The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-02-22

that they made grave mistake II any
thing is done to cripple this board or
throw 1t into politics. A word to the
wise should be sufficient.
Rerefence was made week or two
ago to a bill designed to change the
method of providing for the needs
OF the agricultural college. This
bill has been prepared and introduced
by Chairman Nevins Of the college COM
mittee In the house. 1t provides for
the levying of tax of one-fi fifteenth of
mill on the equalized valuation OF
the state for the support of this insti-
tuition, the plan being to make this al
lowance cover needs Of the college, ex-
pertinent station work, etc. Any
amount yielded by this tax in excess
OF that needed for current expenses Is
to be used for buildings and better
ments, but no Improvement shall he
undertaken until sum sufficient to
complete 1t has accumulated. 1t is
figured that the proposed tax will yield
an annual revenue of $4,000. In ad-
dition to this the college will receive,
as now, $25 900 from the general gov
eminent, and about $4,000 from its
land grarx. Last year the expenditures
TOR all purposes were $4,000.
Investigation of the Game Warden.
1t Is likely that the house will this
week order an investigation of the
game and fish warden's department.
Just before the house adjourned for
the week last Friday Representative
Mason offered resolution providing
for the appointment Of a committee
for this purpose, the proposition being
similar to the one adopted by the SEN
ate on motion of Senator GOodell the
previous day. The Mason resolution
preclpitated such a warm discussion
that the matter was temporarily dis
posed Of by being made the special or
der for this week Thursday. The
movement is ostensibly the result Of
extended criticism that has been in
dulged in during the past few weeks
or the expense accounts Of the deputy
wardens during the year 1900, but it
is understood that It Is really backed
by the small,commercial fishermen of
the state who feel that they are not
accorded the same degree of freedom
that the fish trust enjoys. Much Of
the criticism is directed at Chief
Brewster and bill to abolish the of
nee OF chief deputy has been intro
duced in each house.
NumDer oil Ihat Sort.
The usual number of bills affecting
both life and fire insurance companies
are materialzing and some of them
look like old friends, having done serv-
ice in a number of previous legisla-
lures. The most generally important
of these is what is known technically
as the valued policy bill. 1t provides
that In case of total loss the company
ho1 I,n yl,nII 40, = h. f,,I1 e..
of his policy regardless of what his
loss actually was. The theory is that
the company should pay the full
amount upon which it accepts a pre-
MUM. Insurance men have a way Of
designating bills Of this nature as
measures placing a premium upon ar
son. Other bills provide for increas-
ing the tax rate of life insurance COM
panles from to 3 per cent, thus max
Ing 1t the same as that paid by fire
companies and seek to put the various
cooperative fraternal and sick and ac-
cident benefit organizations on some
what more stable basis by requiring
them to deposit $1,000 in the state
treasury and maintain 1t there. 1t Is
understood that the senate committee
on insurance Is in favor of increasing
the amount of this deposit to $1,000,
even at the risk Of driving some Of
the weaker organizations out of exist
ence. The members Of the commit
tee declare that an organiza tion that
cannot raise $1,000 ought not to be per-
mitted to carry on an insurance bust
ness. Another bill provides for licens-
Ing fire insurance agents doing bust
ness in the state, the fee provided
ranging from $25 to 500, according to
the population Of the place where the
business is carried on. This bill pro-
vides that the license money shall be
used to defray the expenses Of the
state fire marshaps department IL one
Is created as provided for in another
bill, otherwise to be credited to the
primary school fund.
Representative Gordon believes that
the use of firecrackers and other ex-
plosives for amusement annually Gre
ates a vast amount of sorrow, dam
ages and suffering, and that it ought
to be done away with. He has. there
fore. introduced a bill prohibiting the
manufacture and sale Of these articles
for the purpose mentioned, and an
other bill providing for the licensing
Of dealers who sell them for other pur-
| poses.
| Measures of Interest to Farmers.
Representative Hardy, has introduced
a bill recommended at the recent an
nual meeting of the Michigan Millers'
association. 1t provides that The agri-
cultural college he authorized to send
! an expert to visit the wheat fields OF
Europe for the purpose Of selecting
varieties of wheat to be introduced
| into Michigan. AS all farmers are
aware the wheat yield of Michigan
has steadily decreased during the past
| few years, and the object of the mill
| ers is to secure, If possible. harder va
| rietles that will better Withstand the
| Michigan climate and conditions. The
bill carries an appropriation of 1000.
Another measure i'm which the farm
ers Of the state generally are interest
| ed has been introduced by Representa-
| tive Nevins, who seeks to place tolls
taken by millers on a uniform basis.
| He says that they now exact about
what they please, no two having the
same rates. His bill limits the toll to
one-sixth Of the amount Of grain
| ground. Two years ago Mr.. Nevins
made valiant fight for this bill. and
Is inclined to attribute It's failure to
! become law to the vigorous opposi-
| tiop of tho Miphipap MilIers, asencia-