The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-06-07
STATE SOLONS' WORK
New Laws Enacted by the Forty
First Legislature Of
Michigan.
TAXATION OF RAILROADS, ETC.
Bills Which Have Been Vetoed by
Governor Bliss-The Appro-
priation Bills.


first legislature OF Michigan will end
Thursday noon, June 6, although all
business was suspended shortly after
noon last Wednesday, May -. The
session commenced on the s.rst
Wednesday in January as provided in
the constitution, and was eighteen
days shorter than the regular session
of two years ago. This shortening
of the session resulted i'm saving OF
$4,000, as compared with the figures
of 1899 the cost Of running the legis-
lature under the modern system be-
ing about $1,000 per day.
The Most Important Law,
In all probability the most import
ant law enacted uy the present legis-
lature is the statute providing for the
taxation of the property of railroads,
express, fast freight car loaning, re-
frigeratOr car and union depot and sta
ton companies on an ad valorem basis
Inasmuch as laws OF two years ago re-
pealing the special charters of certain
railroad companies will not become OPP
reative until next year, the first ASSESS
ment of railroad and other property
oil the new basis cannot be made un-
til 1908. In order tnat the tax commits
sion may have ample time i'm which to
perform this duty i'm addition TO the
other duties devolving upon il i'm the
line of enforcing the tax laws gener-
ally, the membership of that body has
been increased from three TO five.
While this act may not include all the
corporations that SHOULD be covered
by il, ii is certainly long step in the
direction of equal taxation demanded
by the people, and can readily be
added TO as experience warrants.
Bills That Have Been Vetoed.
Since the compilation of the APP
pended enumeration of bills, (Which
by the way, Includes measures still in
the hands of Governor Bliss, who, I'M
der the constitution, has five days aft
er the final adjournment of the legis-
lature TO either approve or pocket veto
bills passed during the last five days
of the session. the executive has
vetoed bills providing for the establish
ment Of an additional normal school:
providing a new charter for the city of
Jackson; lie LOWry-Ward Il exempt
ing real estate mortgages from taxa
tom the bill authorizing supervisors
to charge the cost of handing contag-
ious diseases to the townships, villages
or cities, instead of to counties at
large; increasing the salary of state
salt Inspector TO 1000 per year; au-
to prescribe the courses of study for
the several normal schools. and issue
certificates to teach as il may direct.
1t is not believed that any more bills
will be vetoed, unless il is the one
legaliZing the special assessment for
sewers i'm Highland Park village. Fol
lowing are new laws enacted 10y the
legislature:
Elections.
Amending the general registration
law SO that registration shall take
place on the third Tuesday and
Wednesday before any spring or fail
election; providing for the election Of
a city assessor Clair; making
the term of mmiSsiOner in
Wayne county nr..el e July l and
continue for fOl years providing for
the selection Of ,anC dates for cleo
ton by popular vote I'm Grand Rapids;
providing CIR HE manner Of conduct
ing eles in Calumcnt township,
HoughtC cD1i'ty; amcndir- he Will
age Incorporation law relative to
boards o egiStration: amending act
of 1877 dividing townships and Will
ages into election districts; providing
for the req, uatiOu of electors and
name" of holding elections in city of
East IaW0S: repeating act of 1891 re-
Quiri candidates to file sworn state
men 81 election expenses; aboliShing
Sc. oallots in political conventions
in .,at county: amending section 1,
ac, 1ta. laws 1870 providing for cleo
ton o. board county cauvaSsers; in
creas..s pa! Of election inspectors,
etc, in Sprigwells township, Wayne
county; creating a voting precinct i'm
IngallStOn township. MenOminee coun-
ty; providing for registration of cleo
tors i'm Saginaw county: creating vot-
ing precinct in Rockland township,
Ontonagon county; providing or cleo
tiOn of Wayne county auditors Is peo-
pie instead of by supervisors.
Providing a primary election law
for Grand Rapids city; providing a
primary election law for Kent cOun-
ty.
Affecting school Districts.
Authorizing school district No. l Of
Ishpeming TO borrow $4,000 for fund
ing Indebtedness disOrganZing district
No. ,, Portage township, Houghton
county, and attaching 10 district No. I
authorizing Grand Rapids district to
issue bonds for new buildings: au-
thorizing district Of Hancock. Hough-
ton county, 10 bond for $4,000 for inn
proving buildings; detaching territory
from district No. of Hastings. and
district No. Z Of CaStlcton township.
Barry county and organizing same
into district No ,: organizing territory
OF Negauness city into single district:
amending act Incorporating public
schools Hudson village: Incorporating
public schools Jerome village amend
ing act 1891 Incorporating public
schools of Ossinike township. Alpena
county; extending term county school
commissioners TO four years after
1903; detaching certain territory from
district in Marion and Bridgehampton
townships, Sanilac county, and estab-
fishing Deckerville high school district;
determining territory 10 be included
In and TO reorganize district Of Marion
township, Osceola county; organizing
district IN Springfield township, Kali
kaska county; Incorporating public
schools Delray village, Wayne county;
amending act Incorporating East Sagi-
nav board Of education; Incorporating
cr1 Do &.