The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-04-12

line of regulating freight rates, for as
long as the railroads have this matter
entirely In their own hands they can
nullify In some measure whatever in
crease of taxation may he provided by
simply changing classfications Of
freight and in other ways increasing
freight rates so as TO make up the diff
ference. For this reason the Hardy
freight rate bill is being received with
much favor. Railroad commissioner
Osborn has been advocating such regu-
lation fCr number of years, but he
does not agree with all of the provis-
ions of the Hardy bill 1t is just pos
sible that some step may be taken
by the present legislature to regulate
these rates.
The unanimity with which the cleo
trio interurban rush to the attack on
the bill placing these lines under the
supervision of the railroad commits
sioner is not without its suspicious
elements. These suspicious, of course,
are simply that the companies prefer
to have the present programme Of no
supervision whatever continued al in
finitum. Each of Them, however,
makes different objection to the bill,
but in the aggregate they have evolved
n job of objections that can be inter-
preted only as meaning that they
would much prefer to be permitted to
continue to be IA law unto themselves
and accountable to no one.
The simple fact that these COM
panies stand as one man against n
simple provision requiring them to
equip cars with water closets for the
use of their patrons demonstrates
about what the nature of the Opposi
tion to the supervision law is. They
want to he let absolutely alone, and
that, to the ordinary mind, is ample
reason for subjecting them to the same
supervision that is exercised over
other railroads. Each of them would,
Of course, be entirely satisfied with
state supervision under certain con-
ditions, but they argue that the electric
roads are now in their infancy and
that il would he well to wait century
or two before taking any action to
regulate them in any way. If the
legislators are to be caught by any
such CUFF as that, many of them are
a mighty sight more gullible than they
appear to be.
Hearing on Randall BiI1.
The indications are that the RAN
one.fourth toone-sixth of mill the tax
for the support of the university will
not become law. Several evenings ago
a hearing was given on this bill, and
President Angel and several Of the
university regents made such con-
vincing arguments as to the necessity
Of maintaining the revenue, that even
the author of the bill was converted
and now admits that the bill will
probably never leave the hands of the
committee
Another bill designed to impress
the people with the dignity and
sacredness Of the stars and stripes has
been favorably reported by the house
committee on state affairs. 1t pro-
vides that the flag shall be exhibited
over all voting places on registration
and election DAYS. This report was
made few hours after the house had
passed the Hallenbeck bill prohibiting
the use Of the flag for advertising pur-
poses 1t is probable that both bills |
will become law.
Senator Helme succeeded i'm getting |
n favorable report from the committee |
on state affairs OH his bill to prevent |
and punish trusts, combinations and |
agreements to fix the price of any |
article or merchandise or commodity. |
hut in spirit of playfulness last |
Friday the senate sent the bill to the |
judiciary committee. This bill is |
copy of the Missouri law and Is quite |
brief. 1t simply makes person who
enters into n trust or combination |
guilty of conspiracy, and makes any |
contract or agreement In violation of |
the provisions Of the bill absolutely |
void. Any purchaser Of any article
or commodity from any individual
company or corporations transacting
business contrary to any Of the pro-
visions of the bill shall be liable for
article or commodity. and may plead
this act as a defense to any suit for
such price or payment. The Missouri
act has been upheld by the courts, and
the friends of the Helme bill believe It
Is better measure than the anti
trust law now on the statute books Of
this state
For the fourth time IN as many
consecutive regular sessions Of the
legislature. the house has but to sleep
the Kimms- WATERBURY bill which pro-
vides graded salaries for county Of
ficials and nrovides That all fees col
iected by them shall hc turned into
the treasures Of their respective
counties. Var'ors methods have been
reecrted to for tho prrpose Of killing
this measure. This time II was
amended go as to applv only TO Oak
land count'. from which the intro
Queer. Mr.. Waterbury. halls. but II Is
not probable TINT he will 60" 'ont to
have II passed in this f"rm The s''r
rr'sjny tb'~~ ~ ort ''is N"l =; tho
nIthorgh Il has the unqualified in
dorSament of 18th ~" 90 10 or"rv"
and state Association 81 FHrmnrs' C'1Ils.
rs we'll as Ito state 'SsC' 'nticn 81
Supervisors the farmers in tie horse
v"~o far frnm hcirr 81 unit il It's si''