant the now
detached building on the south side of
the river. There is another bill In. to
use this detached building for short
term prisoners, and the Detroit sena-
tors saw in this scheme to take away
from the Detroit house of correction
good share of it's business-deal it
practically a death blow, in other
words. Murfin made several speeches,
showing that the Detroit prison is one
Of the best in the United States. 1t
gave Earle a good chance to make a
spiel against all prison contract labor.
All the Detroit senators asked that
the bill be temporarily passed to give
them time to read it over and figure
out its real provisions and purposes.
They succeeded apparently in creating
considerable sentiment against the
bill.
Senators Nichols, Doherty and 9TH
ers made a good fight for the bill, and
on their assurance that the bill con-,
tains nothing against the Detroit pris-
on, Murfin withdrew his motion to
temporarily pass, and the bill was
agreed to.
The only other bill agreed to was
Goodelrs, to regulate the sale of con-
centrated feeding stuffs.
The senate last night passed Rep.
Bland's bill amending the charter of
the City of Detroit with the provision
requiring property owners to lay only
stone, concrete or cement sidewalks in
Detroit stricken out. The bill was Civ
en- immediate effect.
In the house, Rep. Bland tried to
have the senate amendments con.
Cured in, but there were not enough
members present to give 1t immediate
effect
Chairman Holmes says he will try
and have a meeting of the senate rail-
road committee on the Chandler bill
to-day. Senator Murfin has joined
Holmes in talking for specific tax
bill.
The house, in committee Of the
whole last night, agreed to some ap-
preparation bills, the most important
one carrying $196,450 for the Michigan
home for the feeble minded and epilep-
tic at Lapeer OF this amount, $16,450
is for improvements. A bill appropri-
ating $17,500 for the eastern Michigan
asylum at Pontiac for the purchase
Of land was agreed to after Rep. Bon
ser had Intellectually tried to have
stricken out all after the enacting
clause. The committee of the whole
agreed to bill appropriating SS,063. &c
for the school for the deaf for "addi-
tional current expenses" etc. After
considerable debate, the bill to make
the total appropriation s43,00 for the
Michigan exhibit at the Buffalo Pan
American exposition was agreed to-
An attempt was made to cut out $3,-
600, but a motion to this effect was
voted down.
Rep. Ames offered a resolution that
meetings be held every forenoon, be-
ginning to-day. for the consideration
of bills on the general order. The res
olution was voted down. 1t Is likely
that Speaker Carton will have an or.
ganized effort made to get such a reso
luton through. There will be over
70 bills on the houses general order
today.