Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-01-22

the hunter protected. Just why these
laws never remain satisfactory over
night has vet to be demonstrated
This session Is no exception to the rule
and the discussion of needed changes
has been on IN the newspapers OF thu
state for several weeks. numerous
sportmen having expressed their view'
on the subject. Just what change
will be finally Incorporated in the form
Of bills remains to be seen.
han on Higb-Powe Guns.
Senator Burns of Grand Rapids ha'
drafted bill for early introduction
which has for it's object the prohibi
ton Of the use of high-power guns il
hunting deer. Ever since these guns
came into use the number of persons
killed by stray bullets in the woods
has annually increased, and il is II
the hope of decreasing these fatalitie'
that the Burns measure will be pro
posed. The introducer says he ha
found upon investigation that nearl!
all hunters Kill deer at distance Of
from four TO FIVE rods. SO it is not nee
essary for sportsmen to use guns tina
will carry balls mile or more. TIL
bill will also prohibit the use in tn
woods of Michigan of explosive
stronger than ordinary gunpowder.
Must Keep Their Eyes Open.
1t is evident that the ways and
means committe of the house and the
finance and appropriation committee
of the senate will have TO tend
to their knitting sharply if they
succeed in keeping the appropriations
Of the present session below those OF
two years ago. There is no doubt that
the appropriations to be asked for will
materially exceed those Of 1901. but
of course. all that is asked is not al
ways given. One of the items TO be
asked for, it, is understood, is S15O,O0O
for the Michigan exhibit at the st
Louis exposition. Advocates of this
appropriation are already on the
ground, but whether they are willing
to compromise on n smaller sum has
not yet developed. There will be
some opposition to as large an appro-
pria ton as the sum mentioned.
Under the present law the primary
school fund, into which goes the en-
tire revenue from specific railroad tax
alton. is distributed on the basis Of the
number Of children OF school age
between and 20 years. in the respec-
tive municipalities. This is considered
an inequitable distribution by some for
the reason that township or city may
have large number of such children
within its borders. whereas an unusu-
ally small number of them actually at
tend school A bill will be introduced
for the purpose of making this distrl.
button on the basis of the number OF
children who attend school
Murder of Mckinley Recalled.
An echo of the assassination of Pres
ident Mckinley was heard in the
house this week when Representative
Powell of Ioria introduced bill pro.
viding capital punishment for one who
within the borders of this state, muir
ders a president of the United States
or any member Of his cabinet. Elec.
trocution is he mode of death provid.
ed The bill stipulates, however, that
the jury may determine whether soil.
tary confinement for life or death shall
be the penalty.
Two years ago the legislature pro.
vided mill FAX for the support Of the
agricultural college, and OH the basis
Of the present equalized valuation OF
the state this tax produces an annual
revenue of about 100000. As the years
go by this revenue will increase " itn
the increasing value of the state. This
revenue is much greater than the col
lege received in previous years from
the legislature, and In his recent mes
sage Governor ! liss expressed the
opinion that the present revenue is too
great. Friends of the college, how
ever and this does not mean that the
COVE rnor is It's enemy by any means,
will oppose any measure which seeks
to lower the ra,e.
One Of the bills thus far introduced
provides an appropriation Of $4,000 for
n monument I'm honor Of Michigan sol
diers who died In Andersonville pris-
on.
Design for Soldiers Monument
The state commission appointed by
authority of tho last legislature 10 Sc
lect a design 70. a soldiers monument
to be erected i'm this city selected a
design some weeks ago and recon-
mended that the legislature appropriate
not TO exceed $4,000 for this purpose.
There Is little probability that this ap-
PROPAGATION will he made. While all
agree that this would be n grand rec.
~'.i-. 80 ..ss Michigan soldiers u